When I wrote my first ordination papers towards the end of seminary, I offered this model for ministry as my guide: Pastor, Priest, and Prophet. Aside from my love of alliteration, the three roles spoke to me as clearly as if it were God’s voice telling me that this was my calling. As a United Methodist, I was ordained to Word, Sacrament, and Order; as a United Church of Christ pastor, I am called to serve as Pastor and Teacher. From a biblical perspective, however, the Three P’s have always come through loud and clear. Pastor = the way I care for those connected to the congregation. Priest = leading worship and protecting and administering the rites and Sacraments of the church. Prophet = the public ministry that addresses the way God’s people (all people) are treated. I think that most clergy are comfortable with the first two roles, but number three makes us all a little jittery. For much of my professional ministry, however, it has been the most valuable and effective.
Prophetic ministry speaks truth to power; it also speaks the truth with love. Prophetic ministry challenges government, economics, and business when they mistreat people who have little to no power. Prophetic ministry pushes the culture to consider justice, pointing out unjust behavior and seeking remedies. It does not side with a political party or politician, nor does it stay silent when others – false prophets who align themselves with secular power – besmirch God’s name (yes, I used besmirch in a sentence). Prophetic ministry makes people uncomfortable because it reminds us that we could be next. It is also often seen as judgmental, which it is, to a point. This is why most prophets end up alone. This is why Jesus had almost nobody there when he was crucified.
If we are to keep America from becoming either a cesspool of theocracy or a barren wasteland with no spirituality at all, we in religious communities must embrace our prophetic mandate. If this Spiritual Resistance is to make any difference, we need to rally against the voices of bigotry and hatred trying to disguise themselves as defenders of so-called family values and self-righteous condemnation. We must cross religious lines and convict fake religion of its crimes against God and humanity. We also must self-regulate, because it is too easy to lose one’s own center when pointing out other’s problems – like the whole “take the log out of your eye before you help someone with the speck in theirs” teaching from Jesus. None of us is allowed to shape this secular nation in our own image, or in God’s image, but in the image of the Constitution. That is what will keep all of us safe.
Prayer – Holy God, thank You for this nation built on the rule of law. May we live justly. Amen.
Today’s art is “Living Water” by Carrie Murwin.