Biblical Words, Marxist Analysis

on June 22, 2012

By Rick Plasterer

From time to time those who seek to make the 1960s social revolution the “new normal” advance ludicrous claims for the unreflective. This recently happened in a New York Times piece by Mark Oppenheimer on May 25. Oppenheimer made the claim that the religious version of sixties radicalism, liberation theology, is the true and original doctrine of Jesus Christ. Quoting Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary theologian Shannon Craigo-Snell, Oppenheimer reported that “Liberation theology, at its most simple, is the Sunday School Jesus who healed the sick or took care of the poor peopleIt’s what your Sunday school teacher taught you if you grew up in a church. It isn’t something people should be afraid of, unless they’re invested in poor people not getting fed or sick people not getting healed.”

This is the basic claim of the religious left, also made by the early twentieth century Social Gospel, that Jesus’ teaching has been misunderstood by traditional Christianity, perhaps even by the apostle Paul, who mistook Jesus’ gospel of salvation from suffering as a gospel of salvation from the wrath of God, and the consequent need to be saved, and then sanctified. People don’t need salvation from the wrath of God, liberationists think, they need personal and social liberation. What distinguishes liberation theology among ideas of this type is its Marxist basis. Rather than seeing the gospel as just “doing good,” or “helping the poor,” liberation theology attempts to identify oppressors and oppressed, views the world through the lens of the claimed oppression, and struggles for a complete social change to liberate the victims.

That this is not the gospel of Jesus Christ should be very evident in the Bible. There is no reason to think Jesus saw his message as a radical break with the faith of ancient Israel. The Old Testament’s concern for the poor was in the context of a nonpartisan idea of justice: “you shall not be partial to a poor man in his dispute … you shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute” (Ex. 23:3, 6). After this, the Old Testament Law and Prophets were indeed exceptionally concerned for the needy, prescribing a tiered sacrificial system for the poor in Israel (Lev. 5:7, 11; 12:8; 14:21-22, 30), gleaning of fields by the poor (Lev. 19:9), the return of pledges (Ex. 22:26-27), nonalienation of inherited land (Lev. 25:13-15), and advancing repeated references to the oppression of the poor (in which authorities were condemned for deviating from the revealed standard of justice). Consistent with this, Jesus’ teaching and miracles involved meeting human needs. Jesus indeed condemned the Pharisees, but for their hypocrisy, not their ideals (Matt. 23:1-3). Jesus accepted the Pharisees’ ideals, which were based on the holiness expounded in the Old Testament, and he clearly accepted an understanding of personal sin as making people culpable, indeed damnably culpable, before God. In fact, in declaring the human heart a source of evil thoughts and words, Jesus very reasonably advanced a doctrine of original sin (Matt. 15:18-19; Mk. 7:21-23; Lk. 6:45).

Unlike the Old Testament, which presents a legal code, the New Testament advances no set order for society. The Kingdom of God, which we do not now fully know, will come fully at the end of the age; until then it can only be partially realized in the church, and perhaps in the wider society as Christians, by reason and moral suasion, seek to realize the Bible’s moral precepts there. But as to the things in the contemporary world that we might call “policy,” the Bible does not offer prescriptions. We can only look at the Bible’s general moral precepts, try to understand what experience in our day has taught us, and draw conclusions as Jesus taught us, with good and bad fruits testifying to good and bad sources (Matt. 7:15-20). And indeed experience of recent generations has taught us that the self-denial and personal responsibility of the Christian past, not autonomous individuals and societies as a primary commitment to liberation would imply, leads to justice and prosperity.

It is ironic that having quoted the claim of one theologian that liberation theology is “the Sunday School Jesus,” Oppenheimer then advances the claim of another liberation theologian, Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, who (correctly) denies that liberation theology is biblical. It is the victim’s “experience and our struggle for survival, not the Bible, which are the source of our theology and the starting point for how we should interpret, appropriate, and use the Bible,” she is quoted as saying. So liberation theology starts outside the Bible and proceeds to use the Bible for its own purposes. The starting point is Marxist claim that ending suffering supersedes all other considerations (such as truth and reality). The correct starting point for biblical theology is God’s holiness, and human sin and redemption. Any salvation from suffering can only occur within that context. Liberation theology, like the Social Gospel before it, uses biblical words with non-biblical meanings, but is perhaps more directly influenced by Marxist thinking. The destructive effect of both on Christianity (which is about obedience to God, sin, and salvation), and America (which is based on individual responsibility) is apparent in both movements. Both are anti-Christian and anti-American.

  1. Comment by william wallace on June 22, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    If putting some of the correct pieces together one gets a clearer picture.

    The situation at present with religion is one having pieces of three jigsaw
    puzzles mixed together / you take for granted it must be the one puzzle…
    but reality it ain’t. You have the one puzzle in giving an true picture / then
    then you have the other puzzles which be but distraction.Thus firstly one
    need understand this is not one puzzle but three / then start seperate the pieces to their own puzzle picture /one can start with the frame of puzzles
    the frame having a clear matching edge on each piece thus a good start.

