resurrection against rome

There are times when I feel betrayed by the Christian Church. These weeks are some of them. It's as if I've been given only a part truth and it is only now that I see it to be such. Is there even such a thing as a part truth? 

The cross is arguably the most important image in the Christian faith. It was upon a cross that Jesus died and from that death he rose again. This is a central piece to Christianity. Yet now, for the first time in 21 years "in the church", I've begun to learn that this message is only a part truth. 

Jesus' death and resurrection was more than that. It was more than salvation for after life. It was for redemption in life. It was against oppression.

These latter pieces are beyond evident in examining the historical context of Jesus' life. I tend to forget--and maybe you do, too--that Jesus was an actual man in and actual historical context. 

Jesus was born into oppression. During his life, Rome had power and domination. One way that the Romans showed this control was through mass --and also more small-scale-- crucifixions. If someone was breaking the political outline and structure that Rome had created, crucifixion was often Rome's answer. There, beating hearts would stop. Lives would become mere bodies, hanging on a tree. On display for the community to remind Romans and others alike, that Rome was in control. 

It was in this context that Jesus was put to death. His actions and words had a political influence that led Rome to crucify him. (Jesus was political...what?!) As Curtiss DeYoung writes in co-authored Radical Reconciliation, "It was execution by Rome and therefore resurrection against Rome." 

I had to sit with that for a while. Rome so clearly represents (and was truly) oppression and oppressors. Jesus was killed by oppression and rose up against oppression. For me, that hits to the core. This brings my perspective on oppression beyond empathy and sympathy. It brings, for me, hope and support for action and conversation. It also brings this sense of betrayal. Why haven't I ever heard this part of Jesus' life before? 

Have I missed this message because the religion of Christianity somehow--almost twistedly-- latched onto western and colonising people groups? If they are a main part of my foundation for Christianity today then of course I had never heard this message. How could oppressors preach this message? As Curtiss wrote further in his book, "Unjust systems appear normal to those in power, and any change will produce feelings of loss." 

Can Christianity be for those in power? Can someone who is part of an oppressive majority actually follow Jesus? 

Can I actually follow Jesus? 

For me, I am confident that God's love and Jesus' steps are not just for the oppressed. But I also believe that we can not actually follow Jesus until we know oppression and steward power. As someone who does desire to follow Jesus, I am learning what this means in my own life. 

I know oppression as a woman living in a sexist society when I feel unqualified because of my gender (especially in the church), when I have to consciously change my actions to meet male expectations, and when I see the dehumanization of women in media. 

I know oppression as a white person living in a racist society when I realize that I am a part of the oppressive group, when I question my prejudiced thoughts, and when I listen to those who are a part of the oppressed group. 

And I know oppression as a human living in a sinful world when I see the lies I'm living under and let the truth reign instead, when relationships break, and when shame corners me into isolation. 

I know oppression and am learning all the more as I seek and learn. I am able to better see the power I have in society and how to steward the power. How to be a bridge. After all, Christians believe that Jesus was freakin' God. That is power. Yet he laid it aside and lived a life under oppression, even dying to oppression. But the story didn't end there. He came back to life. He resurrected against oppression.