Pastors and Prophets.

2011 has started with a roar.

Two weeks ago we tackled the subject of America being an empire. We used a line that went something like this "if you are part of a country that has the most powerful army in human history, then passages in the Scriptures that mention trusting in horses and chariots refers to you."

American Christians live in an empire and it is very hard to at adapt to empire rules.

This week we've another prophetic role to play - call Christians to rethink how they view immigration and undocumented migrants.

Pastors sit within the genre of role that Old Testament prophets sat with in.

Its an uncomfortable seat. It challenges the status quo.
It places you on the margins.
It causes you to be an 'alien and a stranger in a strange land.'

Familiar language - 1 Peter 1 & 2

Yet, its a language not reserved for pastors or priests. Peter uses it for all Christians.

It's this language that causes me tomorrow (Sunday) to call all Christ followers to be the people in our society that stand alongside the migrant - both documented and undocumented.
It causes us to rethink the immigration issue that sits near the top of this nations public, pressing issues.

So how brave have you been as 2011 started?
Or, how much have you really been a pastor in 2011?

Now, a trip to Kenya .... check out :
http://clanofissachar.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-40-and-what-i-really-think-about.html