Wanted: 21st Century Prophet

I’m currently taking some grad classes at Anderson University and one of the classes is called Prophecy and Wisdom of Ancient Israel. In this class we’re discussing what the role of the prophets were in the pre and post-exilic periods of Israel’s histor and what a 21st century prophet might look like today. Along with the pathos of G-d, one thing that all the prophets shared was their concern for social justice. We discussed some of the 20th century prophets like Walter Rauschenbusch and the Social Gospel, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Civil Rights, Gustavo Gutierrez and Liberation Theology, and Rosemary Radford Ruether and Feminist Theology. But what would a 21st century prophet say to the church today?

In retrospect our blindness is often a giant glaring monster. For example, today no one would argue for slavery or oppression. But as a society, we are still feeling the effects of the civil rights movement when we talk about our first African American President. What will we look back on in ten, twenty or thirty years and say, “I can’t believe that was ever an issue?”

In class I ventured that a 21st century prophet might speak up for the civil rights of the gay community. Wherever you stand on the issue of homosexuality, I don’t think we can claim to love G-d and deny civil liberties and social justice to large groups of people. Perhaps a 21st century prophet will call the church to reevaluate its stance on civil rights for all people and instead of giving off a message of hate, we can be more deliberate in our love of all people that G-d has made and loves. Anyone see the ad? Wanted: 21st Century Prophet.

Further Reading:

Civil Rights and Gay Rights
The Fight Over Gay Rights
4 Modern Prophets