Evangelism with Justice: E. E. Cleveland's Example

A steady, plainspoken appeal centers the conviction that evangelism and justice belong together. Grounded in Scripture—most pointedly Jesus’ rebuke of religious showmanship in Matthew 23—the address insists that God values the “weightier matters” of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Ritual practices, neat tithes, and polished Sabbath observance cannot substitute for the unglamorous, ongoing labor of protecting the vulnerable, feeding the hungry, and refusing systems that demean and exclude. The task is theological: a faithful gospel must free the captive and confront sinful structures, not merely console the comfortable.

Historical witness shapes the argument. E. E. Cleveland emerges as a model: uncompromising on doctrine yet relentless in civic engagement, writing outreach material, organizing long revival campaigns, and partnering with community actors to provide medical care, food, and schooling. Cleveland treated Adventism as liberation theology in practice—teaching that saving souls includes saving bodies and communities from systemic harm. The example of collaborations with the Deacons for Defense and the Black Panthers demonstrates a willingness to enter uneasy alliances for the sake of neighborhood protection and social service, showing that solidarity sometimes requires public, even risky, cooperation.

Practical urgency follows: opportunities for mercy are ordinary and constant—before the first traffic light, a chance to offer help may arise—and Christians are called to do the small things that witness to God’s justice. The gathered are invited to testify publicly, to “tell it” from streets to nations, to make baptism the outward sign of a commitment that joins proclamation with action. The closing invitation ties doctrinal fidelity to public witness: to follow Jesus is to embody justice, to make faith visible through mercy, and to remain faithful in the long work of liberation.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Justice is gospel obligation Gospel witness loses its integrity if it refuses to name and repair injustice. Biblical faith ties salvation to the restoration of relationships and structures; therefore proclamation that ignores systemic harm becomes partial and misleading. True evangelism pursues both individual conversion and societal reconciliation, insisting that God’s reign reorders institutions as well as hearts. [185:20]
• 2. Mercy must be practiced daily Acts of compassion are not optional extras but the measurable rhythm of a faithful life. Small, repeated mercies—feeding one person, stacking chairs, offering a sandwich—form the concrete grammar of discipleship and resist reducing faith to ritual correctness. Over time these ordinary mercies reorient communities and expose liturgies that mean little to the suffering. [187:25]
• 3. Religious ritual without justice fails Formal devotion becomes hypocrisy when it coexists with exploitation and indifference. The critique of leaders who meticulously tithe herbs yet neglect “weightier matters” demands that worship translate into ethical accountability. Worship that leaves systems unjust is an unfulfilled promise of God’s character. [184:24]
• 4. Solidarity requires risky partnerships Building justice sometimes compels alliances with unlikely or controversial partners when common work protects life and provides service. Cleveland’s cooperation with community defenders and the Panthers shows that theological conviction can and should lead to pragmatic solidarity for oppressed neighbors. This kind of partnership prioritizes neighbor safety and dignity above institutional comfort. [198:29]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [174:04] - Gratitude and personal story
• [178:24] - Topic introduced: Evangelism with Justice
• [183:31] - Jesus’ rebuke in Matthew 23
• [185:20] - Weightier matters: justice, mercy, faithfulness
• [190:06] - E.E. Cleveland: doctrine and liberation
• [197:10] - Deacons, Black Panthers, and protection
• [201:36] - Integrated outreach and baptisms
• [208:13] - Invitation: tell it through baptism

1. According to Matthew 23:23, what specific practices did the religious leaders meticulously follow, and what did they neglect?
2. What are the “weightier matters” Jesus names, and how does he say they should relate to religious rituals?
3. In the sermon, what historical example was given of someone who combined doctrinal faithfulness with active justice and mercy? [03:10:06]
4. What kinds of practical, everyday acts of mercy were highlighted as essential to faithful discipleship? [03:07:25]

1. Why do you think Jesus calls justice, mercy, and faithfulness “weightier” than tithing and other religious observances?
2. The religious leaders Jesus criticized were doctrinally precise but ethically indifferent. How can right belief and right action become disconnected in religious communities today?
3. The sermon described partnering with groups like the Deacons for Defense and the Black Panthers to provide community care and protection. [03:18:29] What biblical principles might justify such risky partnerships for the sake of justice?
4. Jesus says the weightier matters are to be practiced “without neglecting the others.” How does this balance challenge a view that sets evangelism and social action against each other?

1. Justice is a gospel obligation, not an optional add-on. What is one practical way you can participate in repairing a specific injustice in your community this week?
2. Mercy must be practiced daily in small, ordinary acts. [03:07:25] Who is one person in your daily path you can show mercy to, and what would that look like?
3. Religious ritual without justice fails. Examine your own spiritual routines. Is there any area where your worship or giving feels disconnected from loving your neighbor? What step can you take to reconnect them?
4. Solidarity sometimes requires risky partnerships. [03:18:29] Is there a group in your community serving the vulnerable that your church could support, even if it makes some people uncomfortable? What would it look like to prioritize neighbor safety over institutional comfort?
5. The invitation was to “tell it” through both proclamation and action. [03:28:13] How can your everyday conversations and actions better tell the story of a God who values justice and mercy?
6. Baptism was presented as a public commitment to a faith that does justice. [03:28:13] How does your current life reflect that same public commitment? What needs to change?
7. Opportunities for mercy arise constantly, even before the first traffic light. [03:07:25] How can you become more aware of these moments and ready to respond?