Prophet-ting with God

 

Yesterday, we explored the idea of prophets being the masters of paradox, ones who hold the hurt and hope; the ones who can hear the heartbreak and taste the sweetness of honey, the ones who both comfort us and challenge us.  Prophets not only point out the brokenness but remind us of God, who repairs the ruptures of our Humpty Dumpty lives. 

 

Richard Rohr writes, “Throughout scripture, prophets emphasize one sin above the rest – idolatry, our habit of making things 'God’ that are not absolute, infinite, or good.” 

 

We tend to chase after that which promises us fame, fortune, followers on social, love, and legacy.  We race after purpose and profits.  Much of our idolatry, or brokenness, or disoriented love or sin, could also be called addiction.  We pour all our attention and affection into what the culture deems and declares worthy of our one wild and precious life.  Addiction is not only confined to alcohol or drugs.  Addiction to work, perfectionism, hurry/hustle, being seen as ‘correct’, our own opinions, making more money, vacations, or anything where you think, “Just one more _____ and I will be happy.”  Anything that keeps promising us fulfillment but leaves us feeling empty in our wallets and souls can be classified and called “addiction”. 

 

Prophets call our “addictions” out ~ individually and collectively.  No wonder most of the prophets failed to convince people to change.  After all, when was the last time you received “constructive feedback” and you thought, “Thank you so much, random person who I didn’t ask to give me advice, I am totally see the errors of my ways and will henceforth correct myself!”?

 

Nope.  I think, “Who appointed you color commentator of my life?”  Or in the words of my grandmother, “Who died and made you King of the World?”  We resist those who want to fix, or save, or advise us. 

 

Prophets not only call out, but they call us back to God.  That is the paradox: we can think we are heading toward the Holy, and the prophet says, “Not really,” and our first reaction and response will be denial and defensiveness, and downright anger at the other.

 

Hold this today as you continue to ponder, “Who is the prophet of life today?”  A prophet is rarely someone you will agree with 100% or who makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside.  Prophets will stretch you in directions you did not want to go, and you will resist.  Hold this as we continue to live the countless paradoxes that exist and persist today.  Amen.