Is the Prophetic the Enemy of the Pastoral?
What can a prophet expect in life?
Job is considered by some to be a prophet. The consequences? Death of his livestock. Death of his servants. Death of his family. Personal health issues.
How about Moses? Pharaoh tried to have him killed, and then the people he leads out of Egypt turn their backs on him. He dies before reaching the promised land.
It was said that Samuel should be put to death. Who said that? His mentor Eli.
Miriam? Smote with tzaraath, a skin disease.
Jeremiah? Beaten by his own brothers, imprisoned by the king, and threatened with death.
Jonah? Tries to avoid the prophet's way, and ends up in a storm at sea and swallowed by a large sea creature.
Jesus? Nailed to a cross to die.
So perhaps it's unsurprising that progressive churches - which tend to be prophetic churches - are not going to have the easiest of times. But does that mean prophetic churches have to abandon encouragement of their members?
Job is considered by some to be a prophet. The consequences? Death of his livestock. Death of his servants. Death of his family. Personal health issues.
How about Moses? Pharaoh tried to have him killed, and then the people he leads out of Egypt turn their backs on him. He dies before reaching the promised land.
It was said that Samuel should be put to death. Who said that? His mentor Eli.
Miriam? Smote with tzaraath, a skin disease.
Jeremiah? Beaten by his own brothers, imprisoned by the king, and threatened with death.
Jonah? Tries to avoid the prophet's way, and ends up in a storm at sea and swallowed by a large sea creature.
Jesus? Nailed to a cross to die.
So perhaps it's unsurprising that progressive churches - which tend to be prophetic churches - are not going to have the easiest of times. But does that mean prophetic churches have to abandon encouragement of their members?
When I look at Christian resources for families and individuals in their psychological, social, and spiritual health, I see a lot
of information from conservative sources. You can find television
stations, radio stations, websites, and books that help you raise a
child, save your marriage, keep your faith through trying times, choose
a career, and many other situations of everyday life. Yet I see little
from progressive sources.
Instead, I see a lot of information about social justice and being a witness for rights and freedom. That is important, but what of care for progressive Christians in their everyday lives?
Perhaps progressives are loathe to compete with the glut of Christian self-help already out there. That's understandable, but might there be a progressive alternative? Or should we send progressive parents to Focus on the Family for help in understanding their gay sons and daughters?
I wonder whether part of the reason progressive churches are often slow to grow is because of the lack of the resources offered - locally, denominationally, and ecumenically - to individuals.
There is no shame in working to help the needy, free the imprisoned, and to stand with the oppressed. Yet the workers need to be fed, too. Is it possible for the progressive church to do both?
Instead, I see a lot of information about social justice and being a witness for rights and freedom. That is important, but what of care for progressive Christians in their everyday lives?
Perhaps progressives are loathe to compete with the glut of Christian self-help already out there. That's understandable, but might there be a progressive alternative? Or should we send progressive parents to Focus on the Family for help in understanding their gay sons and daughters?
I wonder whether part of the reason progressive churches are often slow to grow is because of the lack of the resources offered - locally, denominationally, and ecumenically - to individuals.
There is no shame in working to help the needy, free the imprisoned, and to stand with the oppressed. Yet the workers need to be fed, too. Is it possible for the progressive church to do both?
