LeeAnne:
In
the Christian tradition, the title of “Advocate” is a designation for the Holy
Spirit. To engage in advocacy means to give a voice to truth, to speak on
behalf of another who has less power, one with less privilege or status. We
look to Jesus’ many examples of advocacy to see that our call as Christians
includes speaking up for the powerless and working for justice. Yet taking
action can be frightening. We tell ourselves that we don’t know enough about
the issue, that someone else can speak better than we can, or that our voice
doesn’t matter. The little voices in our head say, “How can I? Not me!”
The
truth is that people just like you and me—with jobs, families, church
obligations, and evening soccer practices—can make a big difference simply by
sharing our values and personal stories with decision-makers. People of faith
in particular can articulate the moral voice for the health of God’s creation
and our neighbors, which encourages legislators to vote for the common good.
All we are asked to do in striving for justice is to leave our comfort zones—to
leave behind our reluctance to speak up, to take action. As we open our hearts
and accept Jesus’ invitation to join him in advocating for a better world, we
hear his comforting words: “Do not be afraid.”
This is the first of three posts by Guest Writers LeeAnne, Amanda & Yaira. Please join their conversation by leaving a comment below.
