Liberation Theology

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT
LIBERATION THEOLOGY!
I THE BACKGROUND OF LIBERATION THEOLOGY
Colossians 2: 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
What does the Bible say about “Liberation Theology?” The Bible has much to say about our freedom and much to say about Theology but is the teaching of liberation theology found in the Bible?
The major doctrines of the Bible are doctrine such as Bibliography which includes inspiration, regeneration, faith, repentance, grace and much more.
Another major doctrine is Christology which is the life of Christ; Pneumatology which is the teaching of the Holy Spirit; Anthropology, which is the study of man; Harmotology, which is the study of sin; Eschatology, the study of last things, Soteriology, the study of Salvation; Ecclesiology, which is the study of the Church and Theology, which is the study of God.
Liberation Theology is not a doctrine that has been passed down from the first century teachings of the Church. Surprisingly, the term did not come into existence until 1962.

The word “liberation” means to be emancipated, set free or released.

Liberation Theology began with the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965.
They state, “liberation theology is a school of theology within Christianity that focuses on Jesus Christ as not only the Redeemer but also the Liberator of the oppressed. 1
In liberation theology people’s focus is set upon being free from poverty and oppression.
It emphasizes the Christian mission to bring justice to the poor and oppressed, particularly through political activism.
This became the problem. An alliance was formed between churches and political activist that stirred people’s emotions. It was not long before the fruit of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, longsuffering was gone and unethical and un-Christian actions took over.
Due to some unscrupulous actions and politics of the teaching of` liberation theologies by the Catholic Church Cormac McCrory issued official rejections of the theology in the 1980s and liberation theologians were harshly admonished by Pope John Paul II (leading to the curtailing of its growth). 2
The current Pope, Benedict XVI also condemns much of its teachings.
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger said, “Liberation theology is a phenomenon with an extraordinary number of layers. There is a whole spectrum from radically Marxist positions, on the one hand, to the efforts which are being made within the framework of a correct and ecclesial theology.”
“An analysis of the phenomenon of liberation theology reveals that it constitutes a fundamental threat to the faith of the Church.” 3
From those who started it, we find reproof of this very doctrine.
Why is Liberation Theology un-scriptural? God raises up governments and sets them down. And God sets a people free as they “seek Him,” “cry out to Him,” “obey His word,” and “walk His way.”
To use un-Christian and dishonorable means and methods to gain freedom is not God’s way or will.
Our Freedom does not come by our demands to man but by our prayers and appeals to God.
Jesus never preached liberation theology. He never taught a people to revolt in order to have freedom from the government. He taught people that there was freedom in Salvation.
In layman terms Liberation Theology is an alliance between a religious establishment and the state through means unbecoming even to the Catholic churches to aid and abed the poor with the same lifestyle as the wealthy through political socialism.
It is often cited as a form of Christian socialism. 4

How is this done? It is the attempt to influence a government to pass laws and even to at times picket and revolt to see to it that the rich and poor are put on a more even social scale.
How? The wealthy are taxed by a greater percentage than the poor. Those tax dollars are then used to build houses, provide food, educate and provide monies for the poor. It is called socialism.
It is in the simple words of Karl Marx, “the redistribution of wealth” to help the poor. (Karl Marx was the father of communism and socialism).
The Catholic Church hierarchy rejected their own “Liberation Theology” due to the anti-Christian actions being imposed by there own people on others.

In the news lately we have witnessed that some black preachers, are using “Liberation Theology” as a justification to promote hatred and anti Christian and anti America and anti Jewish rhetoric. I use the term “black” because the U.S. Census Bureau used that term for their race.

II – THE BIBLE AND LIBERATION THEOLOGY

Old Testament: What does the Bible say about being liberated from poverty and slavery? Jesus said the poor you will always have with you. Servitude is and always will be a part of society as long as man is running things.
Godliness with contentment is great gain. What liberates a man’s soul and life is being Godly, not demanding our freedom or equality (II Tim 6:6).

Look at slavery for a moment. It seems that this is the root claim for such anti-America rhetoric but is it justified in demanding equality.
If you study all of history from the flood till the present day you will discover that slavery has always been part of human civilization.
Most cultures and most civilizations from Babylon, in Genesis ten, and for the next 4,000 years had some form of slavery.
There has always been poor people, poor nations and poor societies. There have always been people enslaved by governments; white people, Asian people and black people.
The world classifies countries as first, second and third world countries depending on their annual income and life style.

When the Babylonians ruled the world they enslaved people of all races. When the Egyptians ruled the world they enslaved people. When Rome ruled the world they enslaved people. History tells us there were more slaves in the Roman Empire than free men.

