The following is part 1 of a series I will be teaching on “Gods Immigration Law” This was written by Dr. Lindy Scott, Wheaton College. Dr Scott is not alone among Biblical Scholars as I will reveal.

God is the Absolute Owner of the Earth

The Bible opens with a description of the universe. God, because He is the Creator, is the “owner”
of everything, including the whole earth. God places humanity (both male and female) on earth to take care
of the creation. In no way is humanity the absolute owner of the earth. All people have the calling to
represent God on earth as stewards or administrators, and as such all will give an account of their
stewardship to God. Therefore, Biblical teaching does not totally agree with an extreme form of capitalism
where the individual is the absolute owner of “private property” nor with an extreme form of socialism
where the state is the absolute owner. Within both “isms” humanity, both individually and collectively, is
called to use the earth according to divine principles. The Spanish phrase “Mi casa es tu casa” (My home is
your home) captures quite nicely the spirit of Biblical teaching. Precisely because God is the true owner of
everything and He has shared his creation with us, possessions under our stewardship should be wisely and
generously shared with those in need.
The affirmation that God is the owner of the earth was frequently repeated in the Hebrew
Scriptures with important ethical demands for Jews and Gentiles alike. During their last years as
“immigrants” in Egypt, the Hebrews suffered greatly under the unjust policies of the Pharoah. Moses’ goal,
in his various interactions with the Egyptian ruler, was to teach the Pharoah that “the earth is the Lord’s.”2
Therefore, even in Egypt where Pharoah reigned, God would not tolerate subhuman policies carried out
against immigrants.
The affirmation that the earth is the Lord’s also meant ethical demands for Jews. Far from being
pampered as God’s holy people, they had to meet a higher code of ethics. Precisely because “the earth is
the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” only those who have “clean hands” and
“pure hearts” will see God’s salvation

.3
1 There are some notable exceptions, especially among urban missiologists and those who participated in
the sanctuary movement. Ray Bakke develops a theology of immigration in his The Urban Christian
(Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1987). For a Christian perspective of the sanctuary movement see
Renny Golden and Michael McConnell, Sanctuary: The New Underground Railroad (Maryknoll, New York:
Orbis, 1986).
2 Exodus 9:29. See also Psalm 24:1-2 and 146:9.
3 Psalm 24:4-5.