Apply the Antidote

(Proverbs 3:31 KJV)  Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

In our politically correct times the KJV would be a poster slogan.  It talks about the “oppressor” (376/2555).  One of the mantras of the political left is oppression and the greedy rich.  They might even like the NASB with its “man (376) of violence (2555), which is a more literal translation.  Those of us on the right might get a little tired of the way the warning is misused.  The problem is that when we are reacting to the perversion of the principle we often are also guilty of ignoring the problem.

Christmas is past at this point but the music of Christmas should teach us all year.  Take these words from the third verse of “O Holy Night”,

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Just because people take the concept of “justice” and twist it for their personal agenda does not mean that we are allowed to ignore it.  Oppression is real.  It is not just a social issue of rich and poor.  It takes places in families and in churches. 

So?  The antidote to oppression is not more federal regulations it is an application of Christian love.  You can’t oppress someone when you are being patient, kind, and so forth.  Apply the behavior that God has shown us.