Oppressors, Oppressed and System of Oppression

More on oppression:

Old Testament

     Oppressors:  Pharaoh; Exodus, chapter 1

                           Rich, religious leaders; Jeremiah 6 and 7

     Oppressed:  Hebrew slaves; Exodus chapter 1

                          Poor masses; Jeremiah 6 and 7, Isaiah 61 (NSRV)

     System of Oppression:  slavery; Exodus 1

                                            temple, "den of robbers"  Jeremiah 7

     Definition of Oppression:  "Oppression smashes the body and crushes

                                                the spirit."  Thomas Hanks

     Damage caused by Oppression:  broken in spirit; individual, family,

                                                           community and cultural dysfunction

                                                           or mass PTSD; Exodus 6:9

     Solution:  Justice;  Amos 5:24, Lev. 25, Deut. 15, Neh. 5, Isaiah's

                                    Messianic passages: 9:7; 11:1-4; 16:5; 28:16-17:

                                    42:1-4; 61:1-4 (NRSV) 

New Testament

Oppressors:  rich, religious leaders; Woe to the rich because the rich 

                      oppress the poor.  Luke 6:24 and James 2:6.

Oppressed:  the poor masses of Palestine, around 80 percent were

                     poor or near poor.  Luke 4:18

System of Oppression:  economic/landlords; James 5

                                       temple, "den of robbers" Luke 19:46

Definition of Oppression:  "Oppression smashes the body and crushes

                                           the spirit."

Damage caused by Oppression:  poor in spirit, spirit of despair, Mt. 5:3

Solution:  Jubilee justice, Luke 4:19; kingdom justice, Mt. 6:33 (NEB)

United States

Oppressors:

Oppressed:

System of Oppression:

Definition of Oppression:

Damage caused by Oppression:

Solution:

Haiti

Oppressors:

Oppressed:

System of Oppression:

Definition of Oppression:

Damage caused by Oppression:

Solution:

Rich and White and Male

Persons who are rich and white and male often think they are God's blessing to the world, but not as the world's worst oppressors.  Just as many whites are blind to their racism, so many males are blind to their sexism, and many rich are blind to their oppression to the poor.  The Letter to the Editor column in the December Atlantic magazine known as "The Conversation: Responses and Reverberations," has a lengthy discussion of Ta-Nehisi Coates' provocative article "The First White President."  Coates' article is summarized with this sentence:  "In October, Ta-Nehisi Coates argued that Donald Trump's presidency is predicated nearly entirely on white supremacy and the negation of a black president."  In other words, an anti-black, anti-Obama presidency.

James Bach wrote, I agree; now what should I do?  My reply is: first fully repent, then fully restitute, then repair/rebuild oppressed communities for the rest of your life.

George Packer wrote:  "When you construct an entire teleology on one cause---even a cause as powerful and abiding as white racism---you face the temptation to leave out anything that complicates the thesis.  So Coates minimizes sexism. . . . "

Stuart Rojstaczer writes:  "The Trump supporters I encountered [Stuart was canvassing for Clinton in Nevada] were not only white but financially secure.  They were definitely going to vote, and their motivation was almost always a sense that American wasn't the same anymore---a ka it wasn't as white as it used to be.  Coates doesn't discuss another major issue: While the rise of Trump was due to racism, the fall of Clinton was due to misogyny.  Just like Trump is America's first white president, he's also America's first male president."

So also Trump is America's first rich president.  The deadly and demonic trinity---rich and white and male.

Rich, White Males: Triple Oppressors?

The combination of rich and white and male equals power; immense power to oppress if they so choose.

On Sunday morning November 19, 2017, on ABC's This Week, I watched a morally passionate and quality discussion of the current sexual harassment/predator issue.  This included more than a few bad apples now making the headlines; the discussion touched on a culture of male oppression.

Most rich, white males from the founding fathers down to 2017, see themselves as a blessing to the nation for they built this great nation.  But many women, poor and racial/ethnic groups see rich, white males as a mixed blessing at best and as oppressors at worst.  Gender, race and class/economic oppression are interwoven making it a case of triple oppression for poor, black women.

Can the oppressed force their oppressors to release the oppressed?  Possibly a little bit, if they try real hard.  Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement valiantly tried to do so with marginal success; during the 1980s a strong backlash took away many of the hard won gains.  Read The New Jim Crow for the tragic story of mass incarceration, a system of oppression that replaced Jim Crow segregation.

Because of their large numbers---50 percent of the population---women if they run many candidates and turn out in large numbers could vote rich, white males out of office.

White evangelicals because of their large numbers could also vote rich, white males out of office if they developed a strong biblical social ethic.  But currently white evangelicals seem more like evangelical Pharisees who neglect justice and the love of God, who serve the American trinity more than the Christian trinity.  Apart from repentance and a religio-social revival movement, most American white evangelicals will continue to side with rich, white male oppressors.

