Edwards, James R. "A Biblical Perspective on Immigration Policy." Debating Immigration. Ed. Carol M. Swain. Cambridge University Press, 2007. 46-62 Print.
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In James Edward’s opinion, immigration is a problem. He believes there are principles in the Bible that are made clear about immigration and the principles should be used by Christians. He has translated the insights and commands of the Bible in order to better explain the purpose of civil government, and what the Bible says about immigration and a biblical immigration policy. Edward translates, “In addition to the duty to punish criminals, government has the duty to defend the nation against foreign invaders.” He makes it clear that while the Bible commands us to obey legitimately constituted authority, Scripture specifies no particular form of government as being favored by God. From researching and studying the Bible Edward has noticed that the Bible speaks more on how we should treat immigrants more then it does about some sort of immigration policy. Edward quotes from Leviticus, “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. He must be treated as one of your native-born.” He also translates Philippians by explaining to us that God made the earth we are blessed to live on therefore we are all aliens and equal. Edward believes in the Bible and he accepts that immigration should not be ignored but the was we treat immigrants should be the way God intended. “Immigration policy has an important effect in shaping the future of our nation.”
Just as Edward is a firm believer In the Bible and Christianity, Daniel Millis is a follower of God. When Millis illegally placed water in the Arizona/Mexico desert he believed like any other Missionary, that he was doing the will of God. Millis was treating those immigrants with kindness, which according to Edward is in fact God’s will. What Millis may not of known is that God also wants us to follow the law of civil government. Edward writes, “Civil magistrates hold responsibility under God for the protection of the people whom God has placed authority.” He believes there are principles obvious in the Bible that Christians should follow. “I believe they are the principles that should guide all Christians in making public judgments, even if we do not always agree as to their application in specific cases.” What Edward is saying is very important because anyone who is a believer of Christ and is unsure of what political decisions to make, this is a great source. Religion is a factor in almost every political debate and Edwards makes a great argument for readers to think about.
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