The Gospel and Injustice

16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."[e]

20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:16-20

I can't help but at times think we have read over this passage and perhaps missed much of its significance. Most commentators agree that Luke's gospel is written with an emphasis on the the gentiles, the world at large, which had not yet identified with the God of the Hebrews, the LORD. If that is the case, this passage might shed some light on how the church today positions itself toward those outside. The understanding of the Gospel, at least in much Evangelical churches has tended to revolve around understanding Jesus Christ's death. His resurrection is often mentioned in describing our understanding of the Gospel, but what is given far more air time, is understanding the significance of his death, and why in our understanding he had to die.
Now, don't hear what I am not saying, I am not at all trying to downplay human sinfulness, the need for Christ's substitutionary death, and deep understanding of all that. I don't mean to silence such discussion. That is an intricate picture of the whole of Christian theology.
However, I think Jesus message, at least by his own words, goes further, requires more, and actually calls the church to reflection, and action.
A recent book I have read which highlights this issue is Rich Stearn's "The Hole in Our Gospel." In this work, Stearn, current President of World Vision, suggests Christians need to take more seriously the task of caring for the poor, and working for justice in the world. His book particularly highlights the needs of AIDS orphans in Uganda.
I remember in 2004 when I traveled to South Africa with 5 other students from my college. We spent a month visiting various churches and ministries addressing different aspects of the AIDS pandemic there. I remember sitting in a nursery holding holding an HIV+ toddler. A baby that laughs and cries, and needs to be fed and held just like every other baby I have ever held. And then you talk to the people who are caring for these children, and you hear them explain how important it is that as Christians we find ways to care for these children, who have lost parents to disease, or were given up for any number of reasons. Now the way they read these passages and ones like it which mention widows and orphans was different than how I might read them, if I read them at all.
Part of the good news to the poor, is that there is now a community of people who are called by God to care for them, to take their side, or care for their needs, and to comfort them. I was sitting in on Sunday school class at church the other day, and the Pastor mentioned that there is a dissertation written which argues that NONE, I repeat, NONE, of the passages in the Bible which talk about the poor have anything to do with physical needs, material possession, economics, or any of that, its all "spiritual poverty" a poverty of understanding of sorts. I am floored that there is a "scholar," and I am using that word liberally, which actually argue this. I almost want to say, I don't know where to start. Amos, Luke, James?
Thankfully, this person is in the great minority of Bible scholars Evangelical or not.
And praise God the Scriptures speak to all types of sin, including oppression and exploitation of the poor.
And the gospel I read includes passages like the one above,

"18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor"

This is our Gospel, and it is good news for the poor.