Romans 13, Birthright Citizenship, and Being Thankful for Our Country

On Tuesday, June 30, the United States Supreme Court finally delivered the long-awaited decision on birthright citizenship. In a 5-4 decision, the Court, citing the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, doubled down on the absurdity that has marked the increasingly murky definition of what exactly an American is. For conservative Americans, the result was expected, but frustrating nonetheless. Justice Thomas, probably the most reliably conservative judge in the last 50 years, delivered a 91-page dissent on the ruling, concluding his opinion by clearly laying out the actual purpose of the 14th Amendment:

“...the Court has repurposed the Fourteenth Amendment to protect its own set of preferred rights that the Reconstruction Congress never contemplated and that cannot find support in its text. Today, the Court does so again by recognizing a constitutional right to citizenship for the children of all foreign birth tourists and illegal aliens. I am not sure that today’s opinion will stand the test of time. The Citizenship Clause ‘added greatly to the dignity and glory of American citizenship.’ Today’s opinion devalues that citizenship. I respectfully dissent.”

Opinions on the impact and constitutionality of the decision will go on for the foreseeable future. American Christians will engage in a theological/moral debate, looking to Scripture for either robust, concrete principles of governance or vague platitudes that twist biblical precedents into bumper-sticker slogans.

Rather than getting into the weeds of either the constitutional arguments or vague platitudes, why not go directly to the passage of Scripture that lays out both the responsibility of Christian citizens and the governments they live under:

Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for [d]good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor. – Romans 13:1-7

Theological conservatives in the US have rightly pointed out over the last several years that the mandate set out in Romans 13 ought not to be twisted into supporting whatever the “current thing” is. Rather, the passage clearly indicates the responsibility of the government to “punish evil” and “reward good.” Both the plain teaching of Scripture and the tradition of its application over the last 2,000 years provide a stern warning to the nation that inverts these two basic functions of government: Punish good and reward evil, and your days as a nation are numbered.

Pastor John MacArthur faithfully reminded us of this truth, even as his own state of California descended into depravity and tyranny:

“...when government ceases to function by God’s design, it yields up its authority. The same would be true in a family. God’s design is that the father lead the family. When the father leads in a destructive and evil way, he yields up the right to exercise that God-given authority.” (“When Government Rewards Evil and Punishes Good,” June 13, 2021)

What does this have to do with the decision on birthright citizenship? The underlying problem with the ruling is that it effectively solidifies the absence of clear boundaries regarding who is and is not an American. It creates chaos around a very basic function of government, the protection and promotion of its citizens, by muddying the waters on who its citizens even are. As Justice Thomas aptly put it, the decision “devalues citizenship.”

Theological liberals are already attempting to claim the moral high ground regarding the decision, quickly asserting the sacredness of a Constitution that they were decrying as racist and oppressive about five minutes ago. But that is to be expected. If their assertions do not pass the basic biblical sniff test (and they don’t), then they ought to be summarily dismissed.

The question going forward is about what is to be done now. Immediately following the decision, it was clear that the Trump Administration was prepared for this outcome. Illegal aliens will have to be continually removed from the country, and the government will need to direct resources to shutting down birthright tourism.

Christian patriots are not powerless in this situation. Supporting deportation efforts, both theologically and politically, is paramount. This may require uncomfortable conversations. It may involve calling illegal aliens who claim to be Christians to repentance. It will definitely involve opposition and attempts at emotional manipulation. But, come what may, there is still much to be done.

On the legislative side, a constitutional amendment to end birthright citizenship has already been introduced by Senator Rand Paul. Regardless of the political outlook of this amendment, we are still able to lobby our representatives to support its ratification, and work to primary those who will not.

A political movement that ultimately results in a constitutional amendment overturning birthright citizenship will be a long, arduous process full of ups and downs, victories and frustrations. It has to be marked by years, not days, weeks, or months. Frankly, the pessimistic side of me worries that the hour may be too late to reverse the evil and absurdity that has become so integral to our Country’s political process.

But, as Christians, we are not permitted to “blackpill” in the way the World does. We can lament evil, cry out to God for rescue from our enemies, and even humbly ask for His justice and judgment upon those who promote and propagate a mirror image of our government’s biblical mandate. But we are not permitted to lose hope.

In accordance with Philippians 4:6 (“Be anxious for nothing”), we are to make our “prayers and supplications” known to God, but to do so “with thanksgiving. That’s the starting point. Being thankful. And we have much to be thankful for.

For American Christians, the opportunity to be thankful is being placed before us, on a silver platter, this weekend. For 250 years, our nation has been a bastion of liberty, a worldwide force for moral order and sanity, and a powerhouse for gospel mission efforts throughout the earth. The hand of Providence on our land is so clear, one would have to be either evil, a fool, or both to deny it.

So, American Christian, lift high the cross, lift high the flag, and do so without shame or disclaimer. We have not yet reached our final home, despite already having citizenship there. But God, in His Providence, gave us a temporary one, and it’s worth both enjoying and fighting for.

David Harris is the executive director of TruthScript. He has degrees in English Literature, linguistics, and education from The State University of NY. An educator, he’s taught a variety of subjects from K-12 in private and public schools. David has been involved in various ministries in New York, Southern Africa, and the Dominican Republic. He currently lives on the rugged Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee with his wife and two daughters.