Freeing the Oppressed

Just watched an academy award-winning movie from 1947 called “Gentlemen’s Agreement” staring Gregory Peck.  It depicted how Jewish people were marginalized here in the United States.  Nothing was said but it was an agreement between non Jews that  Jews were to be excluded from restaurants, hotels, clubs, and housing.  The message of the movie was that we must not just go along with the crowd.  If we believe something is wrong we should stand up for what is right. 

I attended high school with many Jewish people.  I wasn’t even aware that they were Jewish until years later.  Now I’m praying that they will know that Jesus is the Messiah. 

Listened to a sermon by Peter Hubbard pastor of North Hills Community Church in Greenville, SC.  He talked about oppression.  There are so many being oppressed that we don’t even know about. 

This blog tells the story of Christians who are oppressed:  http://www.persecutionblog.com/

In Hungary a soccer match had to be moved inside because of violence against Jews: http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/hungary-s-soccer-team-sanctioned-by-fifa-over-fans-anti-semitism.premium-1.492960.

Albinos in Africa live in fear because of superstition and murder: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/16/tanzania-humanrights

In the Czech Republic Roma women are sterilized without their knowledge: http://www.un.org/en/letsfightracism/gorolova.shtml

Bihari children were not allowed to go to public schools: http://www.irinnews.org/Report/90304/BANGLADESH-Bringing-education-to-the-Bihari-minority

Not to mention Muslim women under Sharia Law.  http://islamrevealed.typepad.com/islam-revealed/2010/01/oppression-of-women-under-islamic-sharia-law.html

Then there are the homosexual activists and abortion minded and those who approve of such things who are under slavery to sin.

Many Christians are working to right these wrongs.  Jesus, when He was here, read this prophesy in the temple: Luke 4:18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."

We can be free in our souls no matter what is happening to our bodies.  I pray that the oppressed will hear the Good News and follow Jesus.  Meanwhile, only by the power of the Holy Spirit will the freeing of the oppressed be done on earth until Jesus comes!