Very early in the Judeo-Christian tradition there is a split between the Exodus tradition, which I believe is the mainline tradition of full liberation, and the tradition that develops in Leviticus and Numbers,which is called the “priestly” tradition. If you read these two books, they have none of the drama of Exodus, but reflect what happens when the priests take over and try to organize and control the inner experience.

About eight centuries before Christ we finally meet the spiritual geniuses ¢â‚¬”the prophets ¢â‚¬”who tried to link two traditions: inner God experience and outer work for justice and truth. We continue to have halfhearted divisions in the form of right or left, liberal or conservative, establishment or disestablishment, contemplative or activist. They really do need one another, but in most of history the priestly tradition has been in control. We always need the prophets, who are invariably pushed off to the side.

Richard Rohr

Adapted from  CAC Foundation Set: Gospel Call to Compassionate Action
(Bias from the Bottom) and Contemplative Prayer  (CD,  DV