Liberation theology:
Roman Catholic movement that originated in the late 20th century in Latin America and seeks to express religious faith by helping the poor and working for political and social change. It began in 1968, when bishops attending the Latin American Bishops' Conference in Medellín, Colom., affirmed the rights of the poor and asserted that industrialized nations were enriching themselves at the expense of the Third World. The movement's central text, A Theology of Liberation (1971), was written by the Peruvian priest Gustavo Gutiérrez (b. 1928). Liberation theologians have sometimes been criticized as purveyors of Marxism, and the Vatican has sought to curb their influence by appointing more conservative prelates.
http://www.answers.com/topic/liberation-theology; accessed April 2, 2010
Scripture seems to make the case that Liberation theology, whose goal is “helping the poor and working for political and social change,” is a little askew. Realistically, there is little in the New Testament about rebelling against or takeover of ungodly governmental systems.
Romans 13:1-2 says “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”
What should the Christians’ goal be, living in the midst of an unjust world-system? “ 5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him” (Eph. 6:5-9).
Paul tells us of his Spirit-led approach: 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 1 Corinthians 9:19
Why did he make himself a slave? To win more men. Win them to what, a liberated-political system of equality and justice? No. He MADE himself a slave to win people to the gospel of Christ, into freedom from their enslavement to sin. Jesus came the first time, not to set people free from unjust political regimes, which the Jews of ancient (and modern) Israel were (are) looking for. You could say the ancient Jews believed a form of liberation theology. But Jesus said to an unjust ruler, who had power to put him to death or set Him free, “If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm" (John 18:36).
But there is an enslavement that everyone overlooks, an enslavement we’re comfortable with, that goes to the very core of our being. This enslavement the apostle Paul calls an enslavement to sin! He discusses it at length in Romans ch. 6. Here are a few excerpts from that.
Romans 6:4-6, 20-22 6 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life… 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin…
Romans 6:20-22 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
Paul teaches that the reason we were set free from sin, is to live a life in slavery to God. Are you a Christian? If you truly are, if you’re truly part of His Church, then you live every single day as a slave to the Most High.
The apostle Paul continues this teaching to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 7:19-24 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. 22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
Some theology movements teach us that God is all about blessing us, and by the term ‘blessing,’ they mean person financial enrichment or healing. Some of the greatest saints in the Bible “went about din sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground” (Hebrews 11:37-38).
Some of these religious teachers teach their congregations that God is our servant, to bless our lives and make us happy, healthy and wealthy. They suppose that godliness is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:5). But God is not about serving us. When a person is crucified with Christ through faith, He sets us free from our sinful nature, not to be recipients of earthly, physical blessings, but to be His slaves. “Having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” Romans 6:18.
What does this look like, being a slave of righteousness? Let’s look at the final command that our LORD gave us:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20 (HCSB)
Nowhere in the New Testament does scripture tell us to advocate for or fight against a particular type of government. We are commanded as New Covenant saints to live our lives in such holiness and separation from the ways of the world, and to teach them all that the Lord has taught us in His holy revealed word.
We are told that the nations will rebel, and mock the holy Lord until the end (Ps. 2; Zech 14). They will try to set up their own system of world-dominion apart from God, much as the time at Babel (Daniel 7:7-8, 19-25, 9:26). But when these things are done, and the gospel has been preached to all the world as a witness to the nations (Mt. 24:14; Mk.13:10), then the Messiah will return and finally judge the unjust peoples on the earth who do not obey the gospel (2 Thess. 2:6-10). After this, He will set up His reign of perfect rule and righteousness on earth.
9 On that day Yahweh will become king over all the earth —Yahweh alone, and His name alone. 10 All the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem will be changed into a plain. But [Jerusalem] will be raised up and will remain on its site from the Benjamin Gate to the place of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. 11 People will live there, and never again will there be a curse of destruction. So Jerusalem will dwell in security. Zech 14:9-11 (HCSB)
So the one who is to change government, and to rule in righteousness, and to set free the oppressed, is Jesus Christ Himself, when He comes in power with His glorious angels and destroys antichrist and the armies of the nations of the world. Some may live to see this day. In fact, at the rate things are going, some people on MyChurch might see that day. When you look at scriptures, and see the rate at which prophecy is being fulfilled, you might say it’s “coming like a flood.”
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