A Time and a Place

Some of my colleagues struggle, as do I, with addressing the issues of the day, particularly political polarization and other social issues from the pulpit. There are some “safe” topics depending on your setting. Some argue that ministers can’t help but be political because Jesus was. That’s an act of interpretation when dealing with ancient texts and applying them to time outside of their own. It is the work of determining what is exegesis and what is eisegesis. As the gospel writers gave Jesus a backstory, they projected their own contextual issues onto Jesus and into the pesky peasant from Galilee life’s story proclaiming the empire of God. I should note that certain forms of fundamentalism and evangelicalism within Christendom and other religious traditions, don’t have a problem with being political as their sense of the Holy’s blessing and certainty of their righteousness requires them to evangelize, organize, and dominate the world. The Crusades is an example. There are modern examples that you can name.

I was educated for ministry in a time when the roles of a minister were described as preacher, teacher, priest (pastor), and prophet. Like so much of 21st century living, these have been compartmentalized and as such lost the wholeness of Jesus’ example, and that of the early followers of the Way, as a counter-cultural existence. My companion, the Hebrew bible scholar, is amused and frustrated with the idea that someone is now going to “be prophetic” from the pulpit or in some other setting as if that is different from the ministry to which one has been called. Said another way, Jesus proclaimed the good news of God. Sometimes he used words.

Speaking of words, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington D.C. offers a good example for those who dance the tango of speaking on behalf of the community of faith and on behalf of the Holy in their context. Situational listening always happens no matter the time and no matter the place.