Can we do better on immigration?

As parliament returns from summer recess, Prime Minister Starmer has shuffled his top team in the hopes it can provide greater strategic support and clarity.

There’s no doubt Labour is bruised from its first year of government. Despite a whopping great majority, it has been forced into multiple U-turns and faces the inexorable rise of Nigel Farage and the Reform party, plus it is badly behind in the opinion polls.

Voters' top concern: Immigration

The single biggest issue for voters now is immigration. New polling suggests it is the topic that is the number one concern for voters. As we head into party conference season, you can expect debates about the European Convention on Human Rights to dominate, as Labour and the Tories are pushed to come up with proposals to bring down the level of illegal immigration. 

There is no doubt that immigration, both legal and illegal, presents a massive gospel opportunity. After all, the gospel is for all and we rejoice in the unity we can find in Jesus. We can say, categorically, that God is not an Englishman!

But immigration also presents huge challenges. The most basic is it the challenge to our Christlikeness. Whatever we might think politically, do we aim to speak the truth? Do we slavishly repeat things we’ve read on our favourite blogs or news sites, without asking whether it is accurate? Do we speak about this issue with grace in our hearts? That means being kind to fellow Christians who think differently to us. And of course, it means being careful with our words.

When politicians talk about illegal immigration as an "invasion" or warn the UK is becoming an "island of strangers", are we clear why this is no way for a believer to speak?

Gospel opportunity

Do we recognise the gospel opportunity immigration brings? Do we also recognise that every human being is made in God’s image and those coming on small boats are our neighbours who we are commanded to love?

This does not mean supporting a completely open border. We can believe the government has a God-given duty to protect the borders and operate some form of immigration control without abandoning compassionate hearts especially for those fleeing persecution and war.

I sometimes worry in this debate if some tend to confuse stubborn dogmatism with principled, Biblical conviction.

Here is another key challenge for the church. The immigration debate challenges our exegesis... A lot of Christians argue that God loves the stranger and then they sort of stop there, as if the argument was done and dusted. But is this not a failure to pay more careful attention to the Scriptures?

I’ve been influenced in my thinking in this matter by Professor James K. Hoffmeier. In his book The Immigration Crisis: Immigrants, Aliens and the Bible, he distinguishes between the "resident alien" (legal immigrant) and the "foreigner" (illegal immigrant).

His entire thesis is that when we read of God’s love for the stranger, it invariably refers to the former, not the latter. Under the Law and in Romans 13, the state has the right to defend the borders and refuse entry to those who do not meet certain entrance criteria. Even if you question parts of his exegesis, Hoffmeier’s work has had the effect of making me cautious about throwing Bible verses around.

With all this said, I’m conscious that so many churches are reaching out, showing gospel-hearted hospitality and practical love. There are heart-warming stories of churches going into detention centres, bringing practical gifts, and showing kindness.

Let’s disagree well on this issue and be willing to change our thinking as we all submit to God’s Word.