(THE CHURCH AND POLITICS {1})[4th April 1987]

[Redbook3:106-111][19870404:1821](THE CHURCH AND POLITICS {1})[4th April 1987]

.1821

The article today by the Moderator of the Free Church Federal Council re-iterates the responsibility of the Churches to speak on behalf of the poor, the unemployed and the underprivileged, bringing about a reassessment of our priorities as a nation (and as Christians). It is uncomfortable to find oneself criticising this, but at least in an academic sense, criticised it must be (the conclusion, one would hope, being open at the beginning).

I did* miss two of perhaps the most important of Jesus' statements on this point, to one of which perhaps the Moderator refers as Jesus' speech of a 'Spirit-inspired identity with the poor, the oppressed, the blind and the imprisoned' – 'Jesus' manifesto from Nazareth'. **Jesus reads from Isaiah***, that****

[l1] 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

[l2](R) because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; (O)

[l3](A) he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, (I)

[l4](R) to preach deliverance to the captives, (O)

[l5](R) and recovering of sight to the blind, (O)

[l6](A) to set at liberty them that are bruised, (I)

[l7](R) to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.' (?)

Notably, all direct action ('A') is directed at inner conditions ('I'). All outer conditions ('O') are met with Revelation ('R'), not action (Even so, the actions may be read as metaphors of revelation or of its effects). I think one must read 'bruised' as referring to the inner condition, otherwise 'set at liberty' makes no sense. Specifically, there is an immense difference between preaching the gospel to the poor and preaching to the Government on behalf of the poor, against their material poverty. It is not that the latter course is not worthy; it may well be, depending on the circumstances. It is just it is a second-grade, perhaps Outer Circle activity, tending towards outer action rather than revelation in that it is 'the truth about' rather than 'The Truth'. It is not for the Church.

*{i.e. when writing previously. [[Redbook3:73-74][19870329:1210w](Church Material)[29^th March 1987ff]].}

**Luke IV.16-21 [KJB/AV].

[Marginal notes converted to footnotes:]

***Isaiah [61:1-2] differences :

[l2] good tidings

[l2] meek

[l3] gird up

[l4] proclaim liberty

[l5] (Inserted)

[l6] (to proclaim) the opening of the prison

['The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn....'

Isaiah [61:1-2] (KVB/AV)]

****Notes on text &/or New Jerusalem Bible translation: <890930>

[l2] [because =] for

[l2] [preach =] bring

[l2] [gospel =] good news

[l2] [poor =] afflicted

[l3] [to heal the broken-hearted] not in NJB

[l4] [preach =] proclaim

[l4] [deliverance =] liberty

[l5] [and recovering of =] (proclaim)

[l6] [set at liberty =] let go free

[l6] [bruised =] oppressed

[l7] to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.

['The spirit of the Lord is on me,

for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives,

sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.'

Luke IV.16-21(NJB)]

[continues]

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