Pastor as Prophet

The prophet Habakkuk tells us to keep the faith, "there is a vision for the people." And then God instructs Habakkuk to write the vision - large - large enough to see it if you were running by it.

But what is the vision that Habakkuk writes?

To be honest, I'm not concerned with the details right now. I was struck by the instructions to Habakkuk. Once again, I wonder about the role of prophet in the contemporary church. The role of prophet in the Hebrew scriptures was not to tell the future; the role of prophet was to speak truth of the present. In particular, the role of prophet was to speak truth to power. I get that in the contemporary context.

I am proud to be friends and colleagues with clergy who function regularly in the role of prophet - speaking truth to power about poverty, racism, marriage equality and violence. But Habakkuk, he was writing the vision for everyone to see. He was speaking truth to the general population. He was speaking to his people, the congregation of the LORD, the people of God.

The prophet was encouraging the people that God is not silent. God is still faithful and present. Even though they don't hear it or see it... though it tarries, wait for it.

This blog is where I often ask questions without answers; this blog is about starting conversations. I think the church, the people of God needs pastors with particular skills of the prophet. And I think the prophet of today is entrepreneurial, creative, innovative and willing to write it on the wall so that if you're running by, you can read it. What do you think?

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