Foundations for Christian Mission, Mentor's Guide, MG04

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F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

however, notice a strand of revelation and argument in Scripture which reveals a deep burden and commitment of God to the poor and the oppressed. In the 20th century, the entire field of theological investigation (i.e., liberation theology) has devoted itself to explore the correlations between God’s salvation and redemption and those most vulnerable, down-trodden, oppressed, and abused. The theological wars continue to rage heavy, and our discussion and study in this lesson will by no means be the final word on this important and difficult topic. While not a last word, we do hope that our discussion will lead many to ponder afresh the strong biblical evidence to suggest that God identifies himself directly with the plight of the poor and those who are mentioned in their orb (i.e., the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, the stranger, the oppressed, etc.). C. M. N. Sugden speaks about the Lord’s addressing of the “deformations” within human society caused by sin, and he suggests that God’s work in such cases always begins with those who are suffering more painfully and deeply from the greed, selfishness, and oppression associated with them: When God addresses the deformation which human sin brought into the world, he begins with those suffering most deeply from greed, selfishness and the exercise of wrong dominion over others—Hebrew migrant laborers in Egypt. He rescues them from Pharaoh’s oppression. “Let my people go that they may serve me” (Exod. 3–5). God’s deliverance of Israel focused and defined what he was doing in the world (Deut. 26.1–10). It identified some aspects of rebellion against God, e.g. Pharaoh’s ruthless oppression. It showed what God cared about—that all people together should be stewards of the resources of earth (Gen. 1.27–28; Exod. 3.8). It demonstrated how God worked in the world to bring redemption—by choosing what was least, to shame human boasting (Deut. 7.7–8; 1 Cor. 1.21–31). ~ C. M. N. Sugden. “Poverty and Wealth.” The New Dictionary of Theology . S. B. Ferguson, ed. (electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000. p. 523. Sugden continues to highlight the purpose of the Mosaic law of the covenant between Yahweh and his people as the prevention of this kind of injustice in any respect from being seen in the midst of the covenant community of God: