Evangelicals for Biblical Immigration (EBI) is a recently formed informal discussion forum of “those seeking the whole counsel of Scripture about immigration, citizenship and how we’re to honor, steward and shape our culture,” according to its website.
The group — initiated in part by Kelly Monroe Kullberg, founder of the Veritas Forum, editor of “Finding God at Harvard: Spiritual Journeys of Thinking Christians” and co-author of “Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas” — posted an open letter on the EBI website in June directed to the members of Congress. The letter speaks of EBI’s opposition to the “Gang of Eight” immigration bill, also known as Senate Bill (SB) 744, which was passed by the Senate in late June by a 68–32 vote.
“While the Bible teaches us to be kind to the sojourner or ‘resident alien,’ it also teaches that kindness to the sojourner ought not to be injustice to local citizens and their unique culture,” the letter states in part. “To steward and cultivate, whether a garden or a nation, involves wisdom and discernment. We, like our Founders, want to conserve what is true, good and beautiful. We want to nurture a nation that would welcome our children as well as the well-intended sojourner. That would mean making distinctions.
Lawlessness with escalating violence and incivility cannot yield peace. Freedom for one is not slavery for another unless one chooses that sacrifice for oneself. It is unkind to force the debt of servitude on millions of Americans. We should secure our borders, pay off our national debt, give jobs to millions of unemployed Americans and become a productive nation, once again, in order to sustain voluntary generosity to our neighbors and to the world. This goodness was once America’s greatness.”
The letter touches on EBI’s economic concerns as well as “cultural costs” of SB 744. The bill’s passage, the letter states, “would allow 11 million illegal immigrants to become citizens in the short-term, with likely an additional 20 million family members as new citizens within about a decade. Cost projections vary but most agree that, given access to many U.S. social welfare services, the net price tag of S[B] 744 will be in the trillions of dollars. This net cost is in addition to our current … national debt. … Such escalation of debt is one way to destroy a nation.”
The letter continues, “The cultural costs of the passage of S[B] 744 are also enormous. The bill would dramatically affect the future of 300 million current citizens by reshaping America’s sovereignty, economy, spiritual and moral compass, political dependencies, public safety and national security.”
EBI’s letter concludes in part by referencing that “just as Paul taught the Church (1 Timothy 5) to delineate among widows for whom the Church should provide, we are called to discern among ‘sojourners’ (like Ruth and Rahab who intend to assimilate and bless) and ‘foreigners’ (who do not intend to assimilate and bless) and to welcome the former with hospitality. Observance to the whole counsel of Scripture yields growth and goodness to those in need. America is a nation rooted in the truth of God’s love for the individual and for the whole world.”
EBI’s letter was signed by 1,200 early signers, according to its website. One of those initial signers was John Killian who signed as president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention and pastor of Maytown Baptist Church in Bessemer Baptist Association.
Killian said he has spoken on the immigration issue from a biblical perspective on several occasions. He noted that at this time, EBI is just an information gathering and disseminating forum. “We aren’t having meetings,” he explained of the group’s structure, adding, “We want to have a Christian attitude and be kind in the process.”
For more information about EBI and to read the open letter in full, visit evangelicalsforbiblicalimmigration.com.
Share with others: