Is Your Fight My Fight?

I am a native born American. I don't fear deportation. I am a married heterosexual woman. I do not fear homophobia. I am a law-abiding citizen. I do not fear the law. Why should I care what happens to people who are not like me? Because as a Christian, the Bible tells me to care, even to do more than care. We are to look beyond ourselves.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, the prophet Isaiah frequently speaks about the importance of seeking justice, particularly emphasizing the need to defend the oppressed, plead for the widow, and take up the cause of the fatherless. A prominent verse highlighting this is Isaiah 1:17, which states "Learn to do right; seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.". The group of people the prophet is talking about are the very people we overlook and dismiss for various reasons. Isaiah often condemns the leaders and society when they fail to uphold justice and oppress the poor. We are supposed to care about the plight of people who are not like us.

Isaiah was not the only prophet advocating for justice. The prophet Amos is most notably known for his strong message about social justice, often calling for "justice to roll down like waters" (Amos 5:24). Meaning that justice should be readily available and abundant for all people, especially the poor and oppressed. He heavily criticizes the wealthy and powerful for their exploitation of the vulnerable and lack of concern for true justice. Amos criticizes the religious practices of his time, arguing that mere rituals and offerings are meaningless without genuine commitment to justice and righteousness. 

The New Testament emphasizes justice as a core theme, from Matthew to Revelation. It calls for individuals to do justice by loving their neighbors and helping those in need. America has done this through USAID.

Trump campaigned on an “America First” platform after unsuccessfully trying to slash the foreign assistance budget during his first term in office. The U.S. provides about $60 billion in nonmilitary humanitarian and development aid annually — less than 1% of the federal budget, but far more than any other country. The complex network of organizations who carry out the work is managed by the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

A Chicago Council Survey fielded June 21–July 1, 2024, finds Americans broadly agree when it comes to government spending on domestic programs, including Social Security, healthcare, education, and public infrastructure projects. However, as conflicts escalate overseas, the US public is somewhat divided over how much should be spent on defense and foreign aid. Perhaps influenced by recent congressional debates over continued US assistance to Ukraine and Israel, half of those surveyed in 2024 say the US government should cut back its spending on military (50%) and economic (51%) aid to other nations. We don't want our money and resources going to help our neighbors anymore. Forget the poor, oppressed, fatherless, and injustices that befall them, as long as we (America) are doing fine. Right?

There were prominent people warning what a second Donald Trump presidency would look like. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Trump would have a "hit list" of people he would have revenge on. Ultimately, Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States, and fear filled many of its citizens. With him barely into his first 100 days of his presidency, there is disturbing if not shocking undertakings by the president daily.

With the help of Elon Musk, a billionaire many times over, all USAID humanitarian work has effectively stopped, current and former officials say (February 2025). Organizations that provide vital care for desperate and vulnerable people around the world have been forced to halt operations, turn away patients and lay off staff. The staffers at a half dozen U.S.-funded medical facilities in Sudan who care for severely malnourished children had a choice to make: Defy President Donald Trump’s order to immediately stop their operations or let up to 100 babies and toddlers die. Trump is successful this term in stopping aid to those who are not American with the support and cheers of Americans. Trump says it is a waist or misuse of taxpayer's money helping other nations not caring that the reputation of the United States as being a compassionate country will be lost along with important strategic alliances. 

It would be a mistake to believe a person can be callous to the needs of one group but care greatly about your same needs. Injustice unchecked will eventually land on everyone's doorstep. Lack of compassion spills over onto all not in the circle of the person in power. The definition of who is "us" becomes small squeezing almost everyone out. Eventually, anyone needing any sort of help is looked down upon. HELP YOURSELF will reign supreme in hearts and minds. Christians are forgetting, we are the BODY of Christ, not individual parts looking out for itself. Christians can't have the attitude of "It's happening to you and not me" It's not biblical.

That is why the Christian is to take up the cause of those who are thrown away in society for one reason or another. Christians have stood strong for the rights of the unborn. They must also stand strong for the born, in all of their circumstances of life. They must stop the "DISEASE" of injustice at its very beginning, in areas where people tend not to care. In those not looked at areas, the root has time to grow STRONG. A strong root ensures a healthy growth of injustice able to spread and thrive. This spread is when people say it has come to your doorstep. Because it had time to grow strong, it will be HARDER to get rid of. Like an invasive weed, injustice chokes out what is good. 

The Christian is to understand better and to not tolerate any injustice to any individual or group. They are called to come to the aid of those oppressed and suffering, working to find solutions. The problem is most people don't understand or even validate OPPRESSION. Native Americans, African American communities, the LGBTQ community, and so many more have all voiced their feelings of oppression only to be dismissed. Defined, oppression is the unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power, the continued oppression of the underclasses. Something that oppresses especially in being an unjust or excessive exercise of power. It is sad so many people are fearful of President Trump and what he will potentially do while in power. But these fears are also dismissed. Dismissed by those who believe they will not be a part of injustice. Stay tuned. An effective leader would not be feared.

Evangelicals voted for Donald Trump in large numbers because they believe Democrat's platforms do not uphold biblical principles. They feel the Christian way of life is being eroded along with the family unit. Because Democrats do not stand against ABORTION and HOMOSEXUALITY, they are anti-word of God in the eyes of many Christians. The problem with this is, just because a group of people are being treated humanely does not mean you agree with their life choices. Those who do not follow Christian mandates still have rights. Those oppressed still deserve justice. The poor still need compassion. Two wrongs do not make a right. There is a difference between President Trump standing WITH Evangelicals or standing ON Evangelicals.

There is a quote that says "in order for evil to prevail, all that is necessary is for good men to do nothing" attributed to Edmund Burke, and it essentially means that if good people don't actively oppose evil, it will naturally flourish. All Christians should know this and what they are supposed to do for his neighbor.