Elie Wiesel said, "Take sides: neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormenter, never the tormented." I have been thinking about politics and the Christian gospel these days. Though, I struggle sometimes with the west Christian seeming attitude of changing human heart with a government policy; I admire the Christians' commitment in the public places to takes sides for God.
When I was back home many Christians who got my admiration were disgusted by the government and thought it is an agent of the devil. I think that attitude is justified to a certain degree. Because we saw governments who are characterized by oppression. As Kinoti, indicated African governments have done as much as. Probably worse than, colonial rulers to the problem of Africa. Kinoti also indicated the Church is part of that oppression. Because of this historical fact many evangelical Christians developed, a "pilgrim" attitude towards their world.
I was teaching in a college back home and required my students to read news papers and watch the news on TV. For many of my students that was very hard because they are of the heaven and all those thing are of the world. But as Christians, as Isaiah 58 indicates, we can not be silent when oppression happens. Because silence helps the oppressor. Though you can not change human heart by a government policy; you can not let a government policy hurt the oppressed in the midst of the gospel of grace and Justice.
Therefore, we need to learn to speak the truth in love on behalf of the poor and the oppressed.
God Help US!
0 comments:
Post a Comment