Voice from the Congregation
Collaboration with Tiffany Tin
About this blog series
We believe that the gospel is to shape not just our so-called ‘spiritual’ lives but every part of life including our work. As such, we want to hear from members of our congregation as to how the gospel speaks to their different vocational contexts. In this blog we’re looking at the legal field.
The Gospel and the Legal Field
The law – even man-made law and the legal system, are good tools to safeguard the stability and safety of society. God’s heart is for protecting people, being just and fair. Therefore, God commissions judges to administer justice where needed. Lawyers are integral to this system, and one of these lawyers is Tiffany Tin. Tiffany is a barrister. She prosecutes and defends criminals, and also represents different parties in civil cases in court. She has been in the field for seven years, but her journey as a lawyer has not been easy.
The journey
Tiffany carried out her mom’s dream of being a lawyer vicariously through her daughter. However, she hated the arduous journey through law school, and her career as a lawyer. People called her lucky for getting through school as it felt like practicing a foreign language to her sometimes. Perhaps this was all part of God’s plan for her to meet Him, but even after she had become a Christian in 2014, He did not call her to leave law.
One of the first questions that Tiffany asked God when she became a Christian was: “Now I know you, can I do something else?” God said: “Not yet.” Tiffany saw this field as a training ground for her faith; there were months at the beginning where she would struggle to pay rent but the Lord made a way in His timing. He gave just enough for each month, but the work itself was still hard and felt unnatural to her.
Literally, I was on my knees early in the morning to pray and do my devotions – that was the only thing that got me through. There was a big difference to having God in the courtroom vs out.
Last year, she was determined to leave and wrestled with God about what she should do. She had gained financial independence but still did not enjoy her work. Tiffany wanted God to tell her whatever He wanted her to do, but then she realized that this was not how God works – He didn’t need a minion to dictate tasks to. She started to understand that God allowed her to make a choice for herself. She thought about working in a field that would still fulfill her mother’s expectations, but also started to think about her own passions. She thought about becoming a missionary, but then the protests started and Tiffany wondered if she should stay in law for such a time as this. God answered her: “Either way is good, and either way is difficult, but I will be with you always, wherever you go”. God showed Tiffany people’s deep need for God Himself within the legal field. Rather than trying to meet other people’s expectations for her life, she prayed to God: “If you want me to bring light in this area, then I’ll do it, even if I don’t like it.”
God’s redemptive work
God is at work in Tiffany’s own heart. This year, her practice felt different – she saw her own growth, her own personality, faith and work skills affect the way she handled cases. She took the time to pray for clients, and acted a bit like a social worker at times. Her clients are often not well off so she felt the burden to really help.
Tiffany sees a need in the legal field as some judges and lawyers act out of their own interest or fears. There are those who do not care, are negligent, or bill more hours than needed. Although this can be quite disheartening, Tiffany remembers that God is the God of justice, and that one day, when the old passes away and all creation is made new, there will be no more crimes.
This does not mean that God is not at work now. She has seen Christian judges pray for the people they adjudicate and Christian lawyers that are less concerned about career advancement and more about kingdom advancement. She recalls a case of where somebody stole an item someone left behind. The person got caught but was a first time offender. He made a modest amount and supported a wife and two daughters back home. The lawyer who took this particular case did not want to ‘waste’ time finding out more to put forth a better mitigation, but passed it off due to a time conflict. When Tiffany took over she tried to defend him as best as possible but was concerned he might end up with a prison sentence. The judge, however, gave a lenient sentence with little repercussions on the family, as she saw that the person had learnt his lesson. The family cried tears of relief after the court hearing. Tiffany was able to witness God’s grace and hope in this situation and realized that some judges can see people and do not just see them as cases.
Those who take part in the human justice system can be part of the redemption story; there is for sure a lot of darkness but we are called to be salt and light. The dark won’t come to the light; the light must go to it. Tiffany sees a lot of darkness and is hoping the church would not wait to be asked about Jesus but to go out to offer hope to those that need it. That is why she decided to stay despite the challenges she faces. “At the end of the day, people need Jesus instead of lawyers. We can show compassion which would help people to rehabilitate. God is about chances, we all need much grace so I hope to sow seeds wherever I can.”
“Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 22:15-16 NIV