Lobbying

In political language the noun lobby refers to a room or hallway near a legislative chamber, a place where lawmakers can meet constituents and other guests. As a political activity, lobbying is the attempt, at times actually carried out in a lobby, by individuals advocating their own or a group’s interests to influence decision-makers. While many ordinary citizens try to influence public officials, lobbyists are usually paid professionals, often associated with a law or public relations firm, and very knowledgeable about power relationships and effective intervention in the governmental process.

A Biblical Perspective

Because the Bible was not written in democratic times, we have no discussion in Scripture of the propriety of lobbying or of any attendant difficulties or pitfalls. We do, however, have numerous biblical accounts of lobbying, many with successful results. Joseph lobbied Egyptian authorities on several matters relating to the people of Israel (for example, Genesis 47:1-12). Moses and his associates lobbied hard in the attempt to convince Pharaoh that the Egyptian government should let his people go. Daniel and his friends lobbied Babylonian officials concerning special privileges relating to diet and lifestyle (Daniel 1:5-21). Esther lobbied King Xerxes to the point of risking her life to bring relief to her people (Esther 5:1-8). Haman, of course, lobbied hard and with ulterior motives to bring about changes in the legislation governing religious practices (Esther 3:1-12). Many prophets in the Old Testament lobbied kings and emperors for an array of causes, usually involving issues of public justice or private lifestyle.

In the New Testament we read that a crowd lobbied persistently for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:15-26). The mother of James and John lobbied the King of kings about positions of privilege for her sons (Matthew 20:20-23). Subsequently they also lobbied for themselves (Mark 10:35-40). Gamaliel lobbied with others in the Sanhedrin about being very careful how they treated Peter and the other apostles (Acts 5:33-42). Paul lobbied the authorities for fair and reasonable treatment after they had mistreated him (Acts 16:35-39). Certain Jewish leaders lobbied Festus to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem (Acts 25:1-5). One could even say that John the Baptist lobbied King Herod about his marital misbehavior (John 14:1-12).

In addition to the aforementioned biblical examples of lobbying, there are passages in the New Testament that clearly mandate lobbying as a legitimate part of the political process (Matthew 17:24-27; Matthew 22:15-22; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-4; Titus 3:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-17). Since the institution of government is strongly affirmed, we need to ascertain why lobbying should be included in the biblically affirmed political system.

Lobbying as Part of the Governmental Process

Governing has become an extremely complex and difficult task. Those who govern need to get as much informed input as possible into their decision-making. Lobbyists, by advancing arguments, provide important input. In the United States hundreds of interest groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Medical Association and the National Rifle Association, provide extensive input into the legislative, administrative and even the judicial branches of government.

In Canada the number of lobbying groups is somewhat less, but even so, scores of nationally important organizations, such as the Canadian Labour Congress, the Canadian Teachers Federation and the Royal Canadian Legion, play a significant lobbying role in the development and implementation of public policies relating to their interests. In these two countries and in other democracies, governments and bureaucrats rely extensively on lobbyists for accurate and up-to-date facts and very useful, although perhaps self-serving, analyses. Lobbyists can generally be trusted because they know that if they do not present accurate and honest information, they quickly lose all credibility.

In free societies such as the United States and Canada, lobbyists exercising their constituted right of free speech look for opportunities to advance their cause. Some lobbyists focus on single issues, such as abortion or pornography; others, for example, Greenpeace, the Sierra Club and some feminist groups, work to advance a more generalized ideological perspective. In the United States, with its weak party discipline and separation of powers, lobbyists find many access points. In a cabinet-dominated parliamentary system such as Canada’s, strict party discipline means that lobbyists tend to focus mainly on the cabinet, regulatory agencies and bureaucrats. With the entrenchment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, the Canadian situation is becoming more like the American. While in Canada lobbying is less pervasive than in the United States, in both countries it constitutes a vital feedback mechanism.

The Negative Connotations of Lobbying

Many people consider lobbying to be suspect. Some critics point out that lobbyists often relay selfish and narrow views, thus giving reinforcement to particular, rather than general, interests. The general good, it is alleged, thus suffers. Others speak about well-financed lobbyists acquiring additional benefits for those who are already powerful and privileged. Unorganized and marginalized groups fall even further back. Still others point to questionable practices or even outright bribery and blackmail.

Some wrongdoing clearly exists, but evil is probably no more prevalent among lobbyists than in fallen society generally. In any event, lobbying has acquired a negative connotation for many, but the evil lies not in its intrinsic nature but in the extent of abuse by some practitioners.

The Positive Aspects of Lobbying

Many elected and other public officials have come to rely heavily on the continuing input of lobbyists. Such officials are grateful for the extensive and factually accurate information that is provided quickly and at no direct cost. They know that a democracy functions best when there is extensive citizen feedback. They also know that most citizens are apathetic and neglect to convey their views. Officials realize that when lobbyists communicate their expertise, concerns and wishes, they are, in fact, compensating for widespread inaction on the part of individual citizens. In fact, while individual lobbyists tend to provide incomplete and partial responses, collectively they help public decision-makers to discern the public interest.

Lobbying also contributes to the achievement of a better political and social situation by helping to keep governments in check, by providing safety valves for public or group anger, by the lobbyists monitoring one another and by informing the media and the public. In sum, group input and lobbying are not only legitimate in the God-mandated political system but may well be essential for the efficient functioning of a mature democracy. In a sin-plagued world we cannot eliminate self-interest, but we can regulate it and, up to a point, actually use it to advance the common good.

Lobbying as Christian Witness

Many Christians, perhaps most, belong to at least one interest group that lobbies to enhance that group’s economic well-being or set of values. As other-oriented citizens, Christians can help to shape a more enlightened stance on the part of such generally non-Christian groups than would otherwise be the case.

As members of specifically Christian groups, such as The Lord’s Day Alliance, Citizens for Public Justice, Christians for Public Decency, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the National Association of Evangelicals, Christians can do even more. Christians can make a unique and significant contribution in supporting people who lobby for more fairness, greater respect for human dignity, better stewardship of the Lord’s creation and the adoption of more enlightened and more moral policies generally. Even small groups that have done their homework can be surprisingly influential in their lobbying endeavors, especially if they come with a non-self-serving agenda.

Christians, when true to the calling to love one’s neighbors, stress in their lobbying the well-being of others and not only themselves. Followers of Christ desire procedural fairness, identify with the marginalized and the exploited, and seek to be positive and constructive. Naturally, Christians associated with lobbying should avoid all use of undue pressure; they need to be scrupulously honest, and they must never adopt means that undermine Christian goals.

In the area of lobbying many Christians have been guilty of duplicity. Generally they have not hesitated to pressure governments for their own advantage but have often been reluctant to speak up for others because they have deemed such speaking up to be too political. In fact, it is more Christlike to speak up for someone else’s cause than to press for one’s own advantage.

In the give-and-take of everyday politics Christians have missed many opportunities. Many seem to have forgotten that if they remain silent and uninvolved, the extensive and persuasive input of vast numbers of non-Christian lobbyists will prevail. Government policies in general continue to become more wide-ranging and pervasive. Pressure groups—labor, business, welfare, agricultural, educational, professional, ecological and many more—continue to play a major role, largely by lobbying, in shaping these policies. Will Christians vacate the public square, or will Christians see lobbying as a challenge and an opportunity to bear witness for what is right and true and good?

» See also: Citizenship

» See also: Politics

» See also: Power

» See also: Principalities and Powers

» See also: Voting

References and Resources

J. M. Berry, Lobbying for the People: The Political Behavior of Public Interest Groups (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1977); D. L. Bon, Lobbying: A Right? A Necessity? A Danger? (Ottawa: Conference Board of Canada, 1981); P. Malvern, Persuaders: Lobbying, Influence Peddling and Political Corruption in Canada (Toronto: Methuen, 1985); N. J. Ornstein and S. Elder, Interest Groups, Lobbying and Policy-Making (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1978); J. H. Redekop, Religious Pressure Groups in the Canadian Political System, Research Paper Series 8470 (Waterloo, Ont.: Wilfrid Laurier University, 1991).

—John H. Redekop