Who has suffered the most from slavery over the centuries?
Has it been the Africans or the Jews?
Of all civilizations, history documents that the people that has suffered the most were God’s people, the Hebrew people.
They were slaves 430 year in Egypt. What did they do to get free? They repented and cried out to God and were set free.
In time their lack of love and false alliances for God divided them as a nation. Israel, the Northern nation forgot God and were for 120 years captives of the Assyrians.
Judah, the Southern nation was 70 years captives of the Babylonians.
They were run down and sought after by the Assyrians. Laws were passed to kill and enslave them.
Then when Rome became the Great World power, Israel’s nation was brutally destroyed, tens of thousands of the Jewish people were murdered, and the Jewish people were scattered across the face of the earth and for 1900 years they were a people without a nation.
Then in WW II six million Jewish people were murder by the Germans under Adolph Hitler. Keep this in mind.
The African people too were a people that suffered from slavery. They did not suffer like the Jewish people but they did suffer by the millions.
They were mistreated. They were killed. What happened to the African people was wrong.
But, good and godly precious black preachers of the Bible know that God forgives and forgets. The Bible says, “Forget those things which are behind.”
The Jewish people though hurt and mistreated by many nations in the past have moved on to build a life for themselves.
Many good black brethren and black preachers know this truth and they preach this to their congregations. Thank God for truth!

The Hebrew people and slavery: The Hebrew people not only lived in slavery, they practiced slavery against their own people according to God’s word.
For the Hebrew people it was a means of getting a new start in life.
For example, if a man lost everything due to a bad business deal or due to unfortunate happenings, he could sell his life to another in order to get a new start in life.
Look at Exodus 21:1
1 Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.
4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.
5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:
6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.
These were the rules laid down by God. Here a man purchases a man’s life, who has lost everything and has nothing. He teaches him a trade. He teaches him how to work for him self, yea he gives him another chance.
After six years he can go out on his own and make a living. If however he realizes how good his master has been to him, he may chose to labor for his master the rest of his life. This was a Jewish man’s actions towards a Jewish brother.

When God gave the Promise Land, to Israel He did so because God can give to nations what He wants and he can take away their freedom when he chooses.

Job reveals that truth to us. “…the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

The reason God gave Canaan to Israel is because:
1 - Canaan had become corrupt in their moral life.
2 - They had become idolatrous in their worship and had long ago turned from the true God.
3 - And there alliances were evil as well.
God then divided the land among the twelve tribes of Israel. Every family was given a share. If a man fell on hard times and had to relinquish his property God instituted the Year of Jubilee.
Leviticus 25: 10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
This is Old Testament liberation theology from a physical standpoint. After fifty years, a man could go back to the land God gave them and plant his crops and start over again.

Now, here is New Testament liberation theology.
You must remember that the Hebrew people were a earthly people with a earthly promise. They were a people who were promised physical blessings if they would seek God. In the New Testament God established a heavenly people, the Church of Jesus Christ. Our promises are heavenly and eternal.
1 - The Bible declares that the “The whole world is under sin.”
(Romans 3:10, 23).
Every man, every race, every culture is under sin.
It doesn’t matter if the man is Jewish, American, African, English, Australia, Chinese etc, he is under the condemnation of sin.

2 – The Bible declares that Jesus came to set men free.
John 8: 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Paul, after being saved by God’s grace declared that he was a “servant of God,” which meant a bond slave or a slave. How can that be?
Paul at one time was a free man, a Roman citizen. When he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, he knew that there was more freedom being a slave for Christ that a free man living in this wicked world with all of its vices.
Even in this world you can become a slave to something or someone. Many folks are slaves to money, alcohol, sex and lust. Some folks are enslaved by greed, bitterness, hate and more. Still others are enslaved by clubs, organizations and even governments.

3 – The Bible reveals how to be liberated from hurts and sin.
A – Truth will set a man free at salvation no matter where he is in life.
Jesus said in John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
He said in John 14: 6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

B – God’s Spirit gives us comfort as we study the Scriptures.
Jesus said in John 14: 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
God’s spirit comforts us, man’s words if not biblical can entrap us.

C – Let God’s Spirit be your teacher, not man.
John 16: 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
John 17: 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Who and what will teach you truth? Answer: God’s Spirit and God’s Word. Jesus is truth. The Holy Spirit is truth. God’s Word is truth.

