In his book The
Prophetic Imagination, theologian Walter Brueggemann defines the nature
of prophetic ministry: “The task of prophetic ministry is to
nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the
consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us.”
Prophetic ministry is so much more than a series of
random engagements dealing with contemporary social justice causes. Prophetic
ministry aims to do no less than cultivate an alternative consciousness, a way
of being for the people of God that is embedded in identity prior to any
so-called social action. But we often try to sustain activism apart from
theological nourishment. Brueggemann notes that in such instances we are like
“cut flowers”. What we produce may be nice looking for a time but before long
we and our works will wither without any root.
One task of the prophet, therefore, is to give
expression to this alternative consciousness so the church’s prophetic ministry
may flourish in the world and withstand the variable winds of the world’s
philosophies. Prophets give voice to a unifying language in describing God’s
work.
As we consider the function of prophets in
articulating language for the faith, it is significant to note that the
prophets in the Bible were poets. Prophetic leaders of today have great
historic artists as their exemplars. As poets, prophetic leaders embody two
functions: a critiquing of the status
quo and a creative energizing towards
a preferable future. They embody both of these functions through dramatic,
artistic and linguistic means.
May we continue to embody today the great historic tradition of authentic prophetic ministry.
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