Defending the Marginalized

God cares about the fatherless, the widow, the poor, the oppressed, and the foreigner. He commands us to care for them.

Yet we do all we can to get away from this command.

We say it's the State's job and not ours. Even though God commanded US to care for them.

We label them "undeserving". Even though we don't DESERVE God's grace and God didn't add qualifiers like "if they're deserving" 

We spiritualize it and don't meet their needs because we are just praying for them. Even though James condemned faith without action.

We focus on side issues and political hot button issues to the exclusion of God's commands. Even though these were not optional commands from God.

We give up saying that the world is broken and won't be fixed until Jesus returns, so we're just going to have to live with others being oppressed so we won't be inconvenienced. Even though we are told to live justly and walk humbly with God.

Instead of being concerned with OUR rights, let us be the group that speaks up for the groups that society marginalizes. Instead of using our voices to speak on OUR behalf, let us amplify the voices of those being oppressed and ignored. 

Then we will be obeying God's command to care for the fatherless, the widow, the poor, the oppressed, and the foreigner.