Liberation Theology moved into many “black churches” in the sixties, especially with the 1964 Civil Right movement.
The Bible was preached in many black churches but suddenly many began to adopt this “Liberation Theology” and they began to preach a social gospel.
Liberation Theology is a social Gospel movement. It is an intellectual movement that has gained prominence in the 20th century.
It preaches the social Gospel principles.
It talks about Jesus and salvation, yes but its main focus is on poverty and inequality and crime.
It focuses on racial tensions and slums and poor hygiene and education and the dangers of war.
This is all fine. Every culture and church should deal with these things but it becomes detrimental to society and a people when a preacher or church or a man begins to blame the government or another race for their troubles.
The Jewish people never blamed another nation for their troubles. They knew that as they drew near to God, God would bless them and set them free. Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
Please understand there are good black preachers that preach the bible and their congregation are filled with good folks.
But, when a black or white preacher focuses on hurts and problems and begins to blame a nation, a race or a culture for them being in the position they are in, the preacher has failed from preaching the truth of God’s word.
The Jewish people never blamed another culture for the problems.
Jesus is the answer my friend to all you problems, not a government or somebody treating you right or helping you to get revenge or ahead in life. Jesus is our hope.
The answer to all of life’s problems is found in the life of Jesus and in His Word.
Theologically, the Social Gospel leaders were overwhelmingly post-millennialist. 5
That is because they believed the Second Coming could not happen until humankind rids itself of all social evils by human effort.
And so blame has fallen on government, slavery, the white race, the Jewish race, unfair education and any other item a social gospel preacher wants to blame.
If their doctrine was Biblically correct they would preach pre-millennialist theology. They would be preparing for Jesus’ return rather than focusing on a social gospel.
Though this Liberation Theology is not as predominant in the Southern United States, it has moved in to many churches in the south.
Social Gospel leaders were and are predominantly liberal politically and theologically. 6

It is good and right to help the poor. Many churches do by giving clothes, food, help and aid. But, there is much more than given physical items to people in need. The Gospel must be presented and spiritual truth must be taught by actions and word.
It is so clear in the Scripture that as a people turn their lives over to Jesus Christ and seek His face; it is Christ that will in His time and if He chooses, will prosper a people.

The reason for this message today stems mainly from what has been exposed by the media lately in some black churches. And let me say, not all black churches. Most black churches especially in the South are Christian in content. But there are many black preachers that side with the Rev. Wright.
The Rev. Wright, Obama’s pastor has made many remarks that have caused true Christians to wonder over such comments.
The Rev. Wright took God’s name in vain from the pulpit. He cursed America and in cursing America he was cursing the white man.
He compared the American government to the KKK. And he compared our military to terrorist.
Since those remarks, the Rev. Wright is contemplating his resignation and has cancelled all his public appearances.
The church has called another pastor for now, the Rev. Otis Moss III.
In his first sermon, this pass Easter Sunday, he described the media guilty of a modern day lynching and said what they did to Rev. Wright was compared to what Jesus went through at the hands of the Romans.
I am sorry friends, but Jesus opened not his mouth when he was crucified. Jesus never cursed the government of Rome. Jesus never took His father’s name in vain. Jesus never preached with hate, only with love.
The new pastor, Rev Moss defiantly defended this method of worship when he said, “If I was Ice Cube I’d say it a little differently — You picked the wrong folk to mess with.”
Moss said this to an enthusiastic congregation, standing up during much of the sermon and shouting to the message titled, “How to Handle a Public Lynching.” 7

Stop: Folks, our church is predominately white. We have had precious Christian black people attend. They are welcome here all the time.
They are welcome to become member here. We don’t shun someone because of their race or ethnic background.
When a person gets saved, he is my brother and Jesus is our Savior and God is our father and we are going to spend eternity together. We have no business fighting another race.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie in her sermon said, “Dr. Wright represents the best among us … An attack on this man of God is an attack on all those of the cloth who believe in the social Gospel of liberation. And I will not stand for it.”

Today liberation theology according to the internet information is founded mainly in Black Muslim groups and Black Muslim parties.
This is the impact Louis Farrakhan has had on many black churches and pastors. Churches that have accepted this doctrine are absolutely wrong for it is totally contrary to the teaching of Jesus Christ.
A church is to make no alliance with any government or ethic group whatsoever. A church is to be an autonomous organization that is run according to the Scriptures, not man.

Just as Paul corrected the early Christian churches by telling them they cannot mix Judaism and Christianity, today you cannot mix liberation theology with Christianity. It does not mix. It can not mix. Sweet water and bitter water does not flow out of the same fountain.

Christian attitudes and actions reveal truth.
The rhetoric of Rev. Wright and those like him are not Christian.
Turn to Galatians 5.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
His preaching was not loving but hateful. It was not gentle but harsh.
Verse 24 makes it clear that God’s children have crucified or died to the affection and selfish revengeful desires of the flesh.
And verse 26 makes it clear we are not to provoke people against one another.

Turn to James 4.
:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Whenever a church or a Christian makes alliances with the world in order to achieve a goal it will only make them an enemy of God.
Turn to James 3.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
A pastor, a church, a congregation should peach Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins. We should show forth love and joy and peace, not hate and anger and blame and warfare.



















































1 - Liberation theology, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2 – Ibid.,
3 – www.christendom-awake.org
4 - Liberation theology, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
5 – Ibid.,
6 – Ibid.,
7 – Ibid.,