Prophetic Compassion (from Larry James' Urban Daily)
Prophetic messages delivered by prophet-like people make us squirm.
We don't like "in your face" challenges, especially when they call us to task, suggest that we change and/or do things in a completely different way.
Recently, a note from SoJo mail, the list serve for Sojourners magazine and community, shared this quote with everyone:
"There is no dearth of Christian service today. But because much of it is service without prophetic compassion, it is powerless to bring about a radical change in individuals and society." Vishal Mangalwadi, quoted in "Cry Freedom", by Charles Ringma.
True statement.
Radical change forces us to work with compassion and imagination on systems, policies, processes, relationships and connections, rather than on individuals alone.
Compassion without prophetic heart is not so hard, but very limited and very much of and about the status quo.
Prophetic message without compassion is not very effective, and it gets heartless and angry and ends up being largely counterproductive.
Marry the two and you discover a powerful energy for producing change. Again, not so easy, at times very dangerous, but so full of hope.
"Prophetic compassion."
That's the ticket.
FROM WWW.URBANDAILY.ORG
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COMPASSION Requires Doing Something and will AGITATE the S Q
The Hebrew Prophets, John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul and anyone filled with the compassion of God: LOVE FOR ALL; NOT just those who think, look and act like themselves:
Will speak out and disturb the status quo!
The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
© 1968, 2001 Kent M. Keith
" In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."-Mother Teresa
The above commandments are words I live by; and I vouch for their truthful accuracy.
My personal experiences of journeying four times -and will be returning for a 5th July 14-27, 2007-to Israel and The Little Town of Bethlehem: OCCUPIED TERRITORY, to bear witness and then report the true facts on the ground to USA Christians who do not want to see, hear or know the truth; has made me a stronger Christian;
For blessed have I been when attacked and reviled for speaking up for the poor, oppressed, outcast, refugee, widow, orphan, prisoner; ALL living under Occupation.
Jesus was born, lived, and died under Occupation and remained NONVIOLENT!
This is the message I hope and pray American Christians will WAKE UP to!
Eileen Fleming,
Reporter and Editor of
http://www.wearewideawake.org/
Author "KEEP HOPE ALIVE" and "Memoirs of a Nice Irish American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory"
Prophetic message without compassion is not very effective, ...
Prophetic message is easily turned into legalism. Paul struggled with the difficulty of breaking the habits of sin, and the self interest desires that are a part of every life, and described the frustration of that type of life. "Miserable man that I am..." It is only Grace, not just compassion that provides the release from the sin that binds society. Compasionate Conservatism, is an now hated term, many believe describes a condition that is anything byt compassionate or conservative. Prophetic ministrys also bring that same disconnect. Be they the prophets who rail against abortion and family value crisis, sexual identity, and drug issues, or those prophets who rail against poverty, discrimination, corporate abuse, war, and immigration issues. Prophetic messages that are one sided, lose authenticy. The biblical texts give us insight into all areas of life, and we desperately need to hear the full range of Biblical preaching, which culminates in the foolishness of the gospel, that Christ gave his life, that I might live.