If I Had More Time Episode 148 - Borders and Immigration: Why Do Some Christians Have Different Views?
Feb 15, 2026
Matt Soerens, church mobilizer who helps churches serve refugees, and Dr. Wayne Grudem, theologian and author, debate Christian approaches to borders and immigration. They discuss how Old Testament commands relate to modern nations. They weigh border security, asylum system strains, practical policy tools, and pastoral responses like hospitality and legal pathways.
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Grudem's Athens Fender Bender Shows Sojourner Helplessness
- Wayne Grudem recounted getting into a fender-bender in Athens and feeling helpless as a sojourner who couldn't speak the language.
- Stranded until bilingual bystanders arrived, he uses the story to illustrate immigrant vulnerability.
Secure Borders Are A Legitimate Government Duty
- Nations can legitimately control borders to protect citizens and prevent societal breakdown, so governments should know who's entering.
- Wayne Grudem cites city walls, passports, and risks of unknown underclasses to justify responsible border control.
Walls Signal Control While Allowing Legal Doors
- A physical wall can lower political temperature by signaling control while allowing legal entry through gates.
- Grudem argues a wall with monitored gates reassures citizens and keeps large legal doors open for immigration.
