Podcast Summary: Mariners Church Weekend Messages

Episode: February 15 – Borders and Immigration: Why Do Some Christians Have Different Views?
Speaker: Eric Geiger, Senior Pastor
Release Date: February 17, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

Pastor Eric Geiger addresses the complex and often divisive topic of borders and immigration from a Christian perspective. Rather than advocating for specific policies or taking a stance on recent cultural flashpoints, he explores why Christians—despite a shared faith and Scripture—hold different views on immigration. The message aims to guide listeners to approach these conversations with both grace and truth, using Scripture as the primary lens and equipping them with a thoughtful framework to hold the issue’s tensions maturely within their personal relationships, church community, and broader society.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical and Personal Context of Immigration

• Immigration as the Story of Humanity:
  • Geiger notes that the movement of people is central to world history, spanning both voluntary and forced migration.
    • “History in its broadest aspect is a record of man's migration from one environment to another.” (Ellsworth Huntington, 03:40)
• Personal Story: His own grandfather immigrated to the US for opportunity and received national recognition—illustrating the American immigrant narrative.
  • "Only in America could you, one generation from immigrating to this country, later have the President of the United States deliver a speech from your family farm." (05:32)
• Nuanced Realities:
  • The line between "forced" and "voluntary" migration is often blurry, as reflected in real-life examples from his time in Miami and among people he knows from Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, etc. (08:24)
  • "If you ask them if it was voluntary or force, the line was really blurry." (08:47)

2. Why Christians Disagree: The Aim of Today’s Message

• Not Policy Advocacy:
  • Eric emphasizes the message is not to dictate a correct stance but to provide a biblical framework for discussion. (11:32)
• Addressing Divisiveness:
  • Recognizes immigration debates can strain families, life groups, and congregations.
  • "I want to serve you well by giving you a framework that... will help you navigate the conversation with both grace and truth." (12:00)

3. Stories from Mariners Congregation

• Shares diverse real stories of immigrants in the church:
  • A shepherding elder who arrived as a displaced baby.
  • A couple navigating lengthy legal paths to citizenship.
  • A DACA recipient faithfully serving while lacking a path to citizenship.
  • Refugees from Iran, the Congo, and other global contexts now actively serving within Mariners.
  • "To each of you... I love you and I'm honored to be in the same family with you." (17:50)

4. The Various “Lenses” We Bring to the Conversation

• Relationships (with immigrants or officials), political affiliations, social media algorithms, and personal background filter our views.
  • "But I want us...to allow the scripture to be the first lens that we look at any question we ask, but including this question." (20:46)

Scriptural Examination

a) Scripture About the Immigrant

• Biblical Characters as Immigrants:
  • Abraham, Moses, Ruth, David, and Jesus were all, at some point, immigrants or refugees.
  • Ruth as an immigrant appears in the lineage of Jesus.
    • "This immigrant is in the lineage of Jesus." (24:45)
  • Jesus’ family’s flight to Egypt is held as an example, with context about the Roman Empire’s boundaries and documentation. (26:00)
• Old Testament Prescriptions:
  • God’s covenant law repeatedly commands just and compassionate treatment of the "ger" (resident alien).
    • Deuteronomy 10:17; Zechariah 7:9-10; Leviticus 19:33
  • God's statutes ensure spiritual, social, economic, and legal integration for willing immigrants.
  • Strong inclusion of immigrants sits alongside strict penalties for evil—indicating both radical inclusion and radical intolerance for evil in Israel’s context.

b) Scripture About Borders and Laws

• God Establishes Borders:
  • Numbers 34:2—God gives the Israelites land with established borders.
  • Nehemiah: Rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall for the security and flourishing of Israel to bless others.
  • Acts 17—Paul affirms God appoints boundaries and places for the nations.
    • "God is the one who... uses even the evil intentions of people to set nations where he has them..." (32:25)
• Role of Government:
  • Romans 13:1-3—Authorities are instituted by God—not necessarily acting with pure motives, but tasked to restrain evil and promote good.

