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5 - Theologizing Diaspora: The Theological Heritage of the Caribbean Diasporan Church

Delroy A. Reid-Salmon
Delroy A. Reid-Salmon
Affiliation:
Oxford Centre for Christianity and Culture
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Summary

The foregoing chapter discussed the dialectical traditions of Caribbean theology but in order to demonstrate the Christian distinctiveness of this theology, consideration should be given to its Christological basis. Jesus Christ as Emancipator from sin and oppression is central to Christian identity. Expressing this perspective, Luke reports Jesus' self-claim:

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, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour

(Lk. 4:18–19; NIV).

This reference to Jesus describes his identity and purpose in the world. Jesus is a prophet and his purpose is inclusive of the whole gamut of human existence. In this regard, New Testament scholar, Fred Craddock, points out that the person Jesus is the prophet God commissioned to realize God's kingdom on earth. This is not a spiritual or futuristic event but a present holistic reality. According to Craddock:

by reading Isa. 61:1–2, Jesus not only announces fulfillment of prophecy (v. 21) but defines what his messianic role is. Isaiah 61 is a servant song, “anointed me” means “made me the Christ or Messiah.” When understood literally, the passage says Christ is God's servant who will bring to reality the longing and hope of the poor, the oppressed, and the imprisoned.[…]

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Home Away from Home
The Caribbean Diasporan Church in the Black Atlantic Tradition
 , pp. 76 - 94
Publisher: Acumen Publishing
Print publication year: 2008

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