Aberrant Theologies #2: Liberation Theology

This is my second installment in a series of posts where I will be describing errant theology and branches of the body that are, in many cases either marginally Christian, sorely misguided or not Christian at all. They may have some redeeming values but their cons far outweigh any good that they do. They outweigh it because the bad that they do and the bad things they teach runs the risk of condemning people that follow it and part of my job is to expose false teaching for what it is so it does not lead the flock astray like sheep off a cliff.

At the root of Liberation Theology we see secondary meaning given to the ordinary meaning of the Scriptures. Eisegesis is being performed on the text or things are being read into Scripture that is not really there. People are seeing in the words of Scripture what they want to see through a filtered lens. A lens fogged and smeared with decades or centuries of subjugation of peoples either by their own governments or colonial powers. There is the implied idea that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is in reality the means of liberation of all people from things related to physical oppression or subjugation. The historical and salvational aspect of the Resurrection as a release for humanity from sin is largely ignored. This theology thrives where there is a subjugated or oppressed "proletariat" or minority of people that are either being used, abused or exploited by the "powers that be". Worse yet, they may perceive that they are being abused but are not, thereby creating a enemy of a legitimate ruling power causing political strife fueled by misguided religious fervor.

The idea that man is sinful and is in need of an atoning sacrifice is largely absent from Liberation Theology. The Liberation observed by this theology is largely viewed as political. Liberation Theologians view themselves as liberating their unjust oppressors from sin by overthrowing them. They view social injustice as the greatest sin and violation of God's standards.

The hope in this theology is not based in Biblical constructs or the belief that Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life but rather hope is related to the reshaping of the present to affect a positive change for the future. The vehicle for doing this is often revolution or change. For some within this aberrant theology they do not believe in objective revelation from God as given in propositional truths but it is a theology "in motion", changing and that change is related to society. It is Marxism with a Christian paint job. Liberation theologians often allow their political agendas to interpret Scripture to suit their own ends.

This theology emphasizes practice or, more technically, "praxis" over doctrine. They misinterpret Scripture and base their social action upon the Bible scriptures describing the mission of Jesus Christ, as bringing a sword (social unrest), e.g. Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 10:34, Luke 22:35-38 Matthew 26:51-52 — and not as bringing peace (social order). This Biblical interpretation is a call to action against poverty, and the sin engendering it, to effect Jesus Christ's mission of justice in this world (wiki).

By its very nature it contradicts James statement of faith and works and makes salvation not only partially an earthly release from oppression but also turns the act of doing so into one giant socialized/societal form of "works".

Liberation Theology is in direct opposition to Romans 13. It interprets Scripture not through inductive study but rather through a political & social lens and that lens is clouded if not completely obscured by precepts and presuppositions of aberrant human thinking. The Bible should shape or thinking. Our thinking should never shape how the Bible is interpreted.

Liberation Theology needs to be viewed through a clear lens. It is using the very people it needs to maintain its existence and claiming it supports them. It capitalizes on the disgruntling nature of oppression and uses it to radically change or overthrow existing structures through activist and political means. That is politics people, not religious fervor. It is placing the importance of an institute of man before God thereby making the institute of equal importance with God. I don't know about you but that flirts dangerously close to the apostasy line.

Exodus 20:3-6 "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Frankly, I get the impression that God doesn't want company in the god department.

**The odd depiction of Christ in the photo of this post is from the cover of Gustavo Gutiérrez's 1971 book A Theology of Liberation. This book was essentially accredited with having started the Liberation Theology movement in Latin/South America. The book was written by Gustavo a Peruvian priest principally as a moral reaction to the poverty caused by social injustice in that region.