Framework for Navigating Tensions

Pastor Eric introduces three biblical tensions at the root of Christian disagreement on immigration. He urges maturity and kindness as believers navigate these together:

1. Image of God vs. Sinfulness of People

• Image of God:
  • Every immigrant inherently deserves dignity, care, and compassion.
    • "We should speak well of the immigrant... God's image is on the immigrant." (35:50)
• Sinfulness of People:
  • Order, laws, and borders are necessary to restrain evil.
  • Using his home as an illustration: “We love and welcome, but because of sinfulness of people... I lock our doors.” (38:14)

2. Love of Kingdom vs. Love of Country

• Love of Kingdom:
  • The eternal church is multi-ethnic; Christians will share heaven with all nations.
    • "If you like just being with people who are just like you... you're not going to like heaven that much." (40:31)
• Love of Country:
  • It's good to be patriotic and love one’s country, advocate for borders, and value citizenship. But love for Christ’s kingdom must come first.
    • "Love of kingdom should be greater than love of country... because the country won't last forever. And the kingdom of Jesus lasts forever." (42:24)

3. Role of Government vs. Role of Christian

• Government:
  • Called to protect citizens, enforce laws, and restrain evil.
• Christian:
  • Called to compassionate love, care for the vulnerable, and advocate for the “stranger,” remembering Christ’s rescue of us.
    • "Because we've been rescued by Jesus, we have a heart to care for the vulnerable, because he's always cared for the vulnerable." (45:00)

Why the Disagreement?

• Christians place different weight on different sides of these tensions:
  • “Some will put more weight on the image of God. Others will put more weight on the sinfulness of people. Some will put more weight on the role of government. Others… more weight on the role of Christianity.” (45:47)
• The call is for maturity, kindness, and the ability to hold these tensions together while respecting and loving those with whom we disagree.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Framework for Public Conversations:
  • “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions.” (Eric, quoting Proverbs via Dr. Wayne Grudem, 14:40)
• On Unity Amidst Disagreement:
  • "Can we be mature and hold all of this at the same time? Can we hold this all together at the same time with a clear conscience?" (45:54)
• On Practical Christian Living:
  • "As a follower of Jesus, you are not going against your government to love the immigrant. The role of government is to protect the country. The role of the Christian is to care for the vulnerable." (46:20)

Important Timestamps

• 03:40 – Historical overview of immigration, migration types
• 05:32 – Personal immigrant story (Eric’s grandfather)
• 08:24–08:47 – Complex realities of voluntary vs. forced migration
• 14:40 – Eric references the Proverbs quote about seeking understanding
• 17:50 – Real life stories of immigrants in Mariners Church
• 20:46 – Addressing the “lens” through which we see immigration
• 24:45 – Scripture: Ruth as immigrant, inclusion of immigrants in the lineage of Jesus
• 26:00 – Jesus’s family’s flight contextualized
• 32:25 – God’s sovereignty over national boundaries
• 35:50 – The “image of God” as a principle for dignity
• 38:14 – Illustration: Locking doors at home as metaphor for order and security
• 40:31–42:24 – “Love of Kingdom > Love of Country”; who populates heaven
• 45:00–46:20 – Distinction between Christian and governmental roles

Actionable Next Steps for the Congregation

• Multiple outreach opportunities for serving the vulnerable (immigrants, foster youth, food pantry, ESL, service translation, etc.) are available at Mariners’ campuses for those moved to act as an extension of Christian compassion.

In Closing

Pastor Eric concludes by blessing the congregation and praying they will be drawn to Jesus’ gentle, loving character as they navigate these difficult issues with both wisdom and humility.

This summary captures the heart, nuance, and practical guidance of this week’s Mariners message—useful for listeners and those seeking to understand the biblical tensions surrounding borders and immigration.