Paper Presentation

Subject: Prophetic Responses to the Struggles of the People of God

Topic: Prophetic Ministry of the Church in the Indian Context: Prophesy and
Contextual reading
Lecturer: Mr. Wungtei Buchem
Presenters: Lilio, Kuputoli, Gracy (A) Kuguphu, Patricia, Obekali (B)
Respondents: Senyale, Kalito, Yarso (A) Sentimongla, Kaka, Viboli (B)

Introduction:

In this paper we will be looking at the prophetic ministry in the church. Prophectic
movements as seen in other topics emerge in different social political context. And as such
we will be looking at prophetic movements that emerged in India especially in relation to
socio-political context where Christianity or in other words prophey played an influential
role.

1. The Role of Prophetic Ministry in the Church:

As Gene M. Tucker entails and mentioned by David L Petersen in his book “Prophesy in
Israel”, at least five elements of prophecy in connection to Prophetic Ministry are:1

1. A sense of vocation, of responsiveness to God and responsibility to and for the

world.
2. A prophetic ministry will have a sense of the power of the Word, and even of
human’s words, to change history.
3. Any prophetic ministry will be a deep awareness of historical concreteness in
religious life.
4. Any prophetic understanding of the church and its ministry will have a profound
sense of the social, corporate, and institutional dimensions of human life. Such
awareness is especially important in a society which tends to stress radical
individualism which likes to think of itself as nation of self-men.
5. The prophetic role entails a moral decisiveness which is both specific and
courageous.

Clifford Hill in his book “prophesy past and present” also mentions twelve elements of
prophesy. He mentions that prophesy should always received in ‘prayer’ (1 John 4:1, 1
Thessalonians 5:17-22). There is an immediate ‘witness of the spirit’ that bears testimony
either to the falsity or the truth of what is being heard (John 10:14-16); this test requires the
exercise of what may be described as sanctified intellect or adult thinking as use by Paul
(1Corinthian 14:20). The content of prophesy should always be checked and compared with
‘Scripture’ in the same way as the early church used to known teachings of the prophets and
apostles to check the teaching of visiting preachers (Titus 1:9, 1Corinthian 4:6,2Timothy
3:16). We need ‘mediation’ to understand the significance of Gods revelation; it should be
well handle and it needs perfect timing (2 Timothy 2:15). An important word will always
need to be ‘Confront’. If a word is given for particular fellowship there should be agreement
within the body that this is truly a word from the Lord for the word of God is not divisive
rather it promotes ‘unity’ (Titus 3:9-11). If revelation is truly from God it will ‘Build up’ the

1
Gene M. Tucker, “The Role of the Prophets and the Role of the Church,” in Prophesy in Israel, edited
by David L. Petersen ( London: SPCK, 1987) 172-173.
1
faith of the church (1Corinthian 14:3). It is the word spoken in ‘Love’. A true word from God
will always ‘glorify Christ’ (1Peter 4:11). If the word is one that promises blessing or brings
rebuke there will be ‘Conditions’ (2Corinthian 7:14). If God has truly spoken through the
prophets there will be ‘fulfilment of events’ (Deuteronomy 18:21). The moral ‘character’ of
the prophet was a major test applied by the early church and should still be regarded as of
paramount importance in the exercise of ministry or gift within the church of Christ (Mark
7:15-20).’

2. Contemporary Practise

By the beginning of the 3rd century the church lost its original character as a company of
believers with local leadership whose unity depended upon common loyalty to Christ in the
ministry of travelling prophets and teachers both in East and West. The exercise of spiritual
gifts by ordinary believers and leadership was institutionalised in professional body of Priest
with an established hierarchy until the 20th century, this situation remain unchanged, where
only the minor roles within the church has been assigned to layman.2

Today the Roman Catholic and Easter Orthodox churches still largely use clergy for major
administrative roles which ensures that power within the church is kept under the control of
hierarchy. In terms of spiritual activities, the Episcopal churches assigned to the laity only
related to minor participatory roles which ensure that the spiritual life of the churches is
dominated by the Priest. The reformation churches on the other hand, like the Presbyterian
Congregational and Baptist democratized the administration. Their objective was to Re-
establish the doctrine of the church according to the New Testament, emphasising the
supreme authority of the Bible rather than tradition.3

3. Contextual Parallelism

To bring out the relevance of the prophetic protest ministry in today’s Indian contexts, we
need to have comparative analyses of the socio economic conditions prevailing in pre-and
post- independent India and 8th century Israel:

3.1. Socio economic context:

There are sticking similarities between 8th century Israel and present Indian context in terms
of land theology and Land distribution pattern. We see sticking similarities of corruption and
oppression between biblical times and ours. 4

3.2. Gap between the rich and poor:

It is quite evident that socio economic conditions in India have been highly advantageous for
the rich to become richer which has stimulated poverty. The rise of state power, military,
trade and commerce and urbanisation etc are some of the factors responsible for the gap
between the rich and the poor. But more importantly self-interest and greed have contributed
2
Clifford Hill, Prophecy Past & Present: An Exploration of the Prophectic Ministy in the Bible and the
Churh Today (Secunderabad: O.M. Books, 1999), 273.
3
Clifford Hill, Prophecy Past & Present: An Exploration of the Prophectic Ministy in the Bible and the
Churh Today (Secunderabad: O.M. Books, 1999), 273-274.
4
S.M. Chandorikar, Prophetic Protest Movements in Old Testament and their Relevance in Today’s
Ministry: A Sociological Study of the Protest Movements in 8th Century Israel (Delhi: ISPCK, 2011), 68.
2
towards the rise of economic disparity. In traditional Indian society corruption existed in
terms of bribery, in kind- a horse, a women or wine. In post-independence era, modernization
provided new sources of wealth and power, which became concentrated in the hands of few
people. Corruption exist in the form of – public servants, breach of import-export regulations
ministry of work housing and supply, railway report, income tax and corruption in police
departments and judiciary. One of the factors that contributed towards in churches was the
sudden taste of money power along with the power of positions and authority.

