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Robert McAfee
Brown (1984) comments that in the Bible, in places such as Exodus, God takes a
position against those who promote oppression and injustice.[1] God at times does take sides in human
struggles,[2]
and God does side with the oppressed.[3] Christians are sometimes in the delicate and
tricky position of staying true to Biblical standards and yet standing with
those who are oppressed and within the world system,[4]
even if they are not believers and live outside of Christian morality.[5] Those in power who call themselves Christians
need to be respectfully challenged if they are perceived with a significant
deal of evidence, to be involved in abusive practice.[6] Western Christians need to examine the side
they are on in many of the world’s social struggles, particularly in regard to
the third world.[7]
In my mind there
is a danger that Christianity, whether conservative or liberal, becomes overly
influenced by cultures where it exists.
Christian thought must stay true to Biblical and theological principles
at the expense of being led astray by societal movements that later in history
may be deemed to have been corrupt. Any
historical corruption of the Christian Church is, in the end, a poor witness of
Christ and the gospel and weakens the credibility of Christian ministry in the
minds of many critics.[8]
Back to what
Brown stated, as certain Christians may be on the wrong side of history on
certain social issues.[9]
Brown believes
the Bible teaches that there is hope for those in the world who are poor and
oppressed.[10] He explains that if God
sided with these suffering persons in Biblical times, he also does today.[11] I can grant this proposition,[12]
and state that although the salvific work of Christ for humanity should remain
the core of Christian faith and philosophy, simultaneous to this Christians
must help in an earthly physical sense, those they are attempting to assist in
a spiritual sense. This is an important
and essential way of making theology practical.
In a somewhat similar
way Brown raises issues about the suffering of the poor. He desires liberation
for those within third world today (the developing world) from suffering and oppression. A reasonable view of Reformed soteriology and
theodicy should be very concerned with the everyday lives of women and the
poor, and all persons.
ANDERSON, RAY S.
(2001) The Shape of Practical Theology,
Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.
BROWN, ROBERT
MCAFEE (1984) Unexpected News,
Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.
GEBARA, IVONE
(2002) Out of the Depths, Translated
by Ann Patrick Ware, Minneapolis, Fortress Press.
[1] Brown (1984: 34).
[3] Brown (1984: 41).
[7] Brown (1984: 160-161). Anderson (2001: 181). The third world is also known as the
developing world.
[8] Anderson reasons
the Church needs to repent for wrong doing in its existence. Anderson (2001: 180-181).
[9] Brown (1984: 160-161).
[10] Brown (1984: 14). Gebara (2002: 107).
[11] Brown (1984: 14).
