Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann suggests that a prophet is one who nurtures, nourishes, and evokes a consciousness which is alternative to the dominant culture around us. In first world North America, the dominant culture is one of power, prosperity, consumerism, and a growing public narcissism.
The prophet accomplishes their call and task by criticizing this culture, the government, institutions, acceptable practices of abuse and oppression. This criticism lifts the veil on all that is not of God or the model of Jesus. But importantly, the prophet also energizes for the reign of God, pointing the way that might be different, and more in tune with the reign of God: that is, of love and the preferential option for the poor.
--Sallie Latkovich, CSF
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