By: Jack Baden
Hello, my name is Jack Baden, and I am a rising 2L at Regent University School of Law. This summer, I am interning at the Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia (CLCP). CLCP seeks to provide Christ-Centered pro bono and low-cost services to Philadelphians and cooperate with community-based ministries in the neighborhood to provide legal and spiritual help in a way that will increase and strengthen the Kingdom of God in the city.
A New Commandment.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34, ESV). Before this command, the Lord Jesus had just announced to His disciples that He would be departing from them. Thus, Jesus was beginning to lay out what He expected of His disciples once He departed. However, how was this a new commandment? Didn’t God command the Israelites to love their neighbors (Lev 19:18, ESV)? This is a new commandment in several ways, but one difference is the standard: “just as I have loved you.” The love Christ is calling us to is the love He models to us. To love as He loves, we must know how He loves us. One of the ways Christ loves us is that He helps us in our helpless state. In His love, He helps us through the valley of the shadow of death as our Gentle and Mighty Shepherd (Psa 23). In His love, He helps us as our Advocate and Great High Priest (1 John 2:1-2, Heb 4:14-16). In His love, He is a helper to the helpless sinner and saves all who turn from their sins and take refuge in Him (Rom 5:6-8, Mark 1:15, Psa 34:22). Jesus loved us in our helpless state, and we are commanded to do the same.
A New Opportunity
This summer, I have had the wonderful opportunity to love others as Christ loved me as a Legal Extern at the Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia (CLCP). Philadelphia is the poorest big city in America, with nearly 28% of its citizens living in poverty. This means that 1 out of 4 people in the City of Philadelphia cannot afford an attorney. On top of the poverty crisis, there is a gun violence crisis in Philadelphia. So far in 2022, there have been over 1,260 victims of shootings, with 264 of them ending fatally. People in the city are afraid to be in their own homes, and some even avoid going outside their homes at night. That is to say, there are many Philadelphians who are in need of help.
Despite the darkness, CLCP shines as a light in the city. The staff at CLCP meets with Philadelphians in need and seeks to help them in a Christ-Centered way. In addition to providing free legal services to low-income citizens, CLCP sets up legal clinics around the city where Philadelphians can get a free consultation with an attorney. At these clinics, we are able to spread the gospel, pray for the clients, and help solve their legal issues. In addition to working at the legal clinics, I have worked for one of the staff attorneys. The majority of my work concerns estate planning and estate administration. This work has also been meaningful, as some city officials believe improper estate planning and administration is a factor contributing to the poverty and gun violence. It has been a blessing to come alongside those in need and love them just as Christ came alongside me and loved me. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). To Him be the glory.
This post was written by a Center for Global Justice Student Staff member/Law Clerk. The views expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Regent University, Regent Law School, or the Center for Global Justice.