Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Prophets
Just got finished reading my OT assignment focused on beginning to learn about the Prophets. It seems there was a long period of time in which prophets were not unexpected, but rather, the norm. This time is apparently over. I wonder though, why does not God raise up prophets in this day and age. It seems the prophets of yore were raised up to speak out against idolatry and apostasy and to proclaim the Word of the Lord. Certainly a need for this type of rhetoric has not dissappeared. Indeed, we desperately need to hear God in this modern (post-modern) era. So, where are our prophets? Do we even have any and if we do, do we recognize them? In the Pentecostal tradition, they don't have prophets like Amos per se, but they do have members whom they beleive to prophesy! I have been a witness to one such occasion and it was something. Whether it really was God speaking through this woman or not, I've no idea. So, is that real? Biblically speaking, it is certainly plausible and even to be expected. But where are our court prophets, so desperately needed? Where are our Nathan's and our Gad's? You can't tell me Mr. Bush wouldn't benefit from someone whispering into his ear a bit of a Word from God. Not to say Mr. Bush is an apostate, but I think all leaders could use a little divine help from time to time, to keep things on track. I can't imagine God would have condoned some of the things this administration has done. I know I've just broken the taboo of talking religion with politics, but folks, thats what 3/4 of the Bible does! Maybe that's what we need to be doing more often as well. I'm not talking about a Constantinian state either, I don't like that idea. But, a state which heard from God every once in a while, via a prophet, wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Furthermore, are we as priests called to be prophets? (That is, truth-tellers, not prognosticators.) I believe that we are, and moreover, I believe that we need to be prepared to receive that calling when it comes, if it comes. We don't have to be going around spouting off all the time, but when God calls us to deliver and proclaim his word against popular demand, we need to have lived our lives in such a way that we are of a moral standing where the people will be ready and willing to hear us. We don't want them to say, "There goes that ole crackpot again...", though some undoubtedly will. We want them to say, "Hush, (s)he's speaking and I really need to hear what (s)he has to say." We need to be both ready to hear God's call to us and ready, morally, to be heard by the people. Maybe it's not that God doesn't raise up prophets anymore so much as it is we don't recognize them anymore.
-R
Just got finished reading my OT assignment focused on beginning to learn about the Prophets. It seems there was a long period of time in which prophets were not unexpected, but rather, the norm. This time is apparently over. I wonder though, why does not God raise up prophets in this day and age. It seems the prophets of yore were raised up to speak out against idolatry and apostasy and to proclaim the Word of the Lord. Certainly a need for this type of rhetoric has not dissappeared. Indeed, we desperately need to hear God in this modern (post-modern) era. So, where are our prophets? Do we even have any and if we do, do we recognize them? In the Pentecostal tradition, they don't have prophets like Amos per se, but they do have members whom they beleive to prophesy! I have been a witness to one such occasion and it was something. Whether it really was God speaking through this woman or not, I've no idea. So, is that real? Biblically speaking, it is certainly plausible and even to be expected. But where are our court prophets, so desperately needed? Where are our Nathan's and our Gad's? You can't tell me Mr. Bush wouldn't benefit from someone whispering into his ear a bit of a Word from God. Not to say Mr. Bush is an apostate, but I think all leaders could use a little divine help from time to time, to keep things on track. I can't imagine God would have condoned some of the things this administration has done. I know I've just broken the taboo of talking religion with politics, but folks, thats what 3/4 of the Bible does! Maybe that's what we need to be doing more often as well. I'm not talking about a Constantinian state either, I don't like that idea. But, a state which heard from God every once in a while, via a prophet, wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Furthermore, are we as priests called to be prophets? (That is, truth-tellers, not prognosticators.) I believe that we are, and moreover, I believe that we need to be prepared to receive that calling when it comes, if it comes. We don't have to be going around spouting off all the time, but when God calls us to deliver and proclaim his word against popular demand, we need to have lived our lives in such a way that we are of a moral standing where the people will be ready and willing to hear us. We don't want them to say, "There goes that ole crackpot again...", though some undoubtedly will. We want them to say, "Hush, (s)he's speaking and I really need to hear what (s)he has to say." We need to be both ready to hear God's call to us and ready, morally, to be heard by the people. Maybe it's not that God doesn't raise up prophets anymore so much as it is we don't recognize them anymore.
-R
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