S10: E7 Prophets Beyond Activism with Julia O’Brien

What is the deepest emphasis of the prophets in the Bible?  

Prophets beyond Activism insightfully challenges the common progressive narrative that the prophets of ancient Israel were primarily concerned with social justice. Instead it daringly offers more life-giving ways of engaging the prophetic books for the causes of justice.

The assumption that the prophets of ancient Israel were primarily concerned with social justice so permeates the thinking and the discourse of progressive Christianity that it might be considered an interpretive orthodoxy. For example, progressives characterize prophets as those who speak truth to power and “prophetic preaching” as social critique. Yet, they often do so without explanation or consideration of alternative views.

Timestamps:  

01:54 Introducing Dr. Julia O'Brien

03:05 Prophets as Activists Orthodoxy

09:06 Biblical Ventriloquism and Social Justice

13:46 Challenges of Interpreting Prophetic Texts

20:14 The Role of Prophets in Modern Social Justice

45:37 Concluding Thoughts and Final Remarks