Uncharted Waters

Thursday, June 14, 2012

There have been some who believe that Christianity was not meant to deal with such things as social concerns… “It is a great mistake to treat all the ideas which underlie the preaching of Jesus as though they were primarily connected with the ‘Social’ problem. The message of Jesus is obviously purely religious; it issues directly from a very definite idea of God, and of the Divine Will in relation to man [humanity]. To Jesus the whole meaning of life is religious; His life and His teaching are wholly determined by His thought of God.” (Ernst Troeltsch) What do we think of such opinions…is the Church to stick to “Strictly Religious” concerns and shield her eyes from the suffering and blatant injustice, which takes place round about her on a daily basis? I think not! From Jesus’ very first sermon in which he lays out the tasks laid before him...Luke 4:18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, vs.19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ 20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ (Luke 4:18-21) Until Jesus' last moments on earth where he instructs his followers that they are not to be separated from the world, but that they are the very presence of God within the world, Jesus was thinking of others (John 17:15-19). Jesus was thinking of the very presence of God becoming a reality here and now on earth and setting all things as they should be. So what task does the church have laid before her in light of this understanding? Where do we see the poor, the captives, the blind, the oppressed? What truly is the “Good News” in which we have been instructed to proclaim? Is it only “Spiritual” release from present troubles or is it much more…? We have been charged to bring, through the power and grace of God, the whole message of the Gospel to those in need today. This message includes release from “Spiritual, emotional, and economic” oppression. This task can only be accomplished by all of us working together, with the help of God, to bring lasting change. This is our task…this is our mission!

1 Comments:

Blogger Agent X said...

I want to harmonize my voice with the song here.

Your post said:
The message of Jesus is obviously purely religious; it issues directly from a very definite idea of God, and of the Divine Will in relation to man [humanity].

"Religion" has become a bad word in recent times. But it is biblical. See James 1:27. It also is heavily freighted with social concern.

Keep proclaimning!

Jesus is Lord!

your blog blesses the world, and now me too.

6:43 AM  

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