Similarly such forms of corruptions like political graft, bribery and perversion of laws were
quite prevalent during the days of Amos and Micah. Princes, Prophets and Priests used their
position for selfish ends. Ruler and merchants make through corrupt means, Judges took
bribe and Prophets Prophesised for selfish gains.5

3.3. Oppression by landlord’s oppression of Women and Children

In the 8th century B.C., we see that the landlord oppressed the poor by bribing the judges.
Though the Israel law favoured the poor and the needy, rich landlords found ways to break
the laws.

3.3.1. The Zaminders in India, rested with extra ordinary powers, fortified by the presence of
armed retainers, unchecked and even assisted by the police and legal system were virtually
free to coerce and exploit their servants by extracting heavy fines in settling deputies
charging excessive rents and imposing additional illegal taxes. In the post independence era,
despite the Land Ceiling Acts and Bhutan Movement the proposition of the land distribution
remains the same.

3.3.2. Caste oppression is common socio-cultural institution. This practise had socio-cultural
and ‘tie values’ but later on became a religious practise on the basis of ‘caste discrimination’
this system is a ‘discriminator’ and a device of high caste Bhramins to keep the majority
under perpetual slavery. Caste system as a hereditary has made upward social mobility
difficult.

3.3.3. In 19th and early 20th Century in India, the plight of women, especially widows were
terrible. The Hindu tradition taught women that your husband were their God and in serving
him along would enable them salvation. Many children too have been victims of social
oppression. They suffer from malnutrition and lack of education. Though prohibited by the
law child labour is still practice in India.6

4. Social Reform movement as Prophetic Movements in India:

4.1. Christian missionaries- the history of social reform in modern Indian became with the
work of Serampore missionaries in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was William Carry
who persuaded the East Indian Company to pass legislation banning the practise of sati in
1829. As a result of the missionaries continued to involve in social protest.

5
S.M. Chandorikar, Prophetic Protest Movements in Old Testament and their Relevance in Today’s
Ministry: A Sociological Study of the Protest Movements in 8th Century Israel (Delhi: ISPCK, 2011), 62-65.
6
S.M. Chandorikar, Prophetic Protest Movements in Old Testament and their Relevance in Today’s
Ministry: A Sociological Study of the Protest Movements in 8th Century Israel (Delhi: ISPCK, 2011), 67.
3
4.2. Indian social reform Movement; drawing its inspiration and impetus and the man-
liberating message of the gospel from the Work of Western Christian missionaries. Raja Ram
Mohan Roy, M.G. Ranade, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Pandita Ramabai drew inspiration
from crises teachings and worked for the upliftment of people by protesting against the social
political economic and religious injustice prevalent in India.

Hence the social protest of pre-Independence period drew its inspiration from ‘Western
Humanism’ of Christians Missionaries which is rooted in the message of the Gospel and
‘biblical realism’ seen in the teachings of the prophets of the Old Testament.

5. Indirect link among Hebrew Prophetism, modern secularism and social reform:

Being distinct, the 8th century prophetic protest is said to have made an impact on socio-
cultural and religious reforms, including Buddhist and Jainist revolts in the pre-Christian era.
As being discussed above theologians like M.M.Thomas is right when he linked the reform a
national building movements to biblical realism of Hebrew prophets through western
humanism.7

Implication

Everyone have some idea of what the prophet is but there are many misconceptions in the
church and society in Biblical scholarship, the question of prophetic role has received a great
deal of attention in recent years, and a new understanding has emerged. The prophets have
been understood variously as mystics who had special religious experiences, as great poet or
literary figures, as theologians or religious philosophers, as social reformers or radicals, as
seers who predicted the usually distant future, and as preachers of repentance.8

If the church is to be the prophet to the worlds to carry out the task God has given to his
people that will enable him to fulfil his purposes in each generation, there must be basic
biblical teaching in the supremely important task of handling the truth that God reveals to his
people. It is only as the people of God become a ‘listening people’ that they will also become
an obedient people empowered by the spirit of God and radiating his glory among the
nations.

Conclusion

As discussed in the paper, the scholar’s opinion on prophetic elements by Gene M. Tucker
and Clifford Hill should be well acknowledged in a society like ours. Not neglecting the fact
that like any other elected Priest, Prophet, Clergy or Pastors, even the layperson can play the
prophetic role when he/she is truly inspired by the Holy Spirit with the intention to reform the
injustice, inequality and chaotic situation prevalent in any society or era as the prophets of the
8th century played.

Bibliography

7
S.M. Chandorikar, Prophetic Protest Movements in Old Testament and their Relevance in Today’s
Ministry: A Sociological Study of the Protest Movements in 8th Century Israel (Delhi: ISPCK, 2011), 69.
8
Gene M. Tucker, “The Role of the Prophets and the Role of the Church (1981),” in Prophecy In
Israel, Edited by David L. Petersen (London: SPCK, 1987), 160.
4
Chandorikar, S.M. Prophetic Protest Movements in Old Testament and their Relevance in
Today’s Ministry: A Sociological Study of the Protest Movements in 8th Century Israel
Delhi: ISPCK, 2011.

Hill, Clifford. Prophecy Past & Present: An Exploration of the Prophectic Ministy in the
Bible and the Churh Today. Secunderabad: O.M. Books, 1999.

Tucker, Gene M. “The Role of the Prophets and the Role of the Church.” In Prophesy in
Israel. Edited by, David L. Petersen. London: SPCK, 1987.