    What one finds is that Puzzle One is reality which gives a clear picture of
    the road to enlightenment. Puzzle two is that of ideas / early development
    Puzzle three is that of beliefs ( early development of brain / born of ideas.

    Thus one goes from ideas to beliefs then finally unto that of one knowing.

    Example in learning …people did not accept the direct word of JESUS as
    it was simply beyond them so JESUS spoke parables ( gave a little story
    then explained its meaning. He was speaking to heart as brain / thus an
    process had begun which people simply not truly aware of / in reality he
    had planted the seed of love in heart the seed of understanding in mind
    or brain (there be a differ betwixt mind brain yet lets put the explanation
    of that aside for another day) thus to stick to the main threads presently.

    Now most people have all three puzzles mixed such representing a life
    one seeking knowledge as of understanding. If one in having already advanced down such road (in advanced I mean through many lives / if
    spiritual development having grown one has a healthy spiritual account
    ( all have a spiritual account / such can’t be lost stolen / (it being yours)
    such account is carried from life unto life / while in human form in being
    alive THEN as only then can one blessed add to their spiritual account.

    As with fingerprints eye markings each person is a individual / thus also
    individual at all stages in spiritual development. The spiritual diet need
    is not as anothers / (though it comes close where one forming not only
    group bondings but unions of souls which can last a lifetime / per’aps it
    be many lifetimes (such can bring much joy) it can also bring its sorrow
    ( when a individuals spiritual developmen goes ahead of anothers …
    sadly unions are broken / where a individual wish moving in the spiritual
    while others content with their lot / or being simply lost in material illusion.

    However in a failing partnership / it better parting than a life be bitterness
    where one practices revenge / feeling the other to blame for their sorrow.

    I should add do not be judgemental on same sex partnerships as JESUS
    said take the beam from own eye / before placing a judgement on other.

    In reaching stage of all knowing (then comment) untill then / use caution.

    Spiritual appetite // whatever the spiritual appetite then the Almighty has provided for /there are spiritual teachers at every level of spiritual need
    and one need show caution in such matters (as siad all needs not alike).
    Use caution if an individual is happy with their lot // then don’t make life
    a misery for them // as saying sex is a SIN or be rude in other matters of
    that which others practice // if one’s not harming others /don’t judge them
    in time their spiritual need will take root its just presently not their season
    thus do not seek punishment rather let your focus be upon the cure and
    in curing others the best advice is firstly cure yourself /do not go seeking revenge if wronged / such is to plant a bitter seed /practice compassion..

    Thus if one wishes to solve the puzzle / then seperate beliefs / ideas….
    reach a decision the hearts desire in knowing God (leave ideas beliefs.

    The solution being very very simple // so simpe being it be the problem
    humans like things complicated / being simple they simply can’t accept.

    However the final stage of spiritual development is in one’s turning the senses inward in an unfolding of the spiritual self / help is available the
    Almighty does not give a stone if your quest your need being for bread.

    On PC search put (words of peace) or (words of peace global) on site
    a selection of videos in which Prem Rawat explains meditation / of one
    turning the senses inward in an unfolding of the spiritua self /not ideas
    or beliefs / not a heaven a paradise beyond the clouds /but that of one
    having practical spiritual experience / granting clarity of understanding
    in answering all questions…Whom am I ?. Is there a God ? a heaven ?.
    What is the purpose of life ? of creation ?. ( All questions answered)…

    Throughout the history of humanity there be spiritual teachers / among
    such being the “Teacher of Teachers” / presently Prem is the “Teacher
    of Teachers” he having dedicated his life in aiding of all whom seek the
    ultimate in spiritual development // in completing their journey home…..

    PS …Just of interest CHRIST was the Teacher of Teachers in such time
    though it nonsense he born of a virgin etc such but mans folly in raising
    him above the norm / understandable / in looking from ideas beliefs …..
    however one’s need is to go beyond ideas beliefs unto that of knowing.

    PPS…. CHRIST took the disciples beyond parables // he taught that of
    meditation / in seeing the light of creation to drink from their well of life.

    Learning part of the puzzle of knowing / of much more than of present
    one capable receiving. As child learns to walk mum can wipe the tears
    as give hugs after many stumbles yet she understands the child must
    master its balance if learning to walk / as it be with the Almighty he will
    give aid as guidance // but it the decision of the individual / their thirst
    their need of further understanding as experience which is paramount
    indeed / long as takes for the slowest of learners. the Almighty awaits.

  2. Comment by George Plasterer on June 22, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    Rick, other than having the same last name (not many of us), we seem to share a religious and political perspective as well. I think it appropriate to say that liberation theology always began with its marxist analysis, and then found some of the language of exodus and the prophets convenenient. I found the same to be true, especially with the prophets, of the social gospel. Reading the biblical exposition of Rauschenbusch shows their similarity.

The work of IRD is made possible by your generous contributions.

Receive expert analysis in your inbox.