how can a christian be a lawyer

A Christian attorney is first and foremost a Christian. Second, he or she is a Christian specifically called to do “good works” in law and government as an attorney. With a renewed mind about law, a Christian attorney can fulfill the roles of being an advocate, counselor, and minister.

Full Answer

What should a Christian lawyer do?

Christian lawyers must have a commitment to honesty and a conviction against “winning at all costs” (Proverbs 11:1–3; James 3:16; Philippians 2:3). When there is a question about the validity of a courtroom tactic, the best course of action is to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and then trust Him to provide (James 1:5).

What is the extenuating circumstances for a Christian being a lawyer?

In the case of the Christian, the extenuating circumstance is Jesus’ sacrifice, which paid our debt to the Lawgiver and allowed us to go free, despite our guilt according to the Law ( Romans 8:1–5 ). Lawyers today face many ethical and moral challenges. One is how far a lawyer should go to protect and defend a client.

What does the Bible say about lawyers?

The Bible does not say anything about lawyers as we know them today. Israel was under the legal jurisdiction of Rome during Jesus’ time, so when the Bible mentions “teachers of the law” ( Luke 5:17) or “lawyers” ( Luke 14:3, ESV ), it is referring to the religious leaders who were experts in the Mosaic Law.

What is a lawyer and what do they do?

Lawyers as we know them today—professional public servants who know the ins and outs of the legal process and can lend their knowledge to resolve various conflicts with clarity and justice—did not appear until after the Middle Ages.

How did Jesus respond to the lawyer?

But Jesus did not respond as expected. He did not congratulate the lawyer as a man of good standing. To the contrary, he buckled the lawyer's knees and threw him into a ditch. He did so by telling a story, a parable.

What does the Bible say about judges and lawyers?

Judging Fairly: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly” (Leviticus 19:15). “Appoint judges and officials… [who] shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality.

Who was a lawyer in the Bible?

Zenas the Lawyer (Ancient Greek: Ζηνᾶς) was a first-century Christian mentioned in Paul the Apostle's Epistle to Titus in the New Testament. In Titus 3:13, Paul writes: "Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them" (KJV).

Which of Jesus disciples was a lawyer?

apostle PaulBy tradition, Zenas is often counted as one of the unnamed 70 disciples sent out by Jesus into the villages of Galilee, as mentioned in Luke 10:1-24. Therefore, apostle Paul called Zenas “the lawyer.” This title meant that before Zenas became a Christian, he had been a Jewish lawyer.

What are the 3 types of laws in the Bible?

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) divides the Mosaic laws into three categories: moral, civil, and ceremonial.

What is a law according to the Bible?

DEFINITION OF LAW The word 'torah' is the Hebrew word for teaching and direction for life and the one mostly used for the laws/principles which Yahweh God has given to His people for their benefit and spiritual well-being.

What was the lawyer's second question to Jesus?

Thus, wanting to justify himself, the lawyer followed it up with another question. He asked: “And who is my neighbor?” By giving this follow-up question, the lawyer actually wanted to reason out and shift the burden back on Jesus.

What does the Bible say about the court system?

Throughout the Old and New Testament, our call to do justice is clear. “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,” (Psalm 82:3). “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow's cause,” (Isaiah 1:17).

Does the Bible talk about doctors?

balm (Jeremiah 8:22). We know that Luke, the author of Acts and the gospel of Luke, was a doctor (Colossians 4:14). And Paul once gave Timothy advice on medical treatment (1 Timothy 5:23). Doctors are referred to about 12 times in the Bible.

Who was a doctor in the Bible?

Luke, author of the Third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles was also a physician. As he was born in Antioch he was probably Greek.

What is an attorney called?

In the United States, the terms lawyer and attorney are often used interchangeably. For this reason, people in and out of the legal field often ask, “is an attorney and a lawyer the same thing?”. In colloquial speech, the specific requirements necessary to be considered a lawyer vs attorney aren't always considered.

What was Judas Iscariot job?

the treasurer forWhat was Judas Iscariot's occupation? Judas Iscariot was the treasurer for the Twelve Apostles. Other than his apostleship, his betrayal, and his death, little is revealed about Judas in the Gospels.

What does it mean to practice law ethically?

