Jump directly to the Content Jump directly to the Content

Find Your Prophetic Voice

First steps you can take to learn to speak out against injustice

A few years ago I had a chance to watch a movie entitled, Blood Done Sign My Name. In this movie, viewers get to know two leaders who are faced with civil unrest during the Civil Rights Era. In one scene a young white pastor is having a discussion with his predecessor over how, or if, the church should get involved in the Civil Rights Movement. His predecessor tells him to decide what type of pastor he wants to be—the priest or the prophet. He goes on to explain that the priestly pastor tells people what they want to hear and a prophetic pastor tells people what they need to hear.

We need priestly leaders to encourage and love people. We also need prophetic leaders who will speak about hard topics and challenge the conscious of the people. I wonder if the church has lost some of its prophetic leaders. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated, “There was a time when the church was very powerful. … In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was the thermostat that transformed the mores of society.”

Time to Speak Up

Many times church leaders are afraid to speak out for fear of offending someone. We are afraid of being ostracized or accused of being divisive. We want people to like us. We don't want to lose members. We want the church to be a safe place without conflict and strife. These are understandable desires.

But sometimes we need to speak up. We recently saw this in the wake of Charlottesville, with many leaders, from Kay Warren to Beth Moore, spoke out against the hate displayed. It even made it on popular television when a pastor who is a descendent of Robert E. Lee condemned racism at the Video Music Awards on MTV, stating, "As a pastor, it is my moral duty to speak out against racism, America’s original sin." He admitted, “I wish I could say it was easy to speak up and speak out in God’s name. But it wasn’t.” It truly can be difficult to speak up, and I’m thankful that these leaders—and so many more—are stepping out to address injustices.

On the other hand, I understand why faith leaders are hesitant. I often question when or how much to speak up because I don't want to offend my white friends. I don't want my words to be taken the wrong way. I would love to remain in my comfort zone.

Nevertheless, when I weigh the cost, I can only come to one conclusion—it's worth the risk. When I speak out, it causes my friends to see the validity of the issue. They know me. They trust me. When I can tell them my experience and ask them to feel my pain and lament with me, it takes the issue from simply being a concept to being a