Cell November 20 - Oppression and Repression
Saturday, November 21, 2009
A recent post on a blog I read as well as a news story I came across prompted a little change in the discussion this week.
We talked about "oppression" and "repression." When one oppresses someone else, they are looking to keep them down, prevent them from gaining any achievement, keep them in their place. When someone represses someone else, they are looking to change their message, stop their channels of communication, change their minds.
As examples, we talked about slavery in America. That was clearly oppression, and oppression of the worst kind. There have been other groups oppressed in our history; Italians, Irish, Jewish, Japanese, women. Even after slavery ended, the oppression didn't. But people fought back, rose up against it. Rosa Parks. Martin Luther King, Jr.
MLK is a special case, of course, because there were those who were afraid of his message. The wanted to repress what he was saying, to the point of taking his life.
Oppression and repression occur in the biblical narrative as well. The Jews were oppressed in Egypt. And the Pharisees tried to repress Jesus and His message.
One example of both is what happened during the Babylonian Captivity. The Israelites were oppressed by their Babylonian masters - an entire society enslaved, taken from their homes, brought to live somewhere else to be servants. But the Babylonian realized this wasn't enough. As long as the Israelites had faith in God, they were strong. The Babylonians sought to repress this hope, by outlawing prayer.
Some Jews fought back. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to stop praying to God, and faced death for it. They were tossed into a furnace so hot, that it burned up the guards who threw them in. But as the king watched, he saw four men walking around in the fire! When called the three young men came out unharmed!
Repression still happens today. Prayer in schools. Public religious displays. Street preaching. People living according to their beliefs. All are in danger in our times.
What can we do? Can we stand up to it?
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 7:18 AM 0 comments
Labels: daniel, media, oppression, repression, righteousness
Cell March 27 - What Are You Looking At?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Jill had a vision the day of our last cell meeting. I was all set with a lesson for the kids, but she came to be and said that she had something she needed to talk to them about. I like to give way to the Spirit whenever possible, so the floor was hers.
She continued and earlier discussion that we had regarding music and media. This is such an important topic for kids of this age. I mean, whatever we put into ourselves determines what we're made of, right? So isn't it important to be careful about what we put into ourselves.
Jill did a great job talking about the ways that music get into our minds and spirits, and slowly start to rot us from within. The kids asked a lot of good questions, and I think the discussion went well.
As parents, do you watch over what "goes into" your kids?
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 9:55 AM 1 comments
Labels: media, righteousness
Cell March 13 - Baptism, Satan and GTA
Monday, March 16, 2009
We had quite the session Friday night at cell. I'm still thinking about it.
The plan for the evening was to have a conversation about water baptism. Four new kids accepted Christ and will be eligible for our next baptism, held on Palm Sunday. So I wanted to do a lession on that, what water baptism means, and why we do it.
Yes, Jesus received water baptism. Why? The Bible says he did it "...to fulfill all righteousness." (Matt 3:15) He did it as an example to us. (Often, our idea of doing the right thing it simply not doing the wrong thing. ) He did it because he was going to ask it of us.
Water baptism is an outward sign of our relationship with Christ, a personal commitment to Him. Throughout the New Testament, people were baptised immediately after accepting Christ. Why? One reason is that we have to live here. Baptism is not necessary for salvation (Rom 10:9-10) But, just as God sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove to rest on Jesus, He will send His Grace on us as we receive baptism. This will help and encourage us as we do His work.
Once the discussion was winding down, someone asked a question about Satan. I forget what it was originally, but with ten to twelve-year-old boys, once you bring up Satan, that's where you're staying. There were all these questions flying around - "Was he an angel?" "Wasn't he once good?" "Why is he evil?" I decided to take them to the source.
Ezekiel 28 paints a vivid picture of Satan. It explains how he was created as the most perfect angel, who sat in God's presence. (This is clear - no eartly ruler could have been "created blameless" after the Fall of Man.) It talks about the sin - the pride - that was "found" in him. Surely, Satan was not created that way - he chose to be that way. God's greatest gift to us - besides Christ - is free will. What we do with that gift, that makes all the difference.
This passage speaks of Satan's instruments - his "pipes and timbrels" that were literally part of his body. Satan was created as a worshipper. Music is his language - which is why he uses it so effectively against us. Music, movies, video games - media is something that Satan can use very effectively to tear us down.
Which wound the discussion into video games. Many of the boys admitted to playing - or owning - some very explicit games, whether the problem be sex or violence. I gave the example of finding some nasty, green chicken in the fridge. Would they eat it? Of course not! "So," I asked, "if you wouldn't put somthing that nasty into your body, why would you put something nastier into your mind or spirit?" I challenged them all to a "Victory Dump" - clean out their house and get rid of that junk. We'll see how many do it.
Posted byMichael J Mahoney at 6:26 AM 0 comments
Labels: baptism, media, righteousness, Satan
