Evangelicals, the Bible, and Immigrants

Samuel Smith:

Nine out of 10 Evangelicals say that the Scripture has no impact on their views toward immigration reform, according to a poll released Wednesday. The poll similarly found that nearly seven in 10 Evangelicals have never been encouraged by their church to reach out to immigrants.

The Christian polling organization LifeWay Research surveyed 1,000 Evangelicals on their attitudes toward immigration reform for the Evangelical Immigration Table and World Relief. The poll found that 61 percent of Evangelicals favor immigration reform that will provide a path toward citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, 86 percent of Evangelicals said they favor greater border security and 88 percent said immigration reform should uphold “the rule of law.”

Although the two-thirds of Evangelicals said they want Congress to act on immigration reform before the end of the year, only 12 percent said their views on immigration reform were influenced by biblical principles. Evangelicals’ views on immigration reform are more likely to be influenced by relationships with immigrants (17 percent), friends and family (16 percent) and the media (16 percent), than the Bible.

So what is a biblical approach to immigrants?