On a related note: I have noticed a tendency in some to juxtapose a “prophetic” voice and a “pastoral” voice, the former being understood as “speaking hard truths” while the latter is soothing and comforting. I find the dichotomy perplexing! Prophets and pastors both are called to speak words that “afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.” Good prophets and pastors know which is which.
I hear this all the time. The post was aimed at such understandings of prophecy. The prophets of old were pastoral -- who weeps more than Jeremiah? -- and the pastor's calling may at times need to be prophetic, or mediate a prophetic word of one of the Bible's prophets.
Helpful, thank you!
On a related note: I have noticed a tendency in some to juxtapose a “prophetic” voice and a “pastoral” voice, the former being understood as “speaking hard truths” while the latter is soothing and comforting. I find the dichotomy perplexing! Prophets and pastors both are called to speak words that “afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.” Good prophets and pastors know which is which.
I hear this all the time. The post was aimed at such understandings of prophecy. The prophets of old were pastoral -- who weeps more than Jeremiah? -- and the pastor's calling may at times need to be prophetic, or mediate a prophetic word of one of the Bible's prophets.
Thank you Scott
Thank you Scot. Very timely and helpful.
From Australia, I say thank you Scot. And thank you again for the helpful posts you write.