Dangerous Religion

These thoughts were stimulated by reading the book titled Postville [Iowa] by
Bloom.

When a religion, whatever its name, neglects justice and the love of God, it becomes a dangerous deceit.

From The Message Bible paraphrased by Eugene Peterson: Introduction to the Book of Amos:

"More people are exploited and abused in the name of religion than in any other way.  Sex, money, and power all take a back seat to religion as a source of evil."

An example:  Jesus severely criticized the highly religious Pharisees for being "full of greed. . . . and neglecting justice and the love of God." Luke 11:39 and 42.  If you and I are not doing justice and  love that releases the oppressed, then we, like the Pharisees, are evil-doers.

The Message:  "Prophets sniff out injustice, especially injustice that is dressed up in religious garb.  Amos towers as the defender of the downtrodden poor and accuser of the powerful rich who use God's name to legitimate their sin."

As I read this description about the dedication of St. James Lutheran in Postville, it raised some red flags:

"The erection of this church, more than any other cause, has tended to raise the price of land around Postville.  It has brought large numbers of wealthy Germans here, and they all want a house within reach of this elegant house of worship."

There was never any mention that this church has specialized in reaching out to the poor, that it is a beacon of justice and love.  In fact, when Rev. Miller gently began to raise justice and love issues, he was not well received and soon left the church.

And the Hasidic Jews were also neglecting love and justice as they were making money hand over fist; instead of paying higher wages, they were remodeling their houses.

I am reminded of James two where James severely criticized the church for honoring the rich and dishonoring the poor.  Chapter two condemns the for oppressing the poor.

Building a People of Power

Building a People of Power: Equipping Churches to Transform Their Communities by Robert Linthicum, 2005.

The book answers the question:  How do churches actually release the oppressed poor?  Building a People of Power reflects an extraordinary combination of a lifetime of biblical study plus community development and community organizing (alliance of numerous community organizations) in urban settings in the U.S. as well as Asia, Africa and Latin America:

"Linthicum has been rebuilding poor urban communities since 1955.  He has pastored churches in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit where he helped form nine community organizations, people-businesses, and housing efforts.  From 1985 to 1995, Dr. Linthicum headed the urban work of World Vision where he guided third-world organizers who coordinated slum dwellers to build multiple organizations and businesses, and over 6,000 homes."

For Robert Linthicum, veteran Presbyterian pastor and community organizer, the shalom community is an equivalent to the kingdom of God here on earth.  The shalom community, a rough equivalent to Martin Luther King's "beloved community", is characterized by preaching and practicing Jubilee justice so that "there will be no poor among you."  Justice and shalom combined.

The church, the people of God, is called to be and to enlarge the shalom community here on earth.  Here are some nuggets of truth from Linthicum's pen:

     * Shalom is found 250 times in the Hebrew Bible.
     * Shalom's NT equivalent eirene is found 89 times.
     * Shalom and eirene focus on public/social justice.
     * Shalom is a vision of society as God intended and wants it to be---just and equitable.
     * Jesus spoke in Aramaic so he would have used the word shalem [shalom, Jerusalem].  When
            the angels appeared to the shepherds and proclaimed "Peace on earth" or shalom on earth
            combined with "Glory to God."  These two powerful phrases go together, "Glory to God" and "shalom on earth."  The church needs to find a balanced rhythm between these two magnificent biblical concepts.
     * Romans 14:17:  The kingdom of God is essentially about compassionate and just behavior
          toward the poor in the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit; produces authentic joy.

In addition to this solid biblical theology, a theology of society, there are chapters devoted to the principles and the detailed practice of community organization.

Linthicum's approach to community organization organization is built around the Iron Rule:  "Never do for others what they can do for themselves."  And its corollary, "When the people lack access to political and economic power, the power they have is each other."  A third point could be added:  "Your expertise and resources are badly needed; humbly but aggressively share them.  Form lasting partnerships."

Iron Rule number one is true, but if not preceded by other Iron Rules, is CRUEL and MISLEADING.

My suggestion for other Iron Rules:

Iron Rule number two:  "Never put the enormous burden of ending systems of oppression upon the
                                        backs of the oppressed."
Iron Rule number three:  "Before you even try to assist the poor, repent and restitute regarding
                                         your part in their oppression."
Iron Rule number four:  "Oppression is the evil opposite of shalom and must be addressed before the
                                         church even mentions shalom."
Iron Rule number five: "Oppression smashes the body and crushes the spirit; therefore oppression
                                        theology must precede shalom theology."
Iron Rule number six:  "Long term partnerships that release the oppressed and then rebuild their
                                       damaged communities are required."
Iron Rule number seven:  "Read Lev. 25, Deut. 15, Neh. 5 for specifics on God's requirements to end
                                            oppression, execute justice, and create conditions for shalom."

Iron Rule  number one should really be number seven to avoid ignoring the prior role of oppression.

Here is one of Linthicum's most valuable insights; there are three responses of the church to the city:

The church IN the community; the church TO the community and the church WITH the community.  The church in the community means physically the church is in, but socially it is not of the community.  It is an island isolated from the needs of the community.  Most churches fall into this category, sometimes for theological reasons, sometimes because the community around them has changed and they don't know how to relate.

Next, the church to the community.  Much good can be done with this type of social outreach.  But "the Achilles of this approach is the perception that the church knows what is best for the neighborhood.  The church determines the needs and the best way to deliver those services.  I have discovered in more than 50 years of ministry that this concept is the single most difficult insight for Christians to grasp and apply to their ministry."  The paternalistic approach can do much damage as well as some good.

The third approach and the more excellent way is the church WITH the community; unfortunately this is quite rare.  In this approach, "the church allows the people of the community to instruct it as it identifies with the people."  The church assists the community in solving its problems.  The church moves from paternalism to partnership.  Partnership participates in the community's struggle to create justice and shalom.

Large partnerships and alliances are built.  United Power for Action which began in 1997 in Chicago has 330 institutional members.  ONE LA has 120 institutional members.  These institutions have enough power so they can negotiate decisions for justice.

The following are Noble's concluding observations:

It does take God's power to release the oppressed.  God acting through Moses used his power (the plagues) to force Pharaoh to free the Hebrew slaves.

In Luke 9:1-2, Jesus gave his disciples his power to heal the sick and to incarnate the kingdom of God which includes releasing the oppressed.  Soon, however, these same disciples came close to misusing God's power to kill Samaritans---destroy a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus.  Jewish ethnocentrism came perilously close to the tragic misuse of God's power.  So Jesus had to rebuke his own disciples (Luke 9:51-55).

It takes God's power to implement God's kingdom. (Acts 1:1-8)

But God's power, necessary as it is, can be misused and abused.  Derek Prince, a charismatic leader, said God warned him not to make the same mistake that Pentecostals often made: "squandering my power in spiritual self-indulgence."  Some Pentecostals pursue the gifts for the primary purpose of being super spiritual, not the edification of others.

Power must be motivated by love and directed toward justice.  Power, justice and love, these three are all absolutely necessary to do the hard work of the kingdom of God, but the greatest of these three is love, with justice a close second and power a close third.

Why is James Fiercely Anti-Rich?

Why is the book of James so fiercely anti-rich? 

From the Message, 1:9:

"When the down-and-outers get a break, cheer!  And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer!"

According to Luke, Jesus himself was also fiercely anti-rich---"Woe to the rich!" (6:24).  In today's language, we might paraphrase this verse as "the unrepentant rich be damned to hell!"  Remember Jesus also called the sacred Temple, "a den of robbers."

James, the half brother of Jesus, agrees and he exposes the demonic activity of the rich in 5:1-6.  James is anti-rich because they are usually greedy oppressors.  Should the American church also be anti-rich?

At the end of chapter 1, James distinguishes between worthless, hot air religion and pure, real religion.  Genuine biblical religion "visits the widows and orphans in their affliction/oppression."  When combined with Luke 4:18, this becomes "release the oppressed poor."  Then James (2:1-7) scorches the churches for acting like the godless world---favoring the rich.  The church was showing favoritism, discriminating against the poor.  It was honoring the rich and dishonoring the poor.

God, on the other hand, honors the poor; "He chose the world's down and out as the kingdom's first citizens. . . with full rights and privileges. . . . And here you are abusing these same citizens!"

How stupid can you be!  Are you religious idiots?  "Isn't it the rich who oppress you?"

Solution:

Love the oppressed poor by spending a generation in their midst.
Combine faith and works; combine God-talk and God-acts.
Do works of justice that release the oppressed poor.

Patriots and Profits: An Unbeatable Combination

Both American Gun Violence and American War Violence seem to be as American as apple pie.  Both violences are legitimated as Constitutional.  To fight and kill in war is an American patriotic duty.

American wars, American imperialism, American oppression began the moment British colonists invaded (colonized is the politically correct term) and began killing Indians and stealing their land.

Jefferson said America would not be like Europe---a land of "eternal wars," instead it would be a land of peace.  But our bottomless greed led us to wars of conquest, expansionism, and imperialism.

American wars, even stupid ones, seem never to end; it appears mass gun violence will not end either.  It is patriotic to own a gun; it is very profitable to make and sell guns.  We are on an unstoppable merry-go-round of guns and violence.  The Wild West is now the Wild U.S.  America---the land of legal gunslingers.  Duck!

Patriots and profits; guns and greed; ethnocentrism and expansionism; exceptionalism and evil; stupidity and arrogance.  God bless America!