Christology in Latin America
Modern Christology in Latin America is heavily influenced by Liberation Theology, which is shaped by the history of oppression, genocide, violence, and civil unrest in Latin America. Rather than beginning with an approach from “above”, liberation theology holds that theology should begin from “below,” or in the historical and cultural roots of a given context. Liberation theology is also influenced by Catholicism in Latin America and its colonial roots. The work of Liberation Theology is to first contextualize Jesus in time and space, thus giving high value to the historical nature of Jesus and his ministry. Furthermore, particular attention is given to verses and themes in Scripture that portray the importance …show more content…
Scripture, specifically the Gospels, are examined to understand the personhood and mission of “Christ the Liberator”. For example, there is special attention to how Jesus lived (simply and some would say in poverty himself) and who he interacted with and how (e.g. outcasts, sinners, and the marginalized in that context). There is also heavy emphasis on Jesus’s teaching and words about how to treat the poor and disenfranchised. Another key understanding of Christology in Latin America is the notion of the Kingdom of God (Vigil, 2007). Jesus does not simply talk about God, but the Kingdom, or community, that is built with God and believers. The Kingdom of God is also the embodiment of hope. As Jesus describes the Kingdom of God throughout Scripture, it is free of tyranny, war, violence, and oppression. It is the lived reconciliation not only with God and humanity, but the reconciliation within humanity. The Kingdom of God is telos of the Christian faith and in Latin America the hope for the Kingdom of God is that the way in which human beings interact and relate to each would be redeemed so that all can be included and valued in society. Jesus is main model of what it means to bring and live the Kingdom of God on Earth. Thus, Christology depends on praxis and how the Christian faith is lived with
Modern Christology in Latin America is heavily influenced by Liberation Theology, which is shaped by the history of oppression, genocide, violence, and civil unrest in Latin America. Rather than beginning with an approach from “above”, liberation theology holds that theology should begin from “below,” or in the historical and cultural roots of a given context. Liberation theology is also influenced by Catholicism in Latin America and its colonial roots. The work of Liberation Theology is to first contextualize Jesus in time and space, thus giving high value to the historical nature of Jesus and his ministry. Furthermore, particular attention is given to verses and themes in Scripture that portray the importance …show more content…
Scripture, specifically the Gospels, are examined to understand the personhood and mission of “Christ the Liberator”. For example, there is special attention to how Jesus lived (simply and some would say in poverty himself) and who he interacted with and how (e.g. outcasts, sinners, and the marginalized in that context). There is also heavy emphasis on Jesus’s teaching and words about how to treat the poor and disenfranchised. Another key understanding of Christology in Latin America is the notion of the Kingdom of God (Vigil, 2007). Jesus does not simply talk about God, but the Kingdom, or community, that is built with God and believers. The Kingdom of God is also the embodiment of hope. As Jesus describes the Kingdom of God throughout Scripture, it is free of tyranny, war, violence, and oppression. It is the lived reconciliation not only with God and humanity, but the reconciliation within humanity. The Kingdom of God is telos of the Christian faith and in Latin America the hope for the Kingdom of God is that the way in which human beings interact and relate to each would be redeemed so that all can be included and valued in society. Jesus is main model of what it means to bring and live the Kingdom of God on Earth. Thus, Christology depends on praxis and how the Christian faith is lived with