Mad(liberation)!
The study of South and Central American Liberation Theology is inspirational. This week our group discussed the reading, The Holy Spirit by José Comblin. He explains how different people in Latin America view the Holy Spirit. What is interesting is that once the people are taught about how the Holy Spirit speaks to them, the people learn the how to use the powerful Holy Spirit themselves. This new knowledge takes away some of the oppression. The Holy Spirit cannot be owned by anyone. Once that power is tapped and people begin to hear the Holy Spirit they are free to access him at any time. This is how a group of people can begin to organize and defeat their oppressors. They find that there is a supernatural power that resides in the Holy Spirit who can work in them and through them to bring freedom.
Not only can people be oppressed by other people, but the Holy Spirit can be oppressed by people too. It is by those who already know the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. It is their willingness to withhold the teachings and choose not to share with others. They do not want to expose the liberation the Holy Spirit can bring to the oppressed. If people catch on to how the Holy Spirit moves on their behalf, he creates a fierce spiritual confidence, that speaks to them, shouting for the oppressed to be free. This creates a disruption because the oppressed begin to rise up and organize. The Holy Spirit teaches them about what it is to be free and to trust God for deliverance from their oppressors. This takes away the power of the people who brought the teachings in the first place. They thought they could hinder others from knowing the truth that sets them free. They can no longer oppress the people. It is supernaturally impossible.
A few things were noticed as we looked at the time and place the world is in now. There is a spirit of oppression, keeping people bound, and shut off to access to the resources that are needed. There are those who do not want to share their freedom and resources with others. There is a fear that there might not be enough resources to go around for everyone. It is a feeling of a joyful, but false invitation for others to have a greater life. People are limiting resources for those who need them. The oppresses are given just enough to feel as if they are being helped, but are set up to fail and fall short of the actual goal of equality and freedom for all.
I will leave you with the lyrics to an old worship song. As the writer of our blog this week this would be my prayer for all.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom by Darrell Evans.
Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom
Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom
There is peace, there is love, there is joy
It is for freedom You’ve set us free
It is for freedom You’ve set us free
I’m free, I’m free
We will walk in Your freedom, walk in Your liberty
We will walk in Your freedom, walk in Your liberty
We will dance in Your freedom, dance in Your liberty
We will dance in Your freedom, dance in Your liberty
