Why was Israel never told to go and barricade the ovens of Moloch to prevent child sacrifice? Why wasn’t Martha picketing Caesar’s Palace for a minimum wage, or the Apostles petitioning Agrippa for cultural and religious equity? And why, if Onesimus was indeed a slave, did Paul encourage him to be reconciled with his master when he could have made Onesimus a first-century poster boy for racial justice and himself an anti-slave campaigner?
Because the Bible calls us to be advocates, not activists.
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. (Isaiah 1:17)
In a very real sense, Israel was barricading the ovens by not sending their own children there. In this way, Israel was a light on a hill. A community who, by their conduct, would show the nation’s around them the way of righteousness (Deuteronomy 4:6).
Likewise, Paul was arguing for a better way when he appealed to Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother (Philemon 1:16).
And, just as Christ was an advocate for all humanity in His life, death and resurrection, so the disciples became advocates for the kingdom of God on earth and goodwill among men in their prayers, protests and petitions to God.
Activists rely on people power and make their appeal to, “The Department of”. Advocates petition God.
…in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Activists make their petition on behalf of cows, clouds and faceless communities. Advocates make their petition on behalf of actual people.
Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. (Isaiah 1:17)
For activists it’s abstract. It’s all about the cause. For advocates it’s personal. It’s all about your neighbour. And so, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit into the neighbourhood as our Advocate, our Comforter (John 14:16).
Abigail was an advocate for her family when she made her plea to David, asking him to spare her household despite her husband’s stupidity (1 Samuel 25:23-25). David was an advocate for reconciliation when he invited King Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, to the dinner table.
Obadiah, a servant in the household of wicked King Ahab, was an advocate and comforter, at the risk of his own neck, for one hundred actual men with actual names when he hid and fed Israel’s prophets, shielding them from the king’s edict to kill them all (1 Kings 18:4).
We are to be advocates for widows and orphans – those who cannot defend or sustain themselves. These are real people with real names. People that we know.
This advocacy does not preclude real men from petitioning real governments on behalf of a collection of real people, as was the case with William Wilberforce who stood before the British parliament on behalf of those caught up in the slave trade.
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9)
But what biblical advocacy (in contrast to activism) does preclude are Christian mobs picketing earthly seats of power with posters and anonymous petitions. It forbids bully unions who gather to threaten and coerce. It forbids smashing windows and trashing other people’s hard work with pumpkin coloured paint.
Like the biblical definition of charity, advocacy in scripture is personal and if designed to bring comfort. It requires loving an actual neighbour or an actual brother in Christ. It means facing actual opposition to real men.
Christian advocacy means defending and upholding the things which God commands us to uphold and defend on behalf of others by upholding them ourselves.
Jesus, our Great Advocate is described by Haggai as the desire or treasure of all nations (Haggai 2:7) who came to shake the earth. That is, Jesus is what the nations treasure. Behind all their hustle, bustle and plant-based idolatry, Jesus is what they desire. Not because of His pleasant words, but because of His righteousness. Not because of His activism, but because of His advocacy before the Father on behalf of all men.
Activists like to think they can shake the earth by demanding that others do what they say. The gospel teaches us to be advocates who, like a City on a Hill, shake the earth by doing what is right in the sight of all men (Matthew 5:15-16).
This means that, in the ordinary scheme of things, the best way to defend biblical marriage, is to have one. The best way to advocate for the right to a private conscience for other believers is to consistently exercise your own right to a private conscience. It means that the best way to defend the rights of the unborn, in the ordinary day-to-day scheme of things, is to have babies.
It means that the best way to advocate for a widow is by actually providing for her needs, and not demanding that Caesar do it for you. It means that the best way to start defending the poor is to work hard yourself so that you will have something to give those in need (Ephesians 4:28), rather that demanding that Caesar hand over someone else’s cash.
It’s this kind of advocacy that brings about a righteousness to be desired and a comfort for those in doubt.
Advocacy, not activism.
All of which requires, actual courage and humility, and a willingness to suffer on behalf of, and for the sake of, the guy sitting beside you.
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