This subject is so simple that I am tempted to not write this article. Unfortunately, we now live in a culture that acts as if common experiences don’t matter in when speaking about moral issues. Here is the Bible’s view of walls.
GOOD WALLS
Good walls establish ownership and control of property. Since leftists have been confused about the morality of property ownership since Marx, it is easy to understand how many people are currently confused.
NECESSARY WALLS
Necessary walls keep people in a specific place for a specific reason. Each day we see and understand that the traffic lane WALL is there to control traffic. The prison WALL is there to keep prisoners from escaping. The TSA – Airport WALL is there to direct people to the proper area of the Airport.
BAD WALLS
There have always been bad walls. President Ronald Reagan’s famous speech, “… tear down this wall…” is a good example of a Bad Wall. Bad Walls keep people inside a country or a city that they want to leave. They are not described as prisoners - but they cannot LEAVE. Bad Walls have always been used by Socialists, Communists and Totalitarian governments to stop their people from leaving. They are still in use today. The worse the conditions the stronger the walls to keep people from leaving.
So, what is the Christian View of Walls?
GOOD WALLS
Property ownership is about controlling the area or home that you own. It is also about selling that property but who would want to buy it, if they will not have control of it as an owner. If you own something but cannot control its use, you don’t fully own it. Ask someone who would like to drive your car. If they do not need your permission, it is not your car.
The Ten Commandments specifically implies that the ownership of property is a good thing and that it should be protected. This is a part of the Christian World View.
“You shall not steal…. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:15, 17 NASB
Good Walls also establish National Borders. This is also a part of a Christian’s World View.
… and He (God) made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation. Acts 17:26 NASB
NECESSARY WALLS
Necessary Walls are also a Biblical concept. No one can read the book of Nehemiah without conceding that God was working His will to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. The reason was evident. Without a wall, evil men ruled and created havoc. With a wall, order could be established in the city of Jerusalem.
May our nation also reestablish order by building walls and other more sophisticated “walls.” As Christians we are to love the foreigner as the Israelites of the Old Testament were commanded. This love for all human beings should motivate us to bring order to our nation.
Without controlling our borders, we cannot establish common sense immigration laws like foreign worker’s programs. There will be no good answers for the destitute foreigner if we continue stuck by institutional chaos – chaos caused by cowardly and stupid leaders.
Those who confuse Good Walls from Bad Walls are helping the United States remain a part of the problem. Instead of finding answers, we will continue to not be able to help the destitute and the hurting around the world.
As a Christian, we should all be saying:
“Build the wall. It will help everyone who wants an order in our nation.”
If you would like to learn more about the morality of Free Markets, based in 10 Commandment values, read my book - Is God A Capitalist?