We shall elaborate here (with Scripture), on some of the specific advocacy subjects encompassed within this page’s general theme:

1) Giving Access to Justice :  
In short, this means redress for injuries or wrongs done to the poor and needy, having recourse through proper judicial processes to vindicate any of their violated rights (of any sort). The Lord asks us to help pursue their cause, defend their rights, seek justice for them, and be sure they aren’t deprived of justice in courts and elsewhere. See Prov 31:8-9 (above); Ps 82:3 ( defend , uphold their cause ); Prov 22:22 ( don’t crush the needy in court); Is 1:17,23 ( take up their cause ); Eze 22:29 (it’s evil to deny them justice); Amos 5:12 (sin of depriving poor of justice in court).

A few additional Scriptures illustrate the importance of access to justice, and are worth studying: Dt 24:17-18; Zec 7:9-10; Isaiah 10:1 ( don’t deprive , or withhold justice); Jer 5:28 (the wicked fail to defend the poor); 7:6 (don’t oppress): 22:3 (don’t harm). The sad reality in many nations (developing or developed), is that the poor lack the economic means to pursue their own rights and seek justice (as they typically can’t afford good legal services); in corrupt countries , they will simply be “outbid” by wealthier opponents, and be denied justice.

2) Assisting the poor and needy in tangible, material ways, to prevent their harm :
This can also be called basic Christian charity . Scripture teaches us this is part of doing Justice, and specifically calls us in the Body of Christ to provide aid to the poor, needy, and vulnerable. In doing so, they should become less vulnerable to abuse, oppression, and exploitation . And if they are in this state, Justice calls for intervention , including rescuing and delivering them (or assisting in that effort). See Is 58:6 (set free); Jer 22:3 (rescue), (see more on this idea of intervention , below, and in the next Square.)

3) Stopping Sex-trafficking, Human Trafficking, and Modern Day Slavery :
The sorts of injustices mentioned here have become so prolific, globally widespread, and problematic in recent times (impacting millions), that we have decided to cover them in a separate section, next (although they clearly involve rights of the poor, needy, vulnerable, oppressed, and exploited in the most acute and horrific ways).

4) Protecting Refugees, Migrant Labor and other Workers :
The same issues about vulnerability discussed above, apply here. Refugees face inhumane living situations in refugee camps (starvation, sickness, unsanitary living conditions, lack of privacy and dignity, etc.). As noted above, Scripture highlights 4 vulnerable groups of people, historically needing our help and attention (the orphan, widow, foreigner, and the poor). Sadly, refugees typically include all of these (and not just the foreigner status). However, asylum laws under the Geneva Conventions and other international practices, don’t offer solace and help to migrants because of their economic hardships. Accordingly, this calls for active compassion from the Body of Christ and others to improve situations in refugee camps, and for other struggling migrants, since asylum and other laws may be of little help.

Scripture accordingly teaches us to care for the foreigner seeking asylum, refuge, or other legal admission into another county. An important and separate question altogether, however, is determining who should be allowed to enter another county in the first place. This right depends minimally on the alien’s non-hostility, and his/her clear willingness to honor and abide by that country’s rules and laws. Scripture notes this distinction in giving care, and care is expected for those who so agree to abide lawfully.

Finally, Scripture reminds us that employers must pay their workers a fair wage and not exploit them, and this includes domestic workers, as well as migrant ones (Jer 22:13; James 5:3-5).

5) Curtailing Violence,“General Thuggery,” and Other Mistreatment of the Poor:
The Scriptures above pretty thoroughly cover this already. To highlight, Jer 22:3 says,  “. . . Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner , the fatherless , or the widow , and do not shed innocent blood . . . .”  Since evil invents multiple forms of mistreatment against the poor, this serves as a catchall category: “ violence ” (we will handle trafficking issues in another section).

(Authors: © Patrick and Kathy Talbot, August 5, 2023)

Note: The last two references (in Jeremiah) supplement admonitions to serve these people with a further command not to shed innocent blood (see Life Advocacy Resources, above).