Classism and the Cross
Notes
Transcript
Classism and the Cross
Classism and the Cross
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
The Hindu Caste System
The Hindu Caste System
India’s caste system is one of the oldest surviving social stratification or hierarchies.
Five Hindu Castes
Brahmins (Brah-mens): Priests and Teachers
Kshatrias (shuh-tree-uhz): Warrior and Rulers.
Vaishyas (Vai-shas): Farmer, Traders, & Merchants
Shudras (Shu-Drahs): Labourers
Dalits (Da-luhts): (Outcasts)
Marxism and Critical Theory
Marxism and Critical Theory
What is Marxism?
Marxism is a social construct philosophy developed by German philosopher, Karl Marx (1818-1883).
A foundational teaching of Marxism is “Critical Theory”.
Critical Theory is the foundational doctrine of “Socialism” and “Communism”.
It is an attempt to understand and overcome social structures through which people are dominated and oppressed.
It is taught by Critical Theorists to awaken the “oppressed” so that they might overthrow their oppressors.
Max Horkheimer (1895-1973), a German philosopher and sociologist who was famous for his work on critical theory as a member of the Frankfurt School of Social Research, states that a theory is critical when it seeks “to liberate human beings from the circumstances that enslave them.”
Major philosophies in critical theory include:
Feminism: A set of ideas originating with the belief that women are not subordinate to men or only valuable in relationship to men. It seeks to address and overcome inequalities in the areas of ability, class, gender, race, sex, and sexuality.
Critical Race Theory: It denotes that racism is embedded in laws, policies, and institutions that uphold and reproduce racial inequalities.
Post-Structuralism: Post-structuralism rejects the idea of a literary text having a single purpose, a single meaning or one singular existence. Instead, every individual reader creates a new and individual purpose, meaning, and existence for a given text. Its purpose is to challenge what is accepted as “truth” and “knowledge”. It teaches that absolutes definitions reinforce the domination and power of oppressors. (Structuralism identifies patterns in social arrangements and language.)
Gender Studies / Queer Theory: A perspective that questions the perception that cisgender (gender assigned at birth) and heterosexual identities are the “standard” of gender and sexuality.
Forms of Colonialism: A perspective that asserts that peoples and lands taken over by colonialism are oppressed and deserve reparations.
The problem with Critical Theory
It divides people into two classes: The Oppressed and the Oppressors (Victims and Victimizers).
It seeks to overthrow oppressive “systems”, “constructs”, and “governments” through re-education, violence, and revolution.
It regards social constructs such as marriage, family, education, religion, politics, race, wealth, etc. as part of the oppressive system or construct.
It justifies injustice to establish a new form of justice.
It justifies lawlessness to establish a new standard of right and wrong.
It justifies violence to overthrow current power structures.
it establishes a new system of oppression against non-conformists.
It divides people into two categories or classes: socialists/communists and non-socialists/communists or atheists and Christians (religious).
It establishes two economic classes: the ruling oligarchs (elites) who effectively own and control everything and working citizens who own and control nothing.
All human history is a narrative of oppressors and the oppressed. How far back do you go?
Satan is the mastermind of oppression (John 10:10). Satan seeks to divide and destroy humanity by instilling war in their hearts.
Classism is Rooted in Pride and Comparison
Classism is Rooted in Pride and Comparison
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.
For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ;
not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere,
to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
Paul refused to put himself into a class of ministers.
Paul refused to measure or compare himself to other ministers.
Paul refused to covet and compete for what God had given to another minister.
Paul esteemed the glory of God as his goal and measure of approval.
Comparison Leads to Partiality
Comparison Leads to Partiality
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.
For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”
have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?
Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;
but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Classism and the Cross of Christ
Classism and the Cross of Christ
All pride, comparison, partiality, and classism are removed at the foot of the Cross of Christ.
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Response to the Word
Response to the Word
We have all been victims. We have all been oppressed. Satan is the source of oppression.
We have all victimized others. We have all oppressed others. We are guilty before God.
Jesus Christ came to set us free from the oppression of Satan.
Jesus Christ came to set us free from our sins toward Him and others.
Jesus commands us to forgive others as He has forgiven us.
Jesus has made us one body. We must let go of our pride, comparison, partiality, cliques, and classism. We must stop judging one another by external things. God looks at the heart.
Jesus will give us life and life more abundantly if we will believe in and follow Him as our Lord and Savior. (John 10:10)