Liberation theology is a movement that announces the need for Christian involvement in social processes in the liberation of the oppressed lower classes economically and politically. It affirms the validity of any means to achieve this liberation. It recommends armed conflict, as necessary, if all peaceful means fail. However, liberation theology should not be considered as a mere call to Christians conceptual framework to be more active in the fight against injustice. They are partial radical review from the traditional Christian of theology, history, man, and even about God. Although liberation theology began within the Catholic Church, it infiltrates today in evangelical ranks, even among pastors and leaders. For this reason, it is imperative that we understand it as the foundation of the movement that is distinguished from traditional Biblical theology.
The Peruvian priest Gustavo Gutierrez, is considered the father of liberation theology. In typical fashion theologians of the movement, he notes the traditional alliance of the Catholic Church with the rich is ruling classes. The complaint that as the “mentality of Christianity”, as caused him to perceive reality as two separate plans existential: The spiritual up, and the material below. This, Gutierrez says, has caused some separation of the concerns of this world for heaven after death. These two main factors, ligation with the upper classes, plus an unhealthy mentality is the basis of oppression and poverty in Latin America. The liberation theologians reject this theological dualism, insisting that the two dimensions, both spiritual and earthly, are inseparable.
Inadvertently, Gutierrez is very close to the theology of the Protestant Reformation. Protestant theologians have always rejected this separation of the two dimensions as an anti-biblical mindset. Do not think of reality as two different levels with the ground floor earthly and spiritual high ground. While recognizing the existence of the two dimensions, think of them as two interlocking gears. Both dimensions are logical and important.
It is difficult, therefore, to find flaws in the analysis of problems such as Liberation theologians present it. One also cannot deny the necessity of Christian activism against oppression. Such criticism, in fact, it would be very hypocritical of Latin American Christians if they did, because they had a revolution 200 years ago to get rid of the Spanish oppression. In this basis, then, it may deny them the same right now to Latin? Herein lays the difficulty to analyze a controversial move as the theology, because it contains a complicated mix of the good with the bad. Therefore, it is necessary that serious Christians scrutinize the matter in the light of Scripture to distinguish right from wrong.
The message of salvation BIBLE (as opposed to the distortions of it by some traditional churches) frees the mind of the people of his concept as beings destined to poverty and misery. The Word of God increases their sense of self-worth as human beings loved by an eternal God. The Bible clearly teaches how humans should treat each other. All this places the mental and moral awakening, which is needed to force extensive social changes.