As a Christian conservative, I scroll through social media with tears in my eyes, grieving the deepening divide in our nation: the injuries at protests, the lives lost to political violence, and the way we’ve stopped seeing one another as beloved children of God.
I truly understand the outrage on the Left: How can anyone defend what looks like a dystopian nightmare unfolding on American streets?
At the same time, I share the Right’s conviction that justice, strong borders, self-defense, and consequences for crime are essential in a fallen world.
Yet where does this mutual ideological hatred leave us? How can we plant ourselves firmly in biblical truth and choose reconciliation over retaliation?
Let’s Start in Minnesota…
Operation Metro Surge, the federal crackdown on illegal immigration in sanctuary cities like Minneapolis, has sparked protests, clashes, and heartbreaking loss of life. We’ve seen a U.S. citizen, Renee Nicole Good, fatally shot by an ICE agent on January 7 during a confrontation that escalated out of control. Just days later, on January 14, a Venezuelan migrant was wounded in the leg after allegedly ambushing an agent. And now, the unrest has spread westward: In Santa Ana, 21-year-old Kaden Rummler, protesting against ICE’s actions, was permanently blinded in one eye by a “less lethal” round fired by a federal agent at close range.
These incidents are not isolated; they are symptoms of a deeper national wound, one that cries out for biblical wisdom, repentance, and a return to God-ordained order.
Biblical Call for Borders
Scripture is clear: We are called to a world where authority is respected, as outlined in Romans 13:1-4, which reminds us that “there is no authority except that which God has established” and that rulers are “God’s servants” to wield the sword for good. In a broken world marred by sin, secure borders are not an act of cruelty but of stewardship.
Think of Nehemiah, who rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls not out of hatred for outsiders, but to protect God’s people and ensure justice within the community (Nehemiah 2:17-20). Biblical borders reflect this: welcoming the sojourner with mercy (Leviticus 19:33-34) while upholding laws that prevent chaos and harm.
When cities like Minneapolis defy federal immigration enforcement through sanctuary policies, they invite the very disorder we’re witnessing: overwhelmed local police, taxpayer-funded overtime for thousands of agents, and tragic escalations that endanger everyone.
Upholding authority is no excuse for unnecessary violence.
When Leaders Fan the Flames
Leaders like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have fanned the flames with rhetoric that primes the pump for violence. Walz’s defense of sanctuary status and Frey’s calls for resistance—framing federal agents as oppressors rather than enforcers of law—have created a toxic atmosphere where protests turn volatile. They’ve suggested that defying ICE is not just necessary but morally imperative, echoing the divisive discourse of their party that paints border security as xenophobia.
We need to demand more from our leaders. Such words sow seeds of anarchy, leading ordinary people, misguided by the narrative, to take actions that spiral into harm.
Who Pays the Price?
Consider Renee Good and Kaden Rummler.
Renee, a 37-year-old mother and American citizen, lost her life in a shooting amid the Metro Surge operation. Renee was obstructing traffic and made an attempt to run over a federal officer.
Please hear me on this: the officer had every right to defend himself. She made decisions she knew were wrong and, unfortunately, suffered the consequences. All of this can be true while still acknowledging that death is sad. To the spouse, family, and children she leaves behind, we can show compassion and empathy.
Young Kaden in Santa Ana joined an anti-ICE vigil that turned chaotic. He and his fellow protestors stormed towards officers, resulting in one of them shooting a non-lethal round into his eye. Kaden underwent six hours of surgery to remove shards from his face. Now, he is blind in his left eye; his life is forever altered.
The Right Vs. The Left
Some voices on the Right are using the cruel celebrations and mockery that erupted online when Charlie Kirk was assassinated as justification to be harsh, mean, or mocking to those on the Left today.
Charlie, like the ICE agent who fired in what he believed was self-defense, and like every person caught in these tragedies, had a family who loved him deeply—people grieving, children missing their dad, spouses facing a future forever altered.
Yes, self-defense remains a biblical and constitutional cornerstone for protecting the innocent, but repaying evil with evil only multiplies the darkness and gets us nowhere.
As Christians, we are called to be set apart: to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21), to bless those who persecute us, and to remember that every human being, even those we fiercely disagree with, bears the image of God and is someone’s beloved child, spouse, or parent.
We must refuse to let vengeance harden our hearts into the very “Men without Chests” C.S. Lewis warned against—people stripped of moral depth, driven only by rage rather than the love and justice Christ modeled on the cross.
Who is REALLY to Blame?
I don’t believe Kaden or Renee took the right path; their actions, fueled by the left’s alarmist rhetoric about “ICE Nazis” and impending fascism, contributed to the escalation. But they didn’t deserve to be wounded or killed. The Bible speaks extensively on personal accountability, but it also speaks on compassion.
Proverbs 24:17 says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.”
Our nation has descended into a heartbreaking place where we no longer see one another as image-bearers of God, beloved children made in His likeness, but as enemies to be vilified, dehumanized, and destroyed.
Whether we believe someone “deserved” it or not, the deeper tragedy is what we are becoming: a people who, in the name of justice or ideology, are forging perpetrators of violence from our own brothers and sisters.
As Christians, we should be showing and extending love across all divisions.
As Christians, we should focus on doing God’s work, not the government’s.
As Christians, we can and should feel profound sorrow for those who mourn.
What Now?
This chaos is a wake-up call: Our nation is in rebellion against God’s design for order. The protests, complete with roadblocks, stolen weapons from ICE vehicles, and threats of the Insurrection Act, reveal a spiritual malaise.
Liberal leaders’ defiance has amplified human suffering, turning compassion for immigrants into a shield for lawlessness.
In this broken world, secure borders aren’t walls of exclusion but gates of justice, ensuring safety for all under God’s authority.
As conservative Christians, we must lead with repentance over rebellion.
Let us pray for leaders like Walz and Frey to turn from incitement and embrace reconciliation.
Let us model the balance Scripture demands: Supporting ICE as ministers of good while condemning abuse.
Let us grieve every loss, extend love across divides, focus on God’s work rather than government’s, and pray for healing before more hearts harden
Hannah Nelson is the Vice President of American Faith Media. Any opinions or independent views expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any affiliated organizations or publishers.
