Christian Advocacy
Why form a Christian advocacy organization?
The church at large is called to advocate on behalf of the poor.
The scriptures are full of verses that attest to God's concern for the poor and needy.1 There are more than 200 references in the Bible to God's love and concern for the poor, the afflicted and the homeless, and directions to God's people to help them.2
But the scriptures do more than display God's concern for the poor. They call the Church to take up the cause of the poor rand to seek justice on their behalf.3 The Psalms tell us to "[v}indicate the weak and the fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."4Proverbs calls us to "[s]peak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy"5 The Scriptures call the Church to advocacy for the poor. We are not just to feed the hungry, but also to defend them. We are not just to clothe the destitute, but also to speak up for them and uphold their rights. In other words, the call on the Church is to render aid for the physical needs of the poor, as well as their need for justice.
Notably, these words of Scripture are given to us in imperative form; they are commands not suggestions. The Christian Legal Society puts it this way:
These constitute plain directions to us, to the Church and to lawyers to relieve the poor of their distress in many different ways and see that they receive the same type of justice which those able to protect themselves and to retain lawyers are able to do.6
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1 Exodus 22:21-27; Lev. 19:9-10; Psalm 140:12; Luke 1:51b-53; James 1:9, 2:5. See also Tim Keller, Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road, P&R: Philipsburg. 1997. 2d ed., p. 40-42 ("Keller").
2 John D. Robb and Brent M. McBurney, "The Christian Legal Aid Priority of Volunteer Time and Contributions", p. 1, www.clsnet.org/laccPages/claCharter.php. ("CLA Charter"); See generally New York Christian Legal Aid, Inc. Desk Reference Manual, 1st ed., 2002, pp. 4-6. ("NYCLA").
3 See CLA Charter, p. 1; "Christian Legal Aid - God's Charge and the Response of the Church and of Christian Lawyers, Law Students and Paralegals", p. 1, www.clsnet.org/laccPages/chargeResponse.pdf. ("CLA Charge")
4 Psalms 82:3-4
5 Proverbs 31:8-9
6 CLA Charge, p. 1.