Black Liberation Theology

Recent new articles had mentioned a theological movement called "Black Liberation Theology." That made me interested in finding more about it. This is the summary of what I've found with links to the original sources.

It is of no surprise to me that the Black Liberation Theology found its roots in the Liberation Theology that was started in the 1960s in Latin America.

Here are quotes from "Enjoying God Ministries". The article can be found here.

Most forms of liberation theology were born in the social turmoil of the 1960s. It wasn’t the intellectual challenge posed by atheism and secularism that concerned these new thinkers but the social and economic and political oppression experienced by people in the present day.
...

So-called “liberation” theology thus emerged in the context of rampant poverty and political oppression in both Latin America and other third world countries. It was and is primarily a movement within Roman Catholicism. Priests who had worked and lived among the poor came to the conclusion that nothing short of a social and economic revolution would bring freedom to the disenfranchised masses. Thus the point of reference for all liberation theology was the plight of the poor and oppressed.

H. Wayne House has written an article, An Investigation of Black Liberation Theology, the article can be found here. Quoting House:

Black theology, unlike Latin American liberation thought, is concerned with racism and a historical identity.

By focusing on the "action" of God, the aspect of God's essense has so far been neglected. This is evident from the interview done by Christianity Today of Thabiti Anyabwile, author of The Decline of African American Theology, about the appeal of black liberation theology. The article can be found here. Mr. Anyabwile's main concern, as can be deduced from the title of his book, is the decline of sound theological in the black church has left it unable to address both the spiritual needs and the social and political needs of its community. The Lord has taken this to Himself to raise up young black theologians more focused on doing works based on sound biblical theology.

House noted some contributions from the Black Liberation Theology:

First, and perhaps its most positive value, is the reminder of the wholistic nature of salvation. ... Christianity acknowledges man's ultimate physical deliverance (Rom 8; 1 Cor 15).

Second, black theology has helped concerned Christians realize that other members of the body of Christ are hurting, and are in poverty, disease, and physical want. ... (1 Cor 12:25—26).

Third, black theology reminds believers that theology, if it is to be thoroughly biblical and to emulate the Lord, must find practical expression. ... (1 Cor 13:1).

Fourth, the emphasis of black theology on God's activity in history is instructive. ... Sometimes Christians do not sense the need for God to be for them and work through them, since they think they are able to handle conflicts themselves quite nicely.

Fifth, black theologians' presentations of the injustices experienced by blacks (often perpetrated by white Christians) should prick the hearts of white Christians and cause them to act properly toward other humans.

Sixth, and from a negative side, the action of relating all theological discussion to so narrow a focus, as in black theology, is a danger to be avoided. Rather than a single doctrine dominating all of theology, one needs to find a broader theme under which all important doctrines may comfortably fit.

Seventh, the temptation of making experience the norm for truth is clearly seen in black theology. Certainly blacks are hurting, but they must look outside themselves, not within to their own experiences, to find the answer to their problems. At times one's experience tends to dictate his attitudes toward God's Word, whereas he must experience His work through the Word.

In his conclusion, House added these two points:

The terminology of black theology is to be questioned. Is there really any such thing as "black" theology? And is it free from European influence, such as the theology of hope? The answer is no to both questions. At the same time black theology is in its infancy, so one must understand this when criticizing it.

Black theology, having an improper center, is humanistic and pragmatic. God and Christ are not held in proper biblical perspective, and salvation has too much of a "this-world" emphasis. Black theologians need to ask the all-important question, Who is Christ? From their answer to that question they may begin to answer whether they have a truly Christian theology.

Black Liberation Theology is still in its infancy, we have seen God raised up young black theologians who are focused on sound biblical theology. I hope and pray to God that it will go to the direction that God would approve.

-o0o-