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Jubilee and the Politics of Discipleship

Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land

Aims for Today

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• Reflect on Christian Aid

• Reflect on this point in time politically

• Reflect on how our faith shapes our political thinking and ethical action

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16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto bring good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Luke 4:16 - 19

Jesus

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At the heart of Jesus’ Ministry...

• healing the sick

• feeding the hungry

• befriending the poor and marginalised

• telling the Good News of God’s Kingdom

Jesus was viewed as a political radical

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"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor, they call me a Communist."

Hélder CâmaraRoman Catholic Archbishop in Brasil

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Should Christians be

political?

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Πολις – Polis – cityΠολιτικά – Politica – Affairs of State

Δῆμος – Demos – the PeopleΔημοκρατία – Democratica – The Rule of the people

Politics and Democracy

Can we avoid being political?

I exist therefore I am political

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The Question...

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Not ‘Will I be political?’

But‘What kind of politics will I embrace?’

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Some observations

The Global Christ(Great Commission)

We are all interconnected – no one is an island

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Some observations

Christ the Judge

We live under the justice of God to live out his justice

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Some observations

The Compassionate Christ

We share the pain of a common humanity and are to bring relief

Jubilee – Land and Liberty

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Land is God’s gift

Access to land to live on and to sustain

World poverty is rarely a result of folly

Generations must not be crippled by debt

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http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

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Jubilee

Not just about relief but about access to resources to live

Not just about giving but about changes in lifestyle and systems

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