Part 5 of the Faith+Justice+Lent Series on Luke 4:18-19 is written by Dr. Amy Preston Page, Board Member of the FaithJustice Foundation. Click here for the full series.
Part 5 – Doing Our Part to Help the Oppressed Go Free
“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,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
– Luke 4:18-19
How can we each do our part to help the oppressed go free?
Oppression comes from the desire of one group to dominate another in order to gain or maintain power. As a social worker, I have a mandate to abide by our Code of Ethics, a core aspect of which is to challenge social injustice.
Similarly, we as Christians have a mandate from Christ as detailed in Luke 4:18-19. Jesus tells us that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him and that he has been anointed to accomplish several tasks. Among those tasks are to let the oppressed go free. What would it look like if we as Christians truly abided by that mandate and each did our part to help the oppressed go free?
“What would it look like if we as Christians truly abided by that mandate and each did our part to help the oppressed go free?”
Frequently we think of this work as taking place on a national level, a perspective which can feel overwhelming. However, we can gather together to create meaningful change to those structures in our everyday lives that prop up a system of oppression. Where do you see oppression or unfairness in your daily life? In what areas do you have authority to make changes that will level the playing field for others?
Amy speaks at FaithJustice Forum: Losing Our Religion? Millenials, Social Justice, and the Church”
Maybe you are in charge of hiring new employees and can lead a discussion around hiring practices that inadvertently discriminate against those with histories of incarceration or against communities of color. Perhaps you are a parent who can teach your children through your actions as well as your words that we are all equal in God’s eyes. Maybe you are a pastor called to speak God’s truth about the role Christians can play in promoting fairness. If you are a teacher, perhaps you can be more bold in challenging negative stereotypes coworkers may have about children in your school who come from different backgrounds.
“We must all examine our choices in life and consciously work each day to free others from the yoke of oppression.”
While I am thankful that my career in social work so closely aligns with Christ’s calling to us, I must also remain vigilant to the way my actions can either contribute to the oppression of others or work toward alleviating this burden. Likewise, we must all examine our choices in life and consciously work each day to free others from the yoke of oppression. We can rest in the knowledge that we have been anointed for this work along with Christ and that God is with us as we carry out this mission in our world.
Lenten Blessings,
Amy Preston Page, DSW
Board Member
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