Wise words from a netfriend:

I once had a discussion of a member of a pastoral team from a largish church who shared the following little gem;

“There’s a difference between a prophet and a critic.”

He was alluding to the fact that people who feel themselves entitled to whinge about church life (the critics) often do so from a position which is essentially “above and outside” the community of faith – they consider themselves morally justified in finding fault with those with whom they have no relational connection.

This is diametrically opposed to the role of the prophet who acts as the servant of the community and lives in identification with it – i.e. the prophetic word comes from “below and inside” – so to speak. Moses response to the Divine threat to destroy Israel in the matter of the Golden Calf is a classic example; “Moses returned to the LORD and said, ‘Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin-but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.'” (Exodus 32:31,32).

To me this contrast between critic and prophet has become a very illuminating distinction and I try to ask myself whether my observations of church life indicate a tendency to place myself above and outside the community, or are they driven by a desire to identify with, and live as servant to, the dysfunctional.

In this the religious establishment of Jesus’ day stands in marked contrast to Christ himself. They were more than happy to criticise the prostitutes and tax-collectors, but only Jesus brought them the prophetic word of judgment, forgiveness, and restoration. I’d say that’s a pretty good contrast between critical religious dysfunctionality and genuine prophetic wholeness. Of course, in human terms at least, the conflict between the two didn’t end entirely well!

C’est la vie…