When Religion is A Tool of Oppression

This weekend I went to a beautiful and thought-provoking art exhibit that was part of Canada's sesquicentennial (its 150th year as a country). This exhibit, though, was not a celebration, but a rebuke. It chronicled 150 years and more of oppression of the First Nations people of Canada perpetrated as part of the colonization of this land. Christian symbolism was rampant in the exhibit--from the obvious (angels in the sky, priests and nuns, a rosary with a beaver on the crucifix) to the details (a Jesus fish license plate)--and Christianity was obviously a target of rebuke. The angels in the sky overlooked abstract, dehumanized forms, lying in the street. The priests and nuns, along with RCMP officers, ripped children away from their parents to take them to residential schools.  (Read more about the exhibit and see pictures of some of the art here.)

Religion, Christianity included, can and is and has been used as a tool of oppression, countless times, in countless ways, all over the world, causing all kinds of damage. A thorough study of the Bible and the early teachings of the church will reveal, though, that this is not how Christianity started out. Rather, Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day, calling them “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:27), a “brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7), “hypocrites” (Matthew 23:13), children of the devil (John 8:44) and “blind guides” (Matthew 15:14), and instead taught that "anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all” (Mark 9:35 NIV). Even in the Old Testament, the stated goal of service to God is to set the oppressed free:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke? 
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
   and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,    
   and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" (Isaiah 58: 6-7 NIV)

Acts 2 provides a good example of what a church could look like, when it follows these teachings:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2: 42-47 NIV)

How, then, does the Church get so twisted and become the opposite of what it was meant to be? I think there are two main causes:

• Greed. The European colonization of the world, for example, was driven, I think, by greed. They wanted more, more, more. Beaver pelts for the latest fashion. Chocolate, coffee, tea, sugar. More land, more money, more power. 

"A certain ruler asked him, 'Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' [...] [Jesus] said to him, 'You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.'" (Luke 18: 18, 22-25 NIV)

• Self-righteousness and pride. Why were so many First Nations children ripped out of their homes and sent to residential schools? Because white men were convinced that their worldview was the best one. 

"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.'" (Luke 18: 9-14 NIV)

Unfortunately, greed, self-righteousness, and pride are all exceedingly common, and exceedingly easy traps to fall into. How can we avoid falling into them?

• Repent. "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds." (Acts 26: 20b NIV)
• Be humble. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:6 NIV)
• Listen. "The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice." (Proverbs 12:15 NIV)
• Err on the side of generosity. "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matthew 5: 41-42 NIV)
• Put others first. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (Philippians 2: 3-4 NIV)
• Live in peace. "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12: 17-18 NIV)