By Rev. Paul A. Baxley, Executive Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Decatur, Georgia
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”
– Deuteronomy 18:15-20, NRSV
Thousands of years ago, the Lord promised to raise up another prophet like Moses and, in doing so, also conveyed that the calling of any prophet is to speak everything the Lord commands. We often begin our journeys of faith believing that the work of the prophet is to predict the future. But in the purest sense, the prophetic vocation is about speaking on behalf of God in the present. If that involves a message about the future, it is for the sake
of faithfulness in the present. Just as often, it can be a word of challenge or justice or hope or a description of how God is at work in the present. In all cases, it is the mandate of the prophet to listen to how the Lord is speaking and then communicate what is heard. The highest virtue of any prophet
is faithfulness in hearing and speaking. Prophets do not create messages. Instead, prophets receive them and pass them along.
In today’s world, the prophet’s voice is urgently needed. We witness words and actions that deepen divides, perpetuate systemic racism, and fuel fear and oppression. Too often, these destructive messages are given by those who claim to represent God. Now, more than ever, we need prophetic voices committed to racial justice, lifting up the oppressed, dismantling inequity, and envisioning a world where every life is valued and protected because we know that this is still what the Lord requires of us.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.” This is more than an individual calling; it’s a mandate for the entire church. The Lord seeks to raise up communities of prophetic witness—communities that denounce racism, champion equity and amplify the voices of the marginalized. This prophetic charge is for you, for me and for our congregations. Will we have the courage to embody God’s heart and join God’s mission of justice, so that we might be a beacon of hope, reflecting God’s true image in this world? Will we speak in ways that reflect the heart, mind and mission of God?
Prayer: Lord, raise up our congregations and each of us as followers of Jesus to be faithful prophets. Give us the courage to hear you clearly and to speak your word boldly in pursuit of racial justice and love. May we be instruments of your truth, embodying hope, love and equity in all we do. In Christ’s name, Amen.
JUSTICE NOTE
Policymakers and advocates can use the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) to prioritize resources for disadvantaged communities, addressing long-standing disparities with equity in mind.
Learn more: Access the CEJST here.