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Theological Impact of International Borders: Nehemiah and Joshua

In order to better understand the theological impact on international borders, it is important to look at the result through the lens of two biblical characters, Nehemiah and Joshua. Both personas provide an insightful perspective on the topic of interest since the implications of their actions were reciprocally helpful for the communities and people they served. Therefore, the main thesis statement is that one should incorporate key philosophies of both Nehemiah and Joshua in order to build walls righteous reasons and tear down the ones, which cause harm.

It should be noted that in the Old Testament, according to Cruz’s book “Christianity beyond borders,” borders represented the strength of the people within that city and the strength of the God they served.1 For example, Nehemiah was distraught when he heard that the walls around Jerusalem were down, as it reflected the weakness of his people and misrepresented God as weak. (Nehemiah 1-4).2 Nehemiah received permission to oversee the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.3 “Nehemiahs” are needed to build borders, preventing sex trafficking, protecting our communities from weapons and narcotics, and provides security and safety to the marginalized and disenfranchised.

In an op-ed on borders, helping dreamers and immigration, the Rev. Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist pastor, shared, “Borders are necessary to protect a country’s identity and security. Although God’s children will one day live together without borders in the new world, that is not his plan for this present world.”4 Therefore, in order to build a compassionate community that welcomes immigrants, it is critical to ensure protection and safety for these individuals. The main purpose of borders is to protect the nation and not keep out those fleeing persecution. For example, the recent events in Afghanistan show the value of borders in regards to providing protection for the oppressed and vulnerable.5 Unlike the United States borders, which provide protection, the Taliban seeks to use them to create separation and subjugation.6

Moreover, Ecclesiastes claims that there is “a time to build and a time to tear down” (Ecclesiastes 3).7 For instance, Joshua and his troops marched around the borders, and on the seventh day, around the wall on the seventh time, they shouted, and the wall came tumbling down (Joshua 5:13-6:27).8 In other words, the barriers, which cause harm through artificial separation, require elimination, whereas borders, which protect from harm, require strengthening and maintenance.

In conclusion, in order to properly comprehend the theological impact of international borders, it is important to incorporate the perspectives of both Nehemiah and Joshua in unison. Therefore, borders or barriers of separation and hostility need to be brought down, whereas borders facilitating safety and security need to be built. Pope Francis’s response to Trump’s border policies is that “a person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not the gospel.”9 Therefore, borders need to be put in place for the right reasons and not be the instrument of separation.

Bibliography

Christianity across borders: Theology and contemporary issues in global migration Cruz – Routledge – 2021.

World Bible Publishing. 1982. Kjv Family Bible. Iowa Falls, IA: World Bible.

Trusty, Peggi. 2017. Nehemiah, Chapters 1 – 5: A Reflective Bible Study Journal. North Charleston, SC: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.

Jeffress, Robert. 2018. “What Would Jesus Do? Help the Dreamers and Secure the Border.” Religionnews.Com. 2018.

BBC. 2021. “Afghanistan: Fleeing the Taliban into Pakistan and leaving dreams behind.”

HRW. 2021. “What’s Next for Afghans Fleeing the Taliban.”

“Walls in Scripture – Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer.” n.d. Org. Uk.

“JOSHUA FIT DE BATTLE OF JERICO Official Site of Negro Spirituals, Antique Gospel Music.” n.d. Negrospirituals.Com.

O’Connell, G. 2016. “Pope responding to questions on Trump: ‘A person who only thinks of building walls, and not building bridges, is not Christian,” America.

Footnotes

  1. Christianity across borders: Theology and contemporary issues in global migration Cruz – Routledge – 2021.
  2. World Bible Publishing. 1982. Kjv Family Bible. Iowa Falls, IA: World Bible.
  3. Trusty, Peggi. 2017. Nehemiah, Chapters 1 – 5: A Reflective Bible Study Journal. North Charleston, SC: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
  4. Jeffress, Robert. 2018. “What Would Jesus Do? Help the Dreamers and Secure the Border.” Religionnews.Com. 2018. Web.
  5. BBC. 2021. “Afghanistan: Fleeing the Taliban into Pakistan and leaving dreams behind.” Web.
  6. HRW. 2021. “What’s Next for Afghans Fleeing the Taliban.” Web.
  7. “Walls in Scripture – Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer.” n.d. Org. Uk. Web.
  8. “JOSHUA FIT DE BATTLE OF JERICO Official Site of Negro Spirituals, Antique Gospel Music.” n.d. Negrospirituals.Com. Web.
  9. O’Connell, G. 2016. “Pope responding to questions on Trump: ‘A person who only thinks of building walls, and not building bridges, is not Christian,” America. Web.
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StudyKraken. (2023, March 10). Theological Impact of International Borders: Nehemiah and Joshua. Retrieved from https://studykraken.com/theological-impact-of-international-borders-nehemiah-and-joshua/

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StudyKraken. (2023, March 10). Theological Impact of International Borders: Nehemiah and Joshua. https://studykraken.com/theological-impact-of-international-borders-nehemiah-and-joshua/

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"Theological Impact of International Borders: Nehemiah and Joshua." StudyKraken, 10 Mar. 2023, studykraken.com/theological-impact-of-international-borders-nehemiah-and-joshua/.

1. StudyKraken. "Theological Impact of International Borders: Nehemiah and Joshua." March 10, 2023. https://studykraken.com/theological-impact-of-international-borders-nehemiah-and-joshua/.


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StudyKraken. "Theological Impact of International Borders: Nehemiah and Joshua." March 10, 2023. https://studykraken.com/theological-impact-of-international-borders-nehemiah-and-joshua/.

References

StudyKraken. 2023. "Theological Impact of International Borders: Nehemiah and Joshua." March 10, 2023. https://studykraken.com/theological-impact-of-international-borders-nehemiah-and-joshua/.

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StudyKraken. (2023) 'Theological Impact of International Borders: Nehemiah and Joshua'. 10 March.

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