• Background Information
• Advocacy is a key component of effective social work. Individuals, families and communities who are vulnerable, marginalized, oppressed or overlooked need others to speak up for them. Advocating for people however is sometimes different than advocating for a cause. In our scripture reading for this week a woman who has done something wrong has been brought to Jesus. There is no question that she has done something wrong. As the Pharisee’s remind Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery”. Jesus never denies that the woman’s behavior was wrong. He never advocates for her cause (adultery should be OK, leave her alone, live and let live). But the question being brought to Jesus isn’t really one about behavior, but a question about solutions. The Pharisee’s see the solution as law. Punish the woman. Shame her by making her stand in front of the crowd and admit it. Stone her and make her pay for her sin and make her an example to everyone else. Jesus says there is a different solution to overcoming the problem. Jesus says the answer is not one of condemnation but of grace. The goal is the same. Jesus still wants her to leave her life of sin, but only Jesus knows that grace is the only way to get her there.
• The book of 1st John makes this abundantly clear as well, reminding us that Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for all sin (showing us grace). John also immediately tells us however, that those who truly know God and His grace keep His commands. The love of God never ignores sin, because sin is bad for us, but it does provide a solution to get us where we need to be that judgment and condemnation never can.
• As people, we don’t want to face our sin. We prefer to hide like Adam and Eve, ignore it, minimize it, justify it, excuse it, or blame it on our biology, history, circumstances, trauma’s, etc.. These things are all important, but the Bible never allows them to be excuses for sin. The only solution the Bible and Jesus offer is, repentance, grace and power to change. God loves us too much to leave us stuck in our sin and its damaging effects. His message of advocacy to all is “neither do I condemn you… now go and leave your life of sin”.
• Pray
• God, I confess that it is hard to face the reality of sin, in me and in others. Thank you to that you are a God of truth and love and that you love us enough to help us face the truth about ourselves so we can be free. Thank you for your atoning sacrifice for sin and for being our advocate when we do sin. Teach me how to advocate for people like you did, while helping to lead them to your solutions. Amen.
• Answer from a Christian stand point in order:
• What do you think the difference is between advocating for a cause and advocating for a person? Discuss your answer and give an example of how you have advocated for a person without advocating for his or her behavior.
• The most common solutions to sin and bad behavior are to avoid calling anything wrong or sin, to make everything OK as if nothing is really broken, to focus on being a victim and not having to take responsibility or to try and convince people to just accept sin for what it is because then it will all be OK and we can get along. The problem is, you can only take this argument so far. What about rape, murder or child abuse? Is anything ever wrong with anything? Discuss your thoughts on common solutions and responses to sin and your approach to holding people responsible for their behavior and choices while showing them solutions that stem from grace like Jesus did.
Sample Solution