“He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in His sight.” Psalm 72:14

“Now, Haman told King Xerxes, 'Your Majesty, there is a certain nationality scattered among -but separate from – the nationalities in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws differ from those of all other nationalities. They do not obey your decrees. So it is not in your interest to tolerate them, our Majesty. If you approve, have the orders for their destruction be written. For this I will pay 750,000 pounds of silver to your treasurers to be put in your treasury.” (Esther 3:8-9)

'They' who are different from 'us' give us reason to be suspicious. Rather than thinking the best of the Jews, King Xerxes easily fell into the overall prejudice assumptions that Haman was making. 'They' were different from 'us' and they were a threat to his power and position. Haman also threw in that it would be to the king's financial benefit to exterminate them.

Oppression is exercising ones authority or power in a way that mistreats, creates harm or injustice to others. It is the opposite of being one's brother's keeper.

One thing that comes to my mind when I think of the ultimate oppression of mass destruction is the Holocaust of the Jewish, Romani (Gypsies), disabled, mentally ill, and homosexuals that happened in Germany under Hitler. Some ten or eleven million civilians and prisoners of war were intentionally murdered [1]

Typically people do not wake up one day and decide in their hearts that they want to be an oppressor and treat others in an unjust manner resulting in a mass genocide. Some reason or thought pattern give rise to thinking they are justified in their actions.

Most often oppression that leads to violence is subtle. There is decision after decision to choose oppression rather than all at once.  In Germany under Hitler, there was greater and greater actions of cruelty and oppression that happened over time. The Nuremberg Laws were enacted which defined the Jews and Romani as enemies of the state and deprived citizenship or marriage with Germans. It also prevented sexual relations or participation in German civic life. [2]  In addition, there was boycotting of Jewish business and sterilizations of Gypsies.

First the racism grew and then these groups being persecuted in Germany were eventually defined as a “Life Unworthy of Life.” People deemed in this category started out with those who were severely brain damaged and “empty shells of human beings.” But then as the racism grew, this definition in Germany grew to include the mentally retarded, psychiatrically ill, and later to include those- considered 'racially impure' and 'racially inferior' according to Nazi thinking. Hoche, the primary initiator and author of a book on this thinking concluded, “killing such people was useful. Some people were simply considered disposable.” [3]

At the time of Esther, separation of 'us' versus 'them' mentality, a threat to power and status, financial gain, and fear were all part of the prejudice and racism that resulted in the king decreeing to exterminate the Jews.

Whenever we carry an 'us' versus 'them' mentality, we are separating ourselves from others by our differences rather than similarities. It most frequently comes from a place of pride. There is the superior (us) and the inferior (them). Rather than 'we' which is inclusive of everyone.

One article notes, “Oppression tends to exist in compartmentalized, clearly labeled categories of race, social class, gender, or sexual preference. While these rigidly defined categories may have been applied to allow for rational discussion of problems and solutions, the truth is that they are inherently oppressive themselves.” [4]

The India Caste System is an example of how oppression happens by categorizing people. “Dalit communities are those who are oppressed by the caste system in India. ... they are discriminated against for being polluting or untouchable and are relegated to performing occupations ... that are considered defiling and polluting”[5]

This is the opposite of the picture Christ paints. He did not hold himself out as separate or superior to people, but came among us as one of us. Then He worked to break down the walls of separations that people had created around those oppressed. He treated women respectfully as equals as He allowed them to sit at His feet with the other disciples.

He treated everyone with value and respect – women, the lepers, tax collectors, drunks, prostitutes, homosexuals (my assumption here) and others the system had cast aside. He became their friends rather than judge them or classify them. His response to being questioned about hanging out with 'sinners' was to say as those who were sick needed a physician, He came for all of us sinners.

The Christian way is not one of exclusion or division but inclusion. Paul says in Philippians 2:1-8,

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!”

At the root of racism and exclusion is fear and a scarcity mentality.  When I was younger, I would sometimes hear someone say something about foreigners like, “They will take our jobs if we let them in our country.” Or, “They will steal and murder, increasing our crime rates and destroying our quality of life.”

Yet Jesus clearly says in Lev. 19:34, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”

The root of this kind of comment is fear. It is a mentality that the other person is a threat to one's power, control and/or financial means or gain. It comes from a scarcity mentality. There is only enough for one of us so it is either you or I.

What is sad is that this is the kind of mentality that kept us from allowing more than a limited number of Jewish people in our country during the Holocaust.  We (Americans) not only silently stood by while innocent Jewish people were slaughtered, we sent many people away who came to our borders out of fear and a scarcity mentality.  We left them to die on the ocean or go back to extermination out of a desire for self-protection.

An abundance mentality would be totally opposite and comes from a place that there is more than enough for both of us. From this outlook, we gain together and from each other.  Your gain is also my gain. We don't compete over a small pie but cooperate to make a bigger pie so there is more than enough for everyone.

Besides racism and a scarcity mentality,  power and control is another significant influence on oppression.  The 'other' is seen as a threat and there is a lack of trust.  Haman uses this in the Book of Esther to invoke fear in Xerxes.  'They' didn't follow his decrees which made them a "threat" to him.

An example of power and control or associated threats resulting in extermination are when Hutu groups conducted mass killings of Tutsis in Rwanda. Over 20% of the population was exterminated over a period of about 100 days. The Hutu's and a rebel group of Tutsis were fighting over power and control. [6]    For the Rwanda massacre, The Hutu's believed that the Tutsis' desired to enslave them so they mass murdered them. [7]

At the root of power and control is also often fear and arrogance. Physical abuse is another example of how this kind of oppression is exerted.

Financial gain can also be an influence on oppression of another. If one can gain at the benefit of another, they are rewarded for their acts of oppression. This encourages it to continue as the person craves more gain.

Slave labor and prostitution are clear examples of using people as objects in order to obtain financial gain. However, it can also be as simple as competing for a job or position. Also involved in oppressing people for gain is most often power and control, treating other's as objects, 'us' versus 'them' and a scarcity mentality.

While acts of oppression at their extreme can be as blatant as massacring people, it can also be subtle. It can be as simple as pointing our finger and diminishing someone, trying to control another, treating someone with less value or respect because of their sexual orientation, drinking habits, etc., or competing with another in a way that gains at their expense.

While we can all hope that we wouldn't be involved with or contribute to oppression such as mass murder, too often acts of oppression happen everywhere by anyone – including Christians. In Is. 58, it was the Christian's who were doing the oppressing of the people.

As His people were fasting and seeking Him, He told them, “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”

Sometimes oppression plays off a groupthink mentality. In a group, we can have a tendency to be led astray as we validate each other's thinking. We grow in loyalty and cohesiveness as a group but it is 'bad cement' as it is based on a faulty foundation.

Groupthink occurs in situations where there is harmony and conformity around decision making. Group members (unknowingly) minimize conflict by reaching a consensus without critical evaluation and by isolating themselves from outside opinion.  Because each person in the group agrees, there is an inflated certainty of the 'right' decision being made and an “illusion of invulnerability.” Sometimes, loyalty replaces independent thinking. [8]

In this place, people may feel justified in treating 'them' who do not see it our way, unjustly and oppressively because they are validated by others in their group as being right - the others being wrong. 

So what can we learn from this?

We are all capable of acts of oppression.

As long as we live on the earth, the oppressor enemy will not only try to oppress us but better yet, to involve us in oppressing others - causing them harm rather than being our brother's keeper. When we oppress others, we reap the fruit from it. Our subtle acts of cruelty harden our hearts.  It becomes easier to justify our actions, see the other as an object or 'them', exclude them, and move towards greater acts of oppression.

We need to 'be on guard' against (and turn from) -

• an 'us' verses 'them' mentality,
• exclusion of certain people,
• feeling our power or status is threatened,
• temptations toward financial gain or 'winning' at someone else's expense,
• prejudice,
• subtle judgments and arrogance,
• fear based on assumptions,
• a scarcity mentality,and
• Groupthink

All of these are forms of oppression that protect oneself at the expense of another.

We have been granted our freedom.

While Queen Vashti was banished for her contempt of the king (Vashti representing religion – form with no heart), Queen Esther (representing the true bride) had won the heart of the king with her inner and outer beauty. King Xerxes extended his scepter and favor to her. Upon her request, he rescued her and her people from destruction and oppression.

We have the heart and favor of the King. He extends His royal scepter to us today. He rescues us from the fury of our oppressor.

In Isaiah 51:13 the Lord proclaims, “Why do you forget the LORD, who made you, who stretched out the sky and founded the earth? Why do you constantly tremble all day long at the anger of the oppressor, when he makes plans to destroy? Where is the anger of the oppressor?”

We have been granted the ultimate victory.

I could not begin to explain or understand how such cruelty can have and does occur in the world as what occurred in Germany or Rwanda... and by so many. It deeply saddens my heart and make me long for the fullness of His justice to come. Ultimately, while some groups of people may experience cruel and heartbreaking oppression on the earth, His scepter of justice has been extended to all of us. He offers to rescue us from destruction and oppression. Through our King, we have the ultimate victory over our oppressors and have a reason to celebrate.

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 says, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?”

Lord, you are so generous in setting us free – both from oppression and from being the oppressors. Search us Lord. Help us to see wherever we are off course and lead us back to Your ways. Give us hearts to be our brothers keepers and not the oppressors of our brothers.

“Why are you so distant, Lord?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

The wicked person arrogantly pursues oppressed people.
    He will be caught in the schemes that he planned.
The wicked person boasts about his selfish desires.
    He blesses robbers, but he curses the Lord.
He turns up his nose and says, “God doesn’t care.”
    His every thought concludes, “There is no God.”
He always seems to succeed.
    Your judgments are beyond his understanding.
    He spits at all his opponents.
He says to himself, “Nothing can shake me.
    I’ll never face any trouble.”
His mouth is full of cursing, deception, and oppression.
    Trouble and wrongdoing are on the tip of his tongue.
He waits in ambush in the villages.
    From his hiding places he kills innocent people.
    His eyes are on the lookout for victims.
He lies in his hiding place like a lion in his den.
    He hides there to catch oppressed people.
    He catches oppressed people when he draws them into his net.
His victims are crushed.
   They collapse,
        and they fall under the weight of his power.
He says to himself,
    “God has forgotten.
        He has hidden his face.
            He will never see it!”

Arise, O Lord!
    Lift your hand, O God.
    Do not forget oppressed people!
Why does the wicked person despise God?
    Why does he say to himself, “God doesn’t care”?
You have seen it; yes, you have taken note of trouble and grief
    and placed them under your control.
        The victim entrusts himself to you.
    You alone have been the helper of orphans.
Break the arm of the wicked and evil person.
    Punish his wickedness until you find no more.

The Lord is king forever and ever.
    The nations have vanished from his land.
You have heard the desire of oppressed people, O Lord.
    You encourage them.
    You pay close attention to them
in order to provide justice for orphans and oppressed people.”
(Psalm 10)

1.  Wikipedia.  The Holocaust.  Located at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust.  Last Accessed: 6/18/13

2.  Wikipedia.  Nuremberg Laws.  Located at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Laws.  Last Accessed: 6/18/13. 

3.  Wikipedia.  Life Unworthy of Life.  Located at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_unworthy_of_life.  Last Accessed: 6/18/13.

4.  Carbone II, Steven A.. Race, Class, and Oppression. Student Pulse.  Located at: http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/113/race-class-and-oppression-solutions-for-active-learning-and-literacy-in-the-classroom.  2010.   Last Accessed: 6/18/13.

5.  Melanchthon, Monica Jyotsna.  Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai, India. Society of Biblical Literature.  Located at:  http://www.sbl-site.org/publications/article.aspx?articleId=459

6 - 7.  Wikipedia.  Rwandan Genocide.  Located at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide.  Last Accessed: 6/18/13.

8. Wikipedia.  Groupthink.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink