Second Annual Harvest Movement 5k Run/Walk
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1, 2a)
When: Saturday October 1st, 2011 (9:00 am – 3:00 pm)
Registration begins at 8am.
Race begins at 9am.
Fellowship Following
What: 2nd Annual Harvest Movement’s
5k “Freedom Run” Walk/Run
Where: East St. Paul “Lake Phalen”
Why: To bring to light our need to reorient ourselves to the prophetic religious calling and tradition – rooted in the antebellum opposition to slavery, by informing ourselves, exposing, renouncing and overcoming the harsh realities of institutional and societal injustice.
“Is this not the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)
In order to better understand our prophetic religious calling (so that we can reorient ourselves), it’s probably helpful first to understand what a priestly religious calling or tradition is. Priestly type of leadership and trajectory sees the role and function of priests in serving in the temple (that is, the house of God). Their ministry is to present God to the people and to intercede on behalf of the people before God, and/or to instruct the people firmly and authoritatively about the nature of their religious responsibilities and obligations.
The priest aims at no significant societal change. Rather, the basic structures of the society are perceived as fundamentally good and worthy of God’s favor being sought through prayer and supplication. In other words, the societal structures are thought to be grounded in the ideals of God and, for the most part, are viewed as already actualized. Any problems within the system are considered not to be inherent in the basic structures and values of the society, but rather, are seen as instances of “wrongdoing” on the part of a few. As such, all wrongdoing is considered readily correctable by the due processes of the law, and social deviants must be arrested so that they don’t infect the rest of society – in the same way a cancer threatens the well-being of a healthy body.
The aims of society are basically viewed as punishment and rehabilitation for wrongdoing, and education and moral development. Power to effect any desired social change is thought of as being derived from – influence on – and – access to – those elites who are considered decision makers. The basic assumption underlying this mode of action is that all elites are similar to the priestly elite in that they are made up of persons of ‘goodwill’ who are disposed to responding justly to their colleagues in similar positions of institutional leadership.
The priestly type abhors conflict, and in nurturing its virtues of humility, patience, and goodwill, has tended to accommodate itself to conditions of racism without affirming those conditions. In others words, priests have helped the people to endure those things they perceived they could not readily change (i.e., slavery, injustice etc.) and to make constructive use of every opportunity for self-development under the conditions of bondage.
Friends, do you recognize this type of leadership (in, or outside of the church – historic to present?) Is it biblical – why or why not? What type of leadership is the church at large currently under?
The Prophetic type, however – unlike the priestly type, is characterized by the principle of CRITICISM. Prophets are reformers! They NEVER accommodate to the status quo, and are often viewed as social misfits or troublemakers. They tend to make people uncomfortable, even the ones they are closely associated with, yet they emerge out of the same tradition in which the priests are nurtured.
The principle difference between the two is that prophets are purists in terms of BOTH Theological Doctrine and Socio/Political Principle. They flatly reject any compromise relative to either! They see the present estrangement in thought and practice from the whole truth of things. They boldly expose that estrangement in courageous forms of action and in speech that is both shocking and provocative.
The Prophets view God as the source of social justice and are absolutely certain that God is on their side. Their strategy aims at condemning the evil that is visible and revealing the evil that is concealed. Their judgments are not made in accordance with their own ideas and sensitivities but in accordance with what they discern to be the will of God.
They view the fundamental structures and values of society as having potential but devastatingly wrong in their actual practices. They employ every possible method to convince the society that the threat is real and that, if allowed to persist, the society will be destroyed from within.
Friends, do you recognize this type of leadership (in, or outside of the church – historic to present?) Is it biblical – why or why not? What type of leadership did/does Jesus Christ exemplify? Why and how? What type of leadership is called for today?
Antebellum (Pre-Civil War) slavery: A time when slaves were considered property, and they were property because they were black. Their status as property was enforced by violence. Most non-slaveholding white Southerners identified with and defended the institution of slavery. Though many resented the wealth and power of the large slaveholders, they aspired to own slaves themselves and to join the privileged ranks. In addition, slavery gave the farmers a group of people to feel superior to. They may have been poor, but they were not slaves, and they were not black. They gained a sense of power simply by being white.
It is during THIS time that our faith roots were established – not as a deliverance FROM the fire, but being rooted and established IN the fires of slavery, oppression and injustice!
I noticed as I wrote this that I am basically repeating what you said above, but this is how I am learning the concepts you are sharing that are challening for me. It seems as if the basic assumption you described in the Priestly role is not consistent with the Biblical worldview with regards to the nature of man. People are not made up of goodwill. Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but no the ability to carry it out.” Wrong doing people have created the systems. And therefore, it is not Biblical to think that only a few are guilty. It is possible that the principles behind the structure may be Biblical (protect the innocent, bring justice to the wrong doer), but the people making the very structure are capable of being unjust. (Or did I just give the Priesly answer by attributing the fault to a few?) And, it is also possible then to have structures created with the purpose of being unjust. It is good to think through this because I think it can help expose any unBiblical thinking I have. So if any was exposed in my answer help me see it, please.
Here are some thoughts I would like to share after having read what you wrote about slavery in the United States, specifically, “After more than 450 years of resistance and struggle, the legal foundations that supported the system of segregation and discrimination were uprooted.”
To read that and then to hear you say you have never seen anything like the sleepy state everyone is in, considering our very basic ability to have the freedom to even relate to one another (various skin colors) cost people their life. And yet most of us (myself included) are not actively resisting the oppression. Thinking about it reminds me of the Exodus of Egypt. When the recently freed Israelites wanted to return to the slavery in Egypt. What I mean is that, our collective sin of omission in not resisting injustice, while it is not an active return to Egypt, is still a return. It seems Biblical to say that a passive stance (sin of omission) in a fallen world is still movement away from God.
(Not to say the responsibility falls only on the oppressed. But also on the oppressor. And all people in the body of Christ are to be accountable to do justice. And that is what we are to be, one unified body in Christ.
Pastor Dwayne, out of my personal experience of attending many different churches, I would have to say that the priestly leadership is very prominent within the church. I feel like many seek and strive for this type of leadership, yet without knowing or even fully understanding the implications and effects of this type of leadership have upon our communities and our larger society is devastating. I believe the church at large is currently under the priestly leadership, while I believe that we the church should be under what you’ve described as the “prophetic” leadership. I believe that Jesus exemplify the Prophetic type of leadership, throughout the New Testament He challenged individuals, institutions and people groups and sought change/reform. As Christians we say that we must “be like Jesus” if we truly are genuine to those words then the Prophetic leadership is what we need to pursue and become as well as the church. This type of leadership is called for today. Why? The world today is as corrupt as it has ever been therefore we need to “…view God as the source of social justice and are absolutely certain that God is on their side. Their strategy aims at condemning the evil that is visible and revealing the evil that is concealed. Their judgments are not made in accordance with their own ideas and sensitivities but in accordance with what they discern to be the will of God.” This needs to be a greater sense of urgency for the church to be under this type of leadership. This provokes me to reexamine myself as well as others; the “prophetic” type is what we all need to be striving for.
I have been a part of harvest for so long, this ministry has played a major part in my life academically, spiritually, and mentally. I believe I am a true example of what harvest is trying to do. Make young boys and girls leaders! Awaken them spirtually, and prepare them for the realitys of the world. This run/walk Is important to everyone of us, because this is going to keep the harvest strong, and possibily make an opportunity for harvest to reach out and touch lives of the youth, Just like they did with me
. So please help us, and support!!!!! donate!!!!!!!! Please visit http://www.bemissional.org tO donate. All donations are welcome.
@ Heather – Great observation about the Priestly role not being consistent with the biblical view of man as Totally Depraved. This begs the question, ‘why in light of the sinful and totally depraved nature of man, and in light of one of the most solemn statements in the Bible i.e. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions — is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires..” (1 John 2:15-17a) – why would ANYONE even those compelled to function in a priestly mode, think that there is anything good or consistent with the standards of God about this world???
And I agree, Ecclesiastical leadership SHOULD be in prophetic mode today! The answer to that question, I believe is ..unfortunately the world is in the church i.e. “the birds of the air have come and made nests in our branches” (Matthew 13:31,32)
Wow – Johnny. Thou speakest with the HAMMER OF TRUTH! Well said, brother!
Prophetic leadership does indeed exemplify the mission and methods of Jesus Christ.
Just worte my heart out and lost it all on accident! LOL. So, I’ll try and summarize and remember what I had wrote. Hopefully this makes some sense, I tried to answer the question as it relates to institutional sin.
To understand the reason society is how it is and the structures that run society are the way they are, one must first understand the nature of man. Man’s nature is not good, as society portrays, rather wicked and sinful (Romans 3:11-18). With that understanding it becomes clear that institutional sin is not a result of a few people’s “wrong doing”, but rather the sinful nature of man. How can a system created by man ever be just if man has no good intention or “goodwill” in his heart? The problem lies with the structure of the system, not just some individuals.
Clearly then, priestly leadership would not be the correct approach to tackle such an issue. Values of humility, patience and goodwilll all sound great, but if social justice is ignored or conflict abhorred, how can one really claim to have these values? Jesus had all of these, yet he was a reformer and strove to resolve conflict, not abhor it. Sadly, priestly leadership is the leadership many churches strive for and are lead by today. These churches denounce injustice as solely a social issue, excluding themselves from the conversation. This is not the leadership we should be under or striving for, as it does not address or deal with institutional sin.
In contrast, we should actually be striving for prophetic leadership. It screams “Jesus Christ”. Jesus was NEVER conforming to the world, rather challenging and REFORMING it. This is our duty as Christians (def: christ-like) and as the church. Only through this type of leadership will we be able to reveal and condemn the evil of institutional sin in the world today. With “God as the source for social justice”, this is the direction we need to be moving.
I mentioned this before, but it takes tremendous courage to lead with Prophetic leadership. Meaning to preach and teach without the “ear-candy” is something of a peculiar shepherd. We are called to be a peculiar people I know, John the baptist shouted prepare the way of the Lord. John’s was a short career.
Now imagine a kingdom where citizens are using their God given gifts, to move the rest of us. A kingdom where only what is true is preached; that would be a hard message in this day and time. So, no I don’t believe that church is preaching with Prophetic type leadership. And sadly, under priestly leadership “all is good” or delusional.
I was going to ask, which church? Of course there is only one church, but which fragment of the church? And as far as those “elites” that are decision makers they too are divided– political parties.
Very rich thoughts and words coming from today’s Berean’s (Acts 17:11), and men and women of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32). Amen!!
When a FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH such as the ‘SINFULNESS OF MAN’ collapses in our view of ourselves, the church, and world at large – the whole structure falls.
To drip on Tammy’s thoughts – What is it about Prophetic Leadership which makes it unappealing to leaders and prospective followers???
Does this have any relevance to why or why we don’t experience that type of leadership today???