Reformed Baptist theologian John Piper, a retired pastor and author, prompted strong and widespread pushback from fellow Christians after sharing Leviticus 19:34 on X.
The verse reads: “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Piper appended the comment: “Christians know the miserable bondage we were all in.”
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:34
— John Piper (@JohnPiper) February 25, 2026
Christians know the miserable bondage we were all in.
The post, which quickly surpassed 1 million views, was widely viewed as an implicit reference to contemporary U.S. immigration debates, eliciting overwhelmingly negative responses from numerous prominent Christian voices who argued it overlooked key biblical context.
As reported by The Christian Post, Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills directly addressed the verse, stressing the conditions placed on foreigners in ancient Israel. “The foreigner who came among the children of Israel, were to be accepted in as converts, and not to be mistreated, but to be treated as brothers, even though they were immigrant foreigners. It was their faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that was the criteria,” Hibbs wrote.
A chorus of other critics reinforced this perspective, noting that Old Testament sojourners faced strict requirements to assimilate fully into Israel’s religious practices and laws—with zero tolerance for unlawful presence or failure to comply.
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Several described Piper’s application to modern national policy as misguided or “irresponsible theology,” expressing concerns that it downplayed issues such as border security, demographic shifts, cultural preservation and the distinction between personal compassion and governmental enforcement.
The controversy reflects deeper divisions among Christians over the application of Old Testament commands about hospitality to today’s immigration challenges.
Additional commentary from figures like Ann Coulter dismissed such interpretations as seeking cultural approval at the expense of national interests, while House Speaker Mike Johnson affirmed that biblical principles support structured borders and that civil authorities are not obligated to the same individual-level hospitality standards.
In the end, this incident really shows just how crucial it is to quote biblical verses in their full context, avoiding mix-ups that can fuel bigger misunderstandings in heated topics like immigration.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
