The Bible and Borders

Hearing God's Word on Immigration

By: M. Daniel Carroll R.

Narrated by: Jim Denison

With so many people around the globe migrating, how should Christians and the church respond? Leading Latino-American biblical scholar M. Daniel Carroll R. helps listeners understand what the Bible says about immigration, offering accessible, nuanced, and sympathetic guidance for the church.

After two successful editions of Christians at the Border, and having talked and written about immigration over the past decade, Carroll has sharpened his focus and refined his argument to make sure we hear clearly what the Bible says about one of the most pressing issues of our day. He has reworked the biblical material, adding insights and broadening the frame of reference beyond the US.

As Carroll explores the surprising amount of material in the Old and New Testaments that deals with migration, he shows how this topic is fundamental to the message of the Bible, and how it affects our understanding of God and the mission of the church.

©2020 M. Daniel Carroll R. (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Clear, Extensive, Fair, Biblically Grounded

The author’s treatment of migrations throughout biblical history presents a unique and overall compelling paradigm. It is a great companion to Thomas Sowell’s “Migration and Culture.”

In other words, The Bible and Borders not only looks at the truth that every human being is created in the image of God, and therefore, deserving of love and compassion. Nor does it limit its discussion to a 30,000 foot view of the Old Testament’s teaching on God’s care for the “foreigner” within Israel, and the call to love one’s neighbor (in both testaments).

Rather, the author provides a much broader, and compelling, framework of the Bible’s story in which migration is front and central. It’s within this larger framework, that he these other truths are to be understood.

Finally, the author discusses the teaching of Romans 13 within the migration paradigm of the Old and New Testaments, as well as modern immigration laws,

This book does not represent a current political party’s ideology which is essential to its effectiveness. I highly recommend every Christian read this book with a heart to know and respond to the Bible’s message. For those who are not Christians, this book is an excellent read in understanding the intellectual breadth, and incomparable teachings compassion, of the Bible’s teachings on immigration.

The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the choice to read all of the biblical references. While the passages are essential to the book’s message, reading the references at the end of every biblical quote was cumbersome. I recommend buying a print copy to have access to the references as a better option.

Compelling biblical teaching on a foundational ethic

The author’s urging to allow our Christian identity and ethics to permeate and inform our behavior regardless of what cultural trends and societal voices may say is more timely than ever in 2025. I feel (not speaking for the author, but encouraged by his work): if we as Christians do not stand up for the heart of Jesus toward the foreigner among us, who will? It is okay to be counter-cultural even when the culture in question is nominally Christian, surreal as it is to be in such a position. Lord, have mercy and give us courage to be true.

Comprehensive yet low hanging fruit!

Comprehensive yet low hanging fruit! Definitely gave Biblical history and principles that are able to enlighten the mind, soften the heart and direct actions in the character of God.