top of page
Search

Kingdom Work in a Broken World: How You Can Join In

  • johannachen19
  • Sep 19
  • 4 min read

Updated: Sep 29

ree

Biblical Precedent for Defending the Vulnerable

In my last post, I shared about why Christians are engaging at the United Nations and how human rights advocacy connects with our faith. But that naturally raises another question: Is there actually a biblical foundation for this kind of work?


When we look at Scripture, the answer is a resounding yes. From Genesis, where every person is created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26), to Jesus’s ministry of proclaiming good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed (Isaiah 61; Luke 4), the Bible shows us that to follow Christ is to defend those who are vulnerable.


This isn’t just a side issue—it’s central to the Gospel.


As Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham puts it:

“The three pillars of the United Nations—its core functions—are peace-building, human rights and development. Christians have something to contribute in all these areas...” (2024)

And how incredible is that—that we actually get to bring God’s heart for these areas to the table?


In other words, the work of the UN overlaps with what Christians are already called to embody: peace, dignity, and justice. If we don’t step into these spaces, who will bring God’s heart to the table?


Living as Kingdom People within Broken Systems

It’s easy to get disillusioned or frustrated with the human systems.


Most of us can agree that there is great brokenness in the world today and the human-made systems have or are failing us.


I think that’s why I must remind my soul often that the Lord is the one who “is righteous, He loves justice” (Psalm 11:7), and that the Lord is the one who avenges and is a “God of justice” (Isaiah 30:18). 


If justice is at the very heart of God, then His people are called to mirror that heart in every space—even global and broken institutions like the UN.

This isn't about putting our ultimate hope in governments, but about being faithful witnesses wherever God has placed us.


Advocating for human rights is not a distraction from the Gospel but a reflection of it.


When we stand with refugees, defend religious freedom, or speak for those who have no voice, we are living out the love of Christ in tangible ways. It is how we love our neighbors, defend the weak, and bear witness to the image of God in every person. Our witness in this world is intertwined with how we love and respond to the needs of our neighbors and the most vulnerable (John 13:35). 


The question isn't whether these institutions are perfect—they're not. The question is whether we'll show up with the heart of our King, bringing His love, mercy, and truth into spaces that desperately need them.


As followers of Christ, we have the privilege and responsibility to model a biblical vision of justice, wholeness, and healing because we belong to the Kingdom of God.


An Invitation to Engage

If God’s heart beats for justice, and if we are called to reflect that heart even in broken systems, then the question becomes: what does this look like in practice? 


It’s one thing to affirm the biblical vision of justice, but another to live it out in our daily choices. Whether at the UN or in our own neighborhoods, each of us has a role to play in defending the vulnerable and bearing witness to God’s Kingdom.


Here are some ways you can engage:

  • Pray: Lift up persecuted Christians worldwide, refugees seeking safety, and those working in international advocacy. Prayer is our first and most powerful tool.

  • Learn: Stay informed about global religious freedom issues and human rights concerns. Organizations like the World Evangelical Alliance, Open Doors, and International Justice Mission provide excellent resources.

  • Advocate: Contact your representatives about international religious freedom legislation. Your voice matters more than you might think.

  • Support: Consider partnering financially or through volunteer work with organizations doing this vital work on the ground and at policy levels. If you're interested in learning more about specific organizations, I'd love to connect you with ministries doing incredible work in these areas. I'm also currently fundraising for my role as a refugee advocacy fellow with the World Evangelical Alliance—if you feel called to partner with me in this work, I would be deeply grateful for your support and partnership. (You can check out more information here).

  • Reflect God's heart locally: The same heart for justice that calls us to engage globally should shape how we treat the marginalized in our own communities—immigrants, the poor, those facing discrimination. Practice Micah 6:8: "act justly," "love mercy," and "walk humbly with your God."


The Kingdom of God is both a present reality and a future hope. Until Christ returns, we have the privilege of being His hands and feet, and engaging in our world especially in the midst of the brokenness, in every corner of His world.


I’ll leave you with this: What is God calling you to do in response to His heart for justice? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.



Further information

Sources referenced in this blog post in addition to other sources that I recommend for further follow-up if you’re interested in learning more:

Comments

Join the Community! You can subscribe to the newsletter. Every step we take toward understanding is a step closer to justice.

© 2025 Migration and Faith

bottom of page