Walter Brueggemann

The Hebrew religion has an interesting role of a “prophet” (navi). Along with the Law and the Writings, it serves as one of the big three sections of the Hebrew Bible. Only a couple of other religions, usually Canaanite, have a similar personality type of ecstatic truth-tellers. Presbyterian theologian Walter Brueggemann, borrowing from Jewish rabbi Abraham Heschel, describes the essential prophetic feature as an imagination of an alternative reality. Prophets apply that imagination against a ruling class (“empire”) that has forgotten some key components of life’s meaning, such as care for the poor and marginalized. Therefore, the prophetic role continues unto today, in persons like Dr. Martin Luther King but also wherever individuals speak up for marginalized characters.

As a Christian, Brueggemann sees the role of prophet starting with Moses in Egypt, extending through the royal dynasties of Judah and Northern Israel, and continuing in the person of Jesus Christ. Thus, for him, prophecy is a key – perhaps, the key – component of the Christian Scriptures. It’s not about ecstatic hocus pocus, fortune-telling, or futuristic predictions; rather, it’s about speaking that God cares for outcasts and does not tolerate human oppression. With their passion, prophets seek to escape the numbness of materialistic excess.

In white, Protestant America, many churches emphasize the priesthood of Jesus through atonement for sins. Likewise, these churches emphasize the kingship of Jesus through the sovereignty of God being in control of all situations. Brueggemann suggests that pastors should likewise attend to the prophetic nature of Jesus against societal systems of oppression. Unfortunately, perhaps, many churches have coopted their mindset into a royal mindset where appeasing power takes precedence over justice and compassion.

Brueggemann, a famous theological scholar, conveys his message in a ministerial manner. He includes implications for Christian ministry and addresses the specific entity of grief and lament. His approach integrates intrinsic human spiritual feelings with the historical nature of Jewish religion. His portrayal of Jesus is very Jewish, too – a welcome approach in a religion that often Europeanizes him. Given its brevity, the book does not delve into much detail about most individual prophets, except for Isaiah and Jeremiah.

This book is the classic work on prophecy in modern Protestant Christianity, particularly among mainline denominations. Its intended audience is to theologically literate readers, especially future teachers in the church. Though it does address practical implications, its main approach conveys a more academic tone. Some degree of religious education is certainly required to grasp the verbiage. Thus, it’s more for divinity school students than for lay audiences. But church teachers can certainly import many of Brueggemann’s words into vivid lessons. His insights seek to highlight the prophets’ imaginations about unjust situations, but they end up exciting readers’ imaginations about their own lives… about how we, too, can speak for God’s freedom to those in need.… (mehr)