To Free the Oppressed

To Free the Oppressed

Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6

In religion, as in other things, substance trumps style. The ancient folk of Israel observed their religion in a very stylish way. They observed their times and seasons. They held their feasts and fasts. God took issue with the fact that for all their religiosity, they refused to do the things that actually characterized true spirituality. Through the pen of Isaiah, He describes the substance of true spirituality in contrast to the style of showy religion. One of the points He makes is that true spiritual behavior is to, ‘let the oppressed go free.’ We see the epitome of a this in the life and ministry of Christ. Christ is the quintessential Liberator. In Cana of Galilee, He liberated a young couple from the oppression of their poverty. He liberated Nicodemus from his ideas of self-righteousness. He liberated the woman at the well from her oppression of immortality. He liberated the man at the pool of Bethesda from his oppression of disability. The whole of the life and ministry of Christ was ‘to let the oppressed go free.’  His passion and death were the ultimate expression of that liberation. If we would learn Christ, we must learn Him in this way. This places substance over style in our own approach to religion. Where is there someone today whom we may point to Christ by practically liberating them from oppression?  As we have learned Christ, so let us show Christ-likeness, by taking every opportunity, ‘to let the oppressed go free.’

Our most Glorious, Living Christ,
we rejoice that You break the chains of the captives.
We praise You that You show us how to demonstrate to others
the compassion which You have taught us.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning