Courageous Women Advocating True Social Justice (Part 2 of 2 in Series)
Probably the most prominent woman in Old Testament Scripture who fought courageously for social justice was Queen Esther. Her whole story, described in the Biblical book called by her name, illustrates the valor of one woman, in a situation completely out of her control. Esther risks her own life to save her people from the diabolical plot of wicked Haman, and God blesses her efforts and saves the whole Jewish population. She could have been killed by her husband, King Ahasuerus, who reigned over all of Persia, from India to Ethiopia, when she showed up to speak to the king without being called. But God called her to save her people. She was safe because “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord” (Proverbs 21:1), and God called Esther to the kingdom “for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14). Therefore, the Lord caused King Ahasuerus to show favor to her when she entered his presence uninvited, and he “extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand.” (Esther 5:2) As she courageously and brilliantly exposes Haman’s scheme, God brings salvation to the Jewish people through her actions, saving thousands of innocent lives, and bringing Haman to justice, where ironically, he was hanged on the same gallows he had built to kill Queen Esther’s Uncle Mordecai.
Esther was the woman of the hour, the woman of wisdom in her day, courageously fighting for social justice. Throughout Scripture, God inspired and commissioned courageous women to stand for and fight for the lives of the helpless and innocent. Women such as Shiphrah and Puah, the Jewish midwives in the days of Pharoah when he tried to destroy the male babies born to the women of Israel. There was Rahab, the harlot, who believed in Israel’s God and hid the spies. And other women including Jael, Deborah, and Abigail. There were courageous women of faith in the early church like Lydia who played a major role as a church planter. Priscilla worked alongside her husband and the apostle Paul during a time of great persecution. Eunice and Lois taught little Timothy in the faith, even though Timothy’s father was not a follower of Messiah. In the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11, we read that “women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment…of whom the world was not worthy.” (Hebrews 11:35-37)
After the Scriptures were complete, courageous women of faith arose throughout history who fought for the rights of the poor, the helpless, the marginalized. Women in history like Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth I, Florence Nightingale, Rosa Parks, Edith Cavell, and Mother Theresa.
During the reign of Hitler, women, along with men, fought for true social justice, and saved the lives of many Jews from certain death by the Nazi army. Women including Corrie ten Boom and Irena Sendlar, both of who are memorialized as “Righteous Among the Nations” at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. In fact, “a little over half of the Righteous Among the Nations recognized by Yad Vashem are women.”
All of these women are amazing, brave women, willing to die for the rights of others. God has put this same fire in each of us for our good, for the good of others, and for His glory. But we cannot live on the glory of past days. We cannot stand on the courage of those women and say we would have stood firmly against slavery or that we would not have allowed Hitler to do what he did. We believe we would have been courageous. We believe that we, too, would not have tolerated Pharoah’s or Herod’s killing of infant Hebrew boys. We want to believe we would have been strong and true and protected the innocent. But today, here we are. We have unborn children murdered by the thousands each day. What are we doing to “deliver” these babies from death? What about human trafficking? According to Wikipedia, about 17,500 people are trafficked in the US each year, small in comparison to the world trafficking issue, but each life matters to God. What are we doing to stop it? What are we doing to help the poor, the hopeless, the orphan, the widow, the single mom. How are we helping those who suffer with severe disabilities? What are we doing to help the countless refugees around the world, displaced because of terrorism and war? Are we willing to risk our lives or sacrifice our comfortable lifestyles to help save lives?
I want to recognize several, “ordinary” women who live today who are courageously standing for true social justice. Some have written for ProverbWise this month. Others are family and friends who sacrifice their time, energy, and personal comfort to rescue and “deliver those who are being taken way to death…”
First I want to mention my baby sister, Jen, a mother of four young children, whose favorite quote on Facebook comes from the Bible, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul?” She has a beautiful comfortable home and could stay at home and enjoy the wonderful gifts God has given her and her family, ignoring the horrible things that take place out in the world. But instead, every Tuesday she loads up her little ones and goes to the local Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, not to harass people and say unkind things. Not to attack those who work there. (As some have stereo-typed people who fight for the lives of pre-born babies – and it is true that some are harsh and vindictive, which is NOT the way of Jesus, the way of the cross.) Jen, instead of spewing hate to those who perform abortions, offers love and alternatives to women who believe that they have no other option but abortion. Her mission: “Bringing the Gospel and true choices to the families entering the abortion facility and loving our unborn neighbor.”
Then, there is my niece, Kimberly Rae, who promotes awareness of Human Trafficking. Kim’s verse, “He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4:18) This was Jesus speaking, but Jesus sends us out to be the salt and light of the world, to do His work, to fulfil His purposes. Kim’s challenge, “Know Your Worth, Change the World!”
My sister, Michelle, is creating awareness regarding human trafficking in New Orleans. She became aware of this serious issue in 2013 when the Superbowl came to her city. In addition, when she participated in a missions trip to Peru in 2014, another area of need came to her attention. She and a team from her church went there to build a house for a single mom and her children. The experience changed her perspective and gave her a deep desire to help the young girls in Peru and other like them. These girls are pretty much “stuck” in a life of poverty, in spite of their intelligence and desire to change. They just have no way to get an education, no money, no opportunity. Through her friend, Dr. Bev Smallwood, also an advocate battling for those enslaved through human trafficking, Michelle became an independent consultant for Rodan + Fields. Through this organization, Michelle and Dr. Bev, have opportunities to give back and help the poor and the helpless and the hopeless.
Many other women I know promote social justice in their communities and around the world. Brenda Antinore of “She Has a Name”, a branch of Seeds of Hope Ministries in Camden reaches out to women in drug addiction that eventually leads to prostitution. Lynn Jahns and her staff at Barbara’s Place, serve women in addiction through this in-house program at America’s Keswick. Theresa Salazar and her husband facilitate an NARANON group, giving them opportunities to reach out to families who are broken because of drug addiction and offering them hope in Jesus. There is Project Hannah, a ministry birthed by Marli Spieker, Brazilian missionary with Transworld Radio and author of When Hope Wins. Marli has now passed the torch to Peggy Banks, and Project Hannah continues to offer compassion, encouragement and hope to suffering women worldwide through prayer, awareness and radio programming.
My friends, Barb, Cornelia, Marge, and others are actively serving with Operation Christmas Child, bringing hope and the gospel to millions of children worldwide. My friend Elizabeth, a very busy mom and pastor’s wife, endlessly opens her home to abused, neglected, unwanted children, including drug babies and alcohol syndrome babies, as a foster parents for many years, adopting and raising six of these children in addition to her own biological child. My niece, Larie, and her husband, also take in foster children, and have adopted a precious little girl into their family, along with three children of their own. Debbie, a friend from my church in FL as a kid, sits with the suffering at hospitals and cares for those who need help, giving of herself to meet the needs of those who have no one else. Cynthia Nichols left her own life to help her brother Dan and the church plant team start Restored Church in the depressed downtown area of Wilkes-Barre, PA. I could go on naming others, but time will not permit. My prayer is that these women, past and present, will inspire each of us to do something to stand up for what is right and good in our time.
Eleanor Roosevelt gave this challenge, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”
Standing for truth and justice, often alone in a world that seems to have gone crazy, is very scary, but it is necessary, if we are to do what God has called us to do! Jesus tells us it will be scary – and dangerous! “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) A cross is scary, but if must be willing to die if we are going to obey God and be true followers of Jesus, true advocates of social justice.
God has called His people today to “deliver those being taken away to death, to hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.” And “who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” This was the question Mordecai had for Queen Esther, and this is the question we are faced with today in this culture. We have been placed in this world today for a reason. We have the opportunity to speak up for those who are being “taken away to death” by the enemy, Satan. There are many ways that Satan deceives and captures the hearts of people. (II Timothy 2:26) He “goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8) “He is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44), and he comes only “to steal, kill, and destroy.” (John 10:10) We cannot live on the victories of those who have gone before. The issues of their day were different than those we are faced with today. We must be alert to the schemes of the devil. We need to understand this is our time to stand for truth and promote justice. This is our opportunity and our privilege. We have been charged by God to do what needs to be done NOW, for such a time is this!
I leave you with these questions:
- What are you doing to “deliver those being led away to death?”
- What is God calling you to do?
- What are you willing to sacrifice to “hold back those staggering to the slaughter?”
- What is one “scary” thing you can do today in regard to social justice?
- Are you willing to step out in faith and do it?
- Will you commit yourself to “trust in the Lord with all your heart”?
- Will you acknowledge Him and allow Him to direct your paths?
I would love to hear from you, if God has taught you something today. I pray that the stories of these women have inspired you and that God will lead you in becoming a courageous woman of wisdom, advocating true social justice as Jesus did, when He came “to heal the broken hearted and set the captive free.”