To practice law ethically, you must meet these responsibilities, which means that you must live a balanced life. If you become a workaholic lawyer, you will be unhealthy, probably unhappy, and I would argue, unethical” (Schiltz, 910).

What is the act of faith?

The act of faith in Christ entails the gift of self to others in our daily work. “To follow Jesus involves . . . inviting everyone to communion with the Trinity and to communion among ourselves in a just and fraternal society.”. This living of the act of faith is a form of witness that can transform society.

What is the evangelization of the lay people?

Lay people are called to evangelization, “that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life. ”. For lay people, “this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world” ( CCC 905).

Do lawyers have to separate faith from professional work?

As lawyers, we have no right to separate our faith from our professional work. Each of us, in his own way, has to work to build the “culture of life.”. The “culture of life,” however, will not result from a conscious effort to build it for its own sake.

Can a lawyer be an evangelist?

As a lawyer you can be part of the missionary effort called for by John Paul II. Evangelization, however, depend s on interior conversion, not only of the evangelizee but, even more, of the evangelizer.

Who is the prosecuting attorney in the Bible?

The only character in the Bible who comes close to filling the job of a prosecuting attorney is Tertullus, an orator who was knowledgeable of Roman law and who was paid by the Jews to present their initial case against Paul before Governor Felix ( Acts 24:1 ).

What does the Bible say about the teachers of the law?

Israel was under the legal jurisdiction of Rome during Jesus’ time, so when the Bible mentions “teachers of the law” ( Luke 5:17) or “lawyers” ( Luke 14:3, ESV ), it is referring to the religious leaders who were experts in the Mosaic Law. The modern-day court system, with prosecuting attorneys and defense attorneys, ...

What does the Bible say about accusers?

The Bible mentions human accusers—those who bring a charge against another in front of a court or magistrate— but they are usually witnesses, not lawyers for the prosecution ( Luke 12:58; Matthew 5:25 ).

Can a Christian lawyer defend a guilty client?

A Christian lawyer should not knowingly defend a guilty client if the defense would involve falsehood, excusing the crime, or blame-shifting. Ignoring justice is something that God “detests” ( Proverbs 17:15 ).

Is there a prosecutor in the Bible?

The concept of prosecutors and defense attorneys, or advocates, is a biblical one. We have a spiritual Advocate in Jesus Christ, the righteous ( 1 John 2:1 ). He defends our cause before the Judge, God the Father. There is a prosecuting attorney, too: the Accuser, Satan ( Revelation 12:10 ).

Is it wrong to acquit a guilty man?

Third, on principle, it is wrong to acquit a guilty man, because we must all come to the recognition of our guilt before God if we are to be saved ( James 2:10; Romans 3:19–20, 28; 8:1–2 ). Defending a client knowing of his guilt is no different, morally, from aiding and abetting the crime itself. Return to:

Is CLS membership required?

Membership in CLS is not required, and there is no charge to search this directory. The individuals available through this referral service are, as of the most recent update, current regular members of the Christian Legal Society. They have signed the CLS Statement of Faith.

Do Christian lawyers charge a fee?

The lawyers listed in the Christian Lawyer Directory charge a fee for their services. If you are unable to pay and need pro bono (free) legal services, please search our Christian Legal Aid Clinic Directory for a clinic near you.

Why are lawyers so demanding?

Often this means that long hours are required to prepare and best serve the client. As well as that, a lawyer is often judged by the number of billable hours they record during a year, so there can be pressure to work longer and harder in order to succeed and progress their career.

What does Paul say about working only with people who share your beliefs?

It’s impossible to work only with people who share your beliefs. Paul recognized this in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 when he wrote, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons, not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world.” Paul feared the influence of hypocritical Christians on the early church, but he wasn’t worried about any threat from unbelievers. This mirrors Jesus’ instruction to “let your light shine before others” ( Matthew 5:16 ). Retreating from the secular world, even with all its faults, was as impractical 2000 years ago as it is today.

How long has John been working at a firm?

John has been working for two years at a medium sized firm. He has never been summoned in to the Managing Partner’s office before but that is where he has found himself. He sits beside his supervising partner and feels nervous while looking around the large room. On the wall are various awards and recognitions. The Managing Partner finally turns from his screen and John feels the full force of his cool stare, “So tell me John, what is the issue here with this particular client?”.