Speak on Behalf of Others

In Southern Baptist Sunday School, we memorized LOTS of Bible verses, so I briefly knew lots of verses growing up. However, I’d never read the entire Bible - all the books, all the verses - until recently when I took a class at church.   

As I read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, I kept seeing verses that said to take care of the poor, the sick, the needy, etc. It surprised me how many verses focused on that message: take care of the marginalized. I just don’t remember memorizing those verses in Sunday School.

Taking care of others is one of the most repetitive messages in the Bible:

• If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.  Deuteronomy 15:7 

• For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.” Deuteronomy 15:11 

• The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. Psalm 37:21 

• Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Proverbs 14:21 

• Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. Proverbs 14:31 

• Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17

• The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9 

• Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16 

• You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.  2 Corinthians 9:11 

• Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Galatians 2:10 

• Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Ephesians 4:28 

• They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share. 1 Timothy 6:18 

• What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17 

We are definitely expected to take care of the less fortunate. Jesus spent a lot of time focusing on the marginalized: the poor, the sick and disabled, women, outcasts, foreigners, and others. We need to advocate for the marginalized. 

Here's a quick AI lesson: When someone or a group of people is marginalized, they are treated as less important or are pushed to the edge of society, limiting their opportunities and access to resources. This often happens due to factors like race, gender, socioeconomic status, or disability. They may face discrimination, exclusion from full participation in society, and unequal treatment, hindering their ability to thrive. Examples of marginalized groups: This can include racial and ethnic minorities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, low-income individuals, and immigrants, among others. 

As a retired school counselor, I’ve always had a heart for the marginalized, but since I left the church in my 20s, and even though I found a healthy church to attend a few years ago, I didn't read the entire Bible until recently. I guess that's why it really did shock me to see so many verses with the same message: care for those in need. It encouraged me to discover that my beliefs about how to treat the marginalized lined up with biblical expectations. It became quite apparent that ignoring and/or shaming the marginalized is not supposed to be promoted or accepted.

A few months ago, I participated in Mega Marcha 2025 for Bipartisan Immigration Reform in downtown Dallas. Two weeks ago, I called politicians regarding HB2 and the Affordable Care Act. Last weekend, I protested along with many others regarding our current administration. This weekend, I called my Texas Representative and my Texas Senator and told them to vote NO on SB10 and SB12 and explained why they aren't in the best interest of Texans.

• As a woman, I’m concerned.

• As a retired educator, I’m concerned.

• As an Ally, I’m concerned.

• As a Texan, I'm concerned.

• As an American, I’m concerned.

• As a human, I’m concerned.

Why do I bother? I'll confess that I'm one of the fortunate ones: a retired, middle-class, middle-aged, cisgender, straight, white woman who was born in this country.  So that is why I MUST bother! Those of us who are fortunate, need to stand up for those who are not. We need to advocate for the marginalized.

We need to speak up - when we can. We need to shout out - if we must.

• I march because I’m fortunate.
• I protest because I’m fortunate.
• I call my state and national politicians because I'm fortunate.

I feel like it’s my responsibility to speak on behalf of those who are poor, those who are jobless, those who are homeless, those who seek safety for themselves and their children, and for all those who are marginalized. 

Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31