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The Mastery of Oppression
from The Mastery
Dr. E. Stanley Jones
Ps. 72:1-4. A Psalm of Solomon.
Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king's Son.
He will judge Your people with righteousness,
And Your poor with justice.
The mountains will bring peace to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness.
He will bring justice to the poor of the people;
He will save the children of the needy,
And will break in pieces the oppressor.
We must now look at another glorious mastery - the mastery of oppressive circumstances and oppressive authority.
The early Christian movement was caught between two millstones of oppressive authority - the authority of its own religious hierarchy, which controlled secular authority; and the authority of the empire of Rome. And these two millstones ground the Christians into flour which became the bread of God to feed the nations. How did it happen? What was their secret?
This clash with oppressive authority is seen in these words:
"And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." (5:40-42.)
The clash with authority was clear-cut and decisive, and their response was just as clear-cut and decisive. And they, who were underneath, came out on top. How?
The answer is simple. They lived under two authorities - the political and the spiritual - and they decided the spiritual was supreme and ultimate and final. They would bend the knee there and nowhere else. So they lived under two regimes at once - one of insolent authority, the other the Kingdom of God. So they decided to live in the internal climate and let the outer climate do what it would. They would live as much as possible on the outside without compromise, and for the rest they would live within. There they were safe.
That is the only possible remedy in many circumstances. Life is intolerable and impossible without; therefore the only thing to do is to retreat within and build up a world of your own under God and then move out from that secure inner citadel, working into the crevices of outer circumstances as best you can. This is important for you mustn't stay within, else you become ingrown and unsocial. You must work out from your inner security to the outer insecurities with God's grace and power. Do your best and leave the rest.
Dear Jesus, life can become hard and cruel when we have to live alongside or under oppression. You know, for You went through it. Teach us Your secret. In Your name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Strengthened with might in the inner man, I am able and ready and adequate for anything, yes, anything.
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Dr. Eli Stanley Jones (1884-1973) was a Methodist theologian and missionary. He began his mission work in India, helping countless thousands of the lowest castes and village outcasts. For over 50 years he preached that Jesus was the answer to all of the world's problems, be they personal, political, social, or any other.
