PROCLAIMING LIBERTY
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me....He has sent me to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Luke 4:18, R.S.V.
The first time I read this verse, I had just completed reading a history of the American Civil War--the war to end slavery in the United States. It was thrilling to recall that so many people had given their lives, at least in some degree, to set others free. It was easy, then, to connect the spirit of this verse with the acts of Christians to end slavery. And thus I read it for many years.
Not until recently did I begin to discover how many different types of oppression the enemy has invented with which to crush the human race. By design as well as by neglect, we have become skilled at foisting economic, racial, sexual, and religious oppression upon those too weak to fight back. Perhaps more often we have practiced emotional oppression upon each other, even within the family and the church.
When we discover that it is the character of our Saviour to "set at liberty those who are oppressed," we are challenged to do more than say, "I'm glad they don't practice slavery here anymore." Those who would represent Him aright must become alert to every occasion when the personhood of another is being stifled. And they must hurt with him, even as Jesus does.
Walk onto a playground and listen to the children as they play. Notice how often they lash out with cutting "put downs" of their peers. Observe how parents speak to their children when they are upset, and ponder what it is doing to the self-esteem of those young human beings. Remember the conversations in a college dormitory and recall how easy it was to cut down those not present to defend their uniqueness.
When we sense how readily we dismiss these oppressive acts as simply normal human life, we wonder if the liberating work of Christ should not begin by setting our own hearts free from the spirit of pettiness and calloused indifference. How we need to pray for divine sensitivity to any word that cuts or belittles another! Rather than being so often caught up in major doctrinal issues, we need to sense that Jesus will more potently be revealed to others by subtle personal interplay. To fail to be sensitive to words or attitudes that oppress others is to misrepresent Him who came to liberate the oppressed.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me....He has sent me to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Luke 4:18, R.S.V.
The first time I read this verse, I had just completed reading a history of the American Civil War--the war to end slavery in the United States. It was thrilling to recall that so many people had given their lives, at least in some degree, to set others free. It was easy, then, to connect the spirit of this verse with the acts of Christians to end slavery. And thus I read it for many years.
Not until recently did I begin to discover how many different types of oppression the enemy has invented with which to crush the human race. By design as well as by neglect, we have become skilled at foisting economic, racial, sexual, and religious oppression upon those too weak to fight back. Perhaps more often we have practiced emotional oppression upon each other, even within the family and the church.
When we discover that it is the character of our Saviour to "set at liberty those who are oppressed," we are challenged to do more than say, "I'm glad they don't practice slavery here anymore." Those who would represent Him aright must become alert to every occasion when the personhood of another is being stifled. And they must hurt with him, even as Jesus does.
Walk onto a playground and listen to the children as they play. Notice how often they lash out with cutting "put downs" of their peers. Observe how parents speak to their children when they are upset, and ponder what it is doing to the self-esteem of those young human beings. Remember the conversations in a college dormitory and recall how easy it was to cut down those not present to defend their uniqueness.
When we sense how readily we dismiss these oppressive acts as simply normal human life, we wonder if the liberating work of Christ should not begin by setting our own hearts free from the spirit of pettiness and calloused indifference. How we need to pray for divine sensitivity to any word that cuts or belittles another! Rather than being so often caught up in major doctrinal issues, we need to sense that Jesus will more potently be revealed to others by subtle personal interplay. To fail to be sensitive to words or attitudes that oppress others is to misrepresent Him who came to liberate the oppressed.
RSS Feed
