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Home Sermons 2011 Christ and the Abused (Part 2 of 'Christian Responsibility in Civil Society')
 
Christ and the Abused (Part 2 of 'Christian Responsibility in Civil Society') PDF Print E-mail
Written by David Charlton   

Scripture

Isaiah 1:15-17
When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Revised Standard Version)

 From now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims. 16 Wash yourselves and be clean! Let me no longer see your evil deeds. Give up your wicked ways. 17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows. (New Living Translation)

Micah 6:6-8
"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" 8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Revised Standard Version)

 What can we bring to the LORD to make up for what we've done? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? 7 Should we offer him thousands of rams and tens of thousands of rivers of olive oil? Would that please the LORD? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for the sins of our souls? Would that make him glad? 8 No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. (New Living Translation)

  Core Idea, Challenge & Summary

Core Idea: God hates oppression and abuse.

Challenge: To challenge Christians to resist oppression and abuse whenever they can.

Summary: God loves every single person on this earth. Therefore, it is only logical that God would hate oppression and abuse. God would hate to see one group of people, whom He loves, oppress or abuse another group of people, whom He also loves. The two greatest sins the ancient Israelites committed were 1) Idolatry and 2) oppressing the poor, widow and orphans. God doesn’t like it when the rich, strong and influential take advantage of the poor, weak and marginalized. Just read through the Old Testament prophets.

As followers of Christ, we too are expected to love all people. This means that we too should hate oppression and abuse in all its forms. Whenever we witness it, we should do what we can to stop it. If God hates oppression and abuse, then so should we.

The Sermon

I. Introduction: My dad and his stoic ways

     A. My Dad rarely showed emotion.

  • He would smile and laugh but that’s about it.
  • He would not display depression, sadness, hurt, pain or anger. He had few outbursts of overwhelming joy or pleasure. He had the emotions, just rarely expressed them.
  • He almost never cried.

     B. The one thing that could get my Dad to cry

  • When any of his five children fought against each other
  • Dad hated it when any of us fought one another
  • Dad would repeatedly say, “Brothers and sisters should never fight!!”

     C. Why our fighting could get Dad to cry

  • Dad loved all five of us kids
  • So, when we hurt each other, it hurt Dad
  • Dad hated it when his children would mistreat each other.

     D. This is how it is with God and humanity

II. God hates oppression and abuse

     A. God loves every single person on this planet

  • God is love (1 John 4:16)
  • God loves the world, not just part of the world (John 3:16)
  • God desires everyone to repent and come to know Him (2 Peter 3:9)
     B. Therefore, God hates it when one group of people, whom He loves, oppresses or
          abuses another group of people, whom He also loves.
     C. God doesn’t like it when strong, wealthy and influential people take advantage of
           weak, poor and marginalized people.
  • This doesn’t mean that strength, wealth and influence are bad.
  • It does mean, however, that if you have strength, wealth and influence, you have a huge responsibility
  • God expects us to use our strength, wealth and influence to serve and help the weak, poor and marginalized.

     D. God hates oppression and abuse

III. Scripture makes it clear that God hates oppression and abuse

     A. The prophets point out the two greatest sins committed by the nation of Israel

  • Idolatry is the greatest sin
  • Oppressing the poor, widow and orphans is a close second
  • The poor, widows & orphans were the disposed, marginalized and weak people in Israelite society. God hated it when people took advantage of them.

     B. Isaiah 1:15-17

  • Isaiah 1:15 – God refuses to acknowledge their prayers while they continue to abuse the poor, weak and marginalized
  • Isaiah 1:16-17 – God will once again acknowledge their prayers when they start to care for and protect the poor, weak and marginalized
  • When we pray, we should ask ourselves, are we mistreating anyone who is weaker or poorer than us. Are we taking advantage of anyone?

IV. As followers of Jesus, we too should hate oppression and abuse

     A. Like God, we too should love all people – no exceptions – God calls us to love all
          people
  • Two greatest commandments: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength and love your neighbor as yourself – Matthew 22:34-40
  • Our neighbor is anyone who needs help – Luke 10:25-37

     B. So, like God we should hate oppression and abuse

V. When we witness oppression and abuse, we should

     A. Do what we can to stop it

  • This may mean confronting the abuser in a loving yet strong manner – If the abuser is a Christian, then he/she should welcome the accountability being offered – An example of this would be an employer mistreating an employee
  • This may also mean calling law enforcement and/or testifying in court – yes, you would have to get involved – An example of this would be reporting child abuse
  • This may also mean changing the laws or systems that perpetuate oppression or abuse - An example of this would be the Civil Rights movement
  • PRAYER for both the abuser and abused - remember, God loves them both - Pray for the abuser's salvation and pray for the abused to be healed.

     B. Stand with the abused person(s)

  • Be willing to receive the abuse with the person being abused
  • Stand with the abused in court
  • Simply listen to the abused person
VI. An example of oppression and abuse happening in our own back yard: Prostitution,
       pornography, strip joints – Oppression of women
     A. Go south on University and turn left on Phillips highway and you will find
          numerous examples of sexual exploitation
     B. Many of the females on x rated web sites are in the sex slave industry. Reference

V. Conclusion: Dear God, open our eyes and allow us to recognize oppression and abuse in all its forms. Help us to confront it. Help us to love both the oppresser and oppressed.
 
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