from 50 Ways You Can be Pro-Life

by Tony Campolo and Gordon Aeschliman

God has called the church to demonstrate a special concern for those who are being unjustly treated. Many times in the Old Testament we read how God intends to punish the people of Israel because they oppress the poor. God looks upon those who are "bullied" by others in the same way a parent looks upon his or her child who is being pushed around by the school bully. And it should not surprise us. The Scriptures tell us that we were conceived in love. We are the children of God. And he is a God of great compassion toward the oppressed---but great anger toward the oppressor.

Too often the church has stood by silently while governments have oppressed their people. The innocent are defenseless and voiceless. If we do not speak up for them, no one will. In the prolife movement we understand that logic. We most often speak up for the voiceless person in the womb. It is exactly this kind of compassion that then moves us to speak up for those who are unjustly harmed outside the womb.

It is not always easy to engage in this type of ministry because we will often discover that as Christians we are the ones that need to do the repenting. That was not the case when we called for the protection of the child in the womb. We were on some kind of righteous crusade. We were talking about the sins of others. But as we begin to widen our focus of oppression to include Native American Indians, Mexicans, black South Africans and the like, we are faced with the disturbing reality that we have often been willing to go along with a kind of racism. And that is what most often makes oppression of others possible.

If you have not worked for justice outside the womb, you are entering new and probably unfamiliar territory. We have a few suggestions:

• Read a magazine that will help you to focus on these kinds of needs. We would suggest something like Sojourners or The ESA Advocate [now Prism-ed.].

• Read a book that will begin to orient you to the biblical mandate for justice. Jim Wallis’s Agenda for Biblical People is a classic.

• Join Amnesty International. Their specific focus is on political prisoners, government abuse and torture. In addition to adding to the membership, which give the organization more clout when it confronts oppressive regimes, you will be encouraged to write personally to officials who are harming others. You can make a difference: an outpouring of letters has been documented in certain cases as being a major key in the release of a person from prison.
• Link up with a group of local Christians who are trying to work for justice. Ask God to help you be a shining light for his just standards as you advocate on behalf of those who experience unfair treatment regarding housing, employment or education.