Oppression of the Saints

If one would define the word oppression, I wonder what they would think of?

According to sources on the web, there are several different definitions about oppression. Some relate toe force being used as other forms relate to other means not as severe as force.

Definitions of oppression on the Web:

The act of subjugating by cruelty; "the tyrant's oppression of the people"
the state of being kept down by unjust use of force or authority: "after years of oppression they finally revolted"
a feeling of being oppressed
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
oppress - come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority; "The government oppresses political activists"
oppress - persecute: cause to suffer; "Jews were persecuted in the former Soviet Union"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
oppressor - a person of authority who subjects others to undue pressures
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
oppressed - laden: burdened psychologically or mentally; "laden with grief"; "oppressed by a sense of failure"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
oppressive - weighing heavily on the senses or spirit; "the atmosphere was oppressive"; "oppressive sorrows"
oppressive - marked by unjust severity or arbitrary behavior; "the oppressive government"; "oppressive laws"; "a tyrannical parent"; "tyrannous disregard of human rights"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Oppressors - Oppression is the act of using power to empower and/or privilege a group at the expense of disempowering, marginalizing, silencing, and ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppressors
Oppressor was a four-piece technical death metal band from Chicago, Illinois, USA. They formed in 1991 and finished in 1999. They were signed to Olympic Recordings and released three albums. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppressor
The Oppressed is a Welsh anti-fascist Oi! band that was formed in 1981 in Cardiff. Most of the musicians in the band's various lineups were skinheads. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oppressed
oppress - To keep down by force; To make sad or gloomy
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/oppress
oppressor - a harsh and oppressive ruler
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/oppressor
oppressed - Subject to oppression
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/oppressed

I am not trying to pick on organized churches. However, I want to point out the underlying fact that oppression is occurring.

Where in the Bible does it ever state "Church Membership"?

How about being ordained?

How about confessions of your sins to a high priest?

I know it does state that we must confess our sins one to another.

Now, don't misunderstand what point I am trying to make here. Some organization in a church is needed. However, I think the bigger a church becomes, the more programs start forming and then the people start to feel disconnected and maybe even neglected.

The journey I have taken with both smaller and larger congregations both have their strengths and weaknesses.

As far as ordaining someone to seperate them from the rest of the flock. Having some sort of creditentials to say yes, this person is a Minister or Pastor.

Church membership I believe is somewhat oppressive because it is demanding that a person belong to some sort of group of people which is not going to mean squat beyond the pearly gates anyways.

I know first hand that some Pastors refuse to let unmarried people that cohabitate in the same household become a member of their church.

I would imagine, they would also say the same thing to a gay person. This to me is a form of oppression because it limits people in both perspectives. "I am a church member because I fit in to their idealogy." "I did not succomb to their criteria and so, I can't be a church member."

We would all hope that people would go into any public place dressed appropiately. However, at times, Churches will use more stringent guidelines for attending church services or functions.

The Amish seem to dress alike and that is possibly mildly oppressive.

I think that a lot of people become blind sighted with religion. I say this because a lot of people become to trusting of especially the ones that believe in and trust in God. The obvisous downfall of that, is the inevitable ability for each of us to at some point fail each other.

At least in the most part, the oppression is still a persons free choice. At least in the United States, we all have the right to walk away from something if we don't like it.

The reason I wrote this article was to stir up some thinking inside of your brain. Take the challenge, ask yourself, is your church oppressing you? Although it may not even be their intention of doing so, however, it can and does happen.