...with Liberty and Justice for All.
Fighting for justice and against oppression is what we're SUPPOSED to do, right? As Christians, as Americans, as Humans. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, right? Is there anybody who doesn't agree with that?
Liberating the oppressed, reaching out and responding to the marginalized, showing hospitality and kindness to the outcast, is how Jesus defined his own ministry and the kind of ministry to which he called the disciples.
Instead, certain people in certain churches in certain contexts have decided, and continually decide, to be the oppressers. I'm trying not to generalize. I recognize and affirm the individualilty and particularity of each human person.
But there are A LOT of people who seem content with their oppression, even comfortable with it, even proud of it. Building fences, building fences to bolster the fences, denying people communion, denying people the right to worship where, when, how, to whom/what, they please.
Here it is, folks. I have to say it. It might trouble some of you, it might get me in trouble. But right now, I have to say it:
1. Saying that women don't have the right to preach is oppression.
2. Saying that homosexual persons don't have the right to preach or marry or even become members of a church is oppression. And a church, say the United Methodist Church, that does not allow ANYONE to preach and proclaim the gospel is a participant in oppression.
3. Denying anyone communion EVER is oppression.
4. Thinking your tradition's baptism is better or, um, more official, is oppression.
5. Building fortified fences on our borders is oppression.
6. Calling to claim English as America's official language is oppression.
The ultimate oppression is the idea that one person, one group of people, one tradition, one nation can have complete and sole ownership of truth (or of God, which might be six and one). If you (I) ever, in any way, think you (I) are (am) better than anyone else or have a clearer understanding of the mysteries of life than anyone else, you are (I am) wrong and you are (I am) oppressing.
The questions:
1. Knowing this, saying this, believing this, how do we claim Jesus Christ as the way to salvation?
2. How do we show tolerance to the intolerant? Kindness to the unkind? Love to the hateful? Are we supposed to? Aren't we supposed to hate what it is evil and cling to what is good?
3. How do we teach "liberty and justice for all" to the affluent, the liberated, the powerful?
4. How are we, individually and collectively, participating in oppression and what are we doing, individually and collectively, to set at liberty ALL those who are oppressed?
The answer, always: grace.
Your friend, brother, partner, collaborator, Brad-owner of one microscopic atom in one grain of sand of the vastness of the truth of God.
An unexamined life is not worth living.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Brad:
Good afternoon! I wandered aimlessly over here by way of your brother's blog. I haven't responded to a post of your's or his for some time. As I have expressed previously, I respectfully disagree with you more times than not, but I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts and admire your passion.
I respectfully submit the following, not with any intent to change your mind or world view, but to present a different perspective:
In general, I honestly do not believe that you actually know what "oppression" is based upon your offerings here. If things or events are not to your particular liking, whims, or world view does not mean that oppression is occurring. In doing so, you trivialize what true oppression is (please see Darfur).
1. Saying that women don't have the right to preach is simply an opinion.
2. Not a case of oppression. Churches - UMC or otherwise - have various doctrines, guidelines, policies, etc. As an aside, there are quite a few sins or other personal events and/or matters that I would love to see get a pass, but alas it never occurred to me that I am oppressed by their presence. This is also a point where some like to say that, well the church used to have x,y, and z about blacks, etc. Spare me: apples and oranges. As someone who is black, I often find it amusing when people romance about black experiences with respect to segregation, etc. or attempt to equate the acceptance of homosexuality and homosexual marriage with such.
3. I know that communion can be denied in the Catholic church. I do not know the details; I'm guessing that some rules must have been broken, and that's how they (the church) chose to handle it. Oppressive? I don't think so. One knows the rules going in. With respect to other churches, I do not know how, or why those decisions are made. However, to reflexively deem it oppressive because it occurs, is a bit myopic. Tangent: Is it oppressive not to be able to yell "fire" in a crowded theatre? The point is: there are rules, doctrines, etc for a purpose, with consequences if broken.
4. Again, opinion, not oppression. What's the matter in thinking your way is better than someone else's. Opinion, not oppression. You in this very post express several opinions that you undoubtably feel are better than other alternatives and feel very strongly about. I respectfully disagree. Using your rationale, I guess that would mean that you are being oppressive or if your ideas and opinions were rules to live by, I would be oppressed. Just how content would you be? Overall there is nothing inherently wrong if you believe that one way is better than another.
5. Fortified fences oppressive? Do you, or have you have a fenced yard, or a fenced in area for a pet? Are farmers oppresive to their cattle because of enclosures? Countries wanting to maintain their borders are oppressive?
6. Again, you are way off. I have had the pleasure to visit many countries where the official language(s) was unfamiliar to me. Was that country being oppressive to my presence as well as others who did not speak the native language(s)? No. Having an official language is not inherently oppressive. In fact, an official language(s) in many countries world-wide is conducive to operations and commerce, etc.
Requisite disclaimer:
The views expressed above are soley those of the author and not of my liberal parents. The content is meant only to provide a brief, fleeting distraction from the wretchedness of reality, and is not intended to be insensitive, callous, or offensive, or to otherwise belittle the plight of those affected. It should go without being said, that I approved of this post!
Thank you for the bandwidth.
Best,
Joseph
Joseph, I disagree with absolutely every single word of what you just said. And we are both intelligent, loving, people just trying to do their best in this world. And we are both children of God, made in God's image.
Just beautiful. And thank you for being someone of conservative leanings who is open with them and open to discussion.
(I would like to check back in with you in, say, 20 years.)
Brad
And, what about oppressive opinions?
Joseph gave a thoughtful response to your post. I felt you kind of blew him off with the standard "isn't it great we disagree." I do think there is oppression from my suburban perspective and oppression that is immediate life, limb, and eyesight, and oppression that truly traps people with no real choice. I think Joseph was pointing out that in many of the instances you point out, folk have the choice to leave the system or institution that "oppresses" them. And so do their supporters. As an ordained minister in a particular denomination that didn't support women as pastors I left the institution over that particular issue. But I don't think women called to ministry in that setting were oppressed. That would mean they had no ultimate power or choice. After trying to change the system, I realized that I had a choice to stay with a system I thought was utterly ridiculous (but not oppressive) or leave. I left. Now, I am not a woman. I am a dude. And maybe they had different experiences, but I think they still had power to choose.
I don't disagree with your social positions. But I do hesitate on the word oppression for some of them. My less than two cents for the day. Moore Boy
Brad, first let me say that I love this post. I felt as if you were saying those words to me, resonating with every part of my being.
The GBCS (www.umc-gbcs.org) does some great stuff around defining terms like oppression, et al. Just coming back from an awesome seminar program these are fresh on my mind:
Stereotype = an incomplete or distorted picture in our head
Prejudice = a value judgement based on our feelings associated with the stereotype
Discrimination = taking an action on our prejudice
Destructive Isms/Oppression = Using our power to reinforce our discrimination and prejudice in the institutions and groups to which we belong.
So yes, I think what you have described is Discrimination (Saying... depends on if action was taken by an authoritative person) and Oppression.
Preach!
Oppression can differ so much between person to person. What is oppression to one person can be protection for another. Example, we oppress kids that they can not vote until they are 18 years old and we oppress 10 years from drinking alcohol. While some people might debate the 18 years old and voting, not many people will disagree with oppressing 10 years from drinking alcohol (though I suppose there might even be some that would argue there as long as the 10 year old did not get drunk it's ok), but you see my point, oppession can mean so many things to so many people.
A far as some of the points from this blog, I suppose I would disagree with a couple of them.
"1. Saying that women don't have the right to preach is oppression." Here I would be wondering about 1 Timothy 2: 12 and 1 Corinthians 14: 33-35? The Bible is clear about what it says in these passages. There is not much doubt what is said. NO DOUBT, there have been women throughout history that God has used to do great and mighty things; the Old Testament has a few I can think of. But, God's Word does show us God's order of things as He choose it to be. I am not making up what I want to say as it might be P.C. to do in todays world of going along with the culture. I guess that would make God's Word Oppressive per this point.
"2. Saying that homosexual persons don't have the right to preach or marry or even become members of a church is oppression." I hear this one time and time again, but what does God's Word say? Matthew 19: 4-6 Jesus confirms what marriage should be. The Bible defines homosexual behavior as “dishonorable” and “shameless” and “contrary to nature” in Romans 1: 26-27. From here we can see the Bible shows that marriage is for one man & one women. We can also see that homosexual behavior is a sin. And like any sin, if you are open about it and claiming it is OK, then I have a hard time see how that person can be a pastor (as I would have a hard time with any person that is open about thinking a particular sin like lying, physically hurting others or any other sin being a pastor). Sure pastor are not perfect and they all sin like all of us, but a true pastor will not opening be saying it's ok to steal whatever you want from others (against God's Word). There is a different from willful sinning and the sinful nature we are all have in this human form until we get to go to that next life with Jesus. There are other verses that also deal with this subject so I guess that would make God's Word Oppressive per this point too.
"3. Denying anyone communion EVER is oppression." In 1 Corinthians 11: 27-29, the Bible warns us here of taking the communion in an unworth manner "eats and drinks judgement on himself". There is a reason to denying some people communion if you want to protect them from this warning. I guess this is where I hear the "you can't judge people" quote from some people. But lets look at God's Word on this too in 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 where we are told that God's Word is "...useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training...", how can you rebuke, correct or teach if you are unable to judge a person actions. Once again, I guess that would make God's Word Oppressive per this point also.
Is God oppessive? Or is God looking out for our best interest, even if it seems foolish to the world (1 Corinthians 1: 27)? I believe God to be a loving God that teaches us what to do and not to do for our well being. If God's Love seems like oppression to some, then I guess it comes back to that "point of view". I rather go by God's Word then what the P.C. thing today would be to say on these matters.
I will stop there as to answer every point would be very time consuming. I'm sure I have said more then some might want to hear at this point anyways. Interesting discussion though, does make you think about what you believe and why.
Post a Comment