lifeasmission

The People of God and Prophets: A Love-Hate Relationship

March 14, 2007

Check out the article which spurred these thoughts here, “Where Have All the Prophets Gone?”

The People of God have never been the biggest fans of the prophets God has sent for their own good.  They grumbled against Moses, according to church tradition Isaiah was sawed in half, and Jesus got hung on a tree.  No one enjoys having having to rethink their most ingrained assumptions, even less managing a stance of humility when faced with the error of their ways.  Nevertheless, God has seen fit to use prophets for the good of his people, most only appreciated once they have given their life in fulfillment of their duty.  This is a sad reality.

The missional church movement, I think, sees this and is attempting to figure out how to live its life so as to not continue making this grave error.  Prophets are going to continue to have a hard time within the modern evangelical church (among other traditions).  My sincere hope is that the missional church movement, as a prophetic voice in its own right, might be willing to give its collective life in service of the wider Church.  This, afterall, may very well be part of what it means to heed the same call of God to Isaiah, “Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?”  May it be the missional church who says, “Here am I, send me!” (Isa. 6:8)

Posted in: Jesus, church, missional, prophets, theology