2014 Congressional Elections The Biblical Basis for Advocacy to End Hunger | Page 5

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All creation is reconciled with God through Jesus
Christ, and we are to be agents of reconciliation.

The message of reconciliation has always been foremost in
the mind of God, from the separation of Adam and Eve in the
garden (Genesis 3:9) to the hope of the New Jerusalem, when
“God will dwell with them; they will be his peoples” (Revelation 21:3). God so loved us that he sent Jesus, Immanuel, to be God with us
(Matthew 1:23).
The ultimate act of reconciliation between God and humankind is
Christ’s life, death, and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). In Christ there
is peace with God, with our brothers and sisters, and even with creation itself. In Jesus, God reconciled all things (Colossian 1:15-20). One of the early
marks of the Church was its care for those who had need (Acts 2:42-47, 4:3235) and its understanding that an essential component of ministry is caring
for the marginalized. (James 1:27; Acts 6:1). Just as Jesus is now our advocate
(1 John 2:1-2), we can be advocates for those in need of justice (Micah 6:8).

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God loves justice and requires us to do justice and
love kindness.

The Lord is “a God of justice” (Isaiah 30:18). God loves justice (Isaiah 61:8; Psalm 99:4; Psalm 33:5) and requires us to do
justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8;
Amos 5:22-24). Our individual actions and societal structures
should enable all to share in God’s provision: “… do not be hard-hearted or
tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor” (Deuteronomy 15:7-11).
In Exodus 16:13-19, God instructs the Israelites not to take more manna
each day than they need. In Leviticus 23:22, the Israelites reserved a corner
of their fields for those who needed food. Jesus spoke of the importance of
justice as an element of faithfulness: “But woe to you Pharisees! For you
tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of
God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others”
(Luke 11:42). The community in Acts 2:44-45 “had all things in common;
they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to
all, as any had need.” In 2 Corinthians 8:13-15, Paul reminds the church to
balance “…your present abundance and their need….”

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