The Accuser vs The Advocate: Examining Jesus' Role in Defending the Marginalized

In today’s modern world, there are many causes that advocate for the marginalized and oppressed. While Jesus Christ is an advocate for all people, Christians must be wary of some modern day causes that challenge or even contradict scripture.

The Bible warns us of Satan as “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10) and as a deceiver who transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). When Christians stand for the truth as clearly expressed in the word, they may be accused of hate by champions of these causes. However, Jesus himself said that “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32), and that we should “know the truth and the truth will make you free” (John 8:36). The Bible is full of examples where God’s people were persecuted for standing up for what was right, even though they were innocent. This is because Satan is a liar and a deceiver, and he wants to keep people from knowing the truth. Jesus said that “when he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Champions of causes that challenge or contradict scripture may claim to love marginalized people, but their false teachings only lead them further away from freedom.

1 John 2:1 says that Jesus is our advocate with the Father. He is therefore the true advocate for the marginalized, as described in Luke 4:18-19. It is extremely important to note this fact because Jesus warned us that there will be false prophets and teachers in the world who will, in the nature of the subtle serpent of Genesis 3:1, propagate such strong deceptions that "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect"(Matthew 24:24). When Jesus came to earth, He identified with the marginalized and oppressed. He spoke out against the false teachings of the religious leaders of his day, and He defended the innocent who were persecuted. We should be careful not to be deceived by false teachings that claim to love marginalized people, but only lead them further away from the freedom found in the truth of God's word. Jesus Christ is our hope and our salvation, and we can trust in his Word above all else.

Identifying false advocates and mistaken causes starts with discerning the engineers of falsehood. Jesus said to “know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16). If a particular cause or movement is not in accordance with God’s Word and furthering His kingdom, then it should be avoided. False teachers often resort to accusations when exposed by the truth of God's word. In 2 Peter 2:1-11 and Jude 1:8-9, we see how these false teachers are characterized by their immoral lifestyle, love of money, and willingness to deceive people. When their false teachings are exposed, they become angry and try to discredit those who are exposing them. They often resort to slander and lies in order to deflect attention from the truth.

We must be careful not to be deceived by these false teachers. Jesus warned us that they would come, and that we should "watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (Matthew 7:15). We need to be equipped with the truth of God's word so that we can identify these false teachers for what they are. When we stand up for the truth, we may face opposition from those who advocate for falsehoods, but Jesus is our advocate and he will always fight on our behalf.

The Bible tells us that Jesus was hated without a cause and falsely accused (John 15:25). His followers can expect to suffer the same fate, especially if they stand up for the truth. Jesus said to his disciples "Remember the words I spoke to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (John 15:20). We must be prepared to face opposition when we stand up for what is right, but we can rest in the knowledge that Jesus is with us every step of the way.

Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the true advocate for all people - especially those who are marginalized and oppressed. We must be cautious of any modern day causes that challenge or contradict scripture, for Jesus is the only one who can provide us with true justice and mercy. By using our discernment skills to identify false advocates and knowing the truth through scripture, we can ensure that Jesus Christ remains the true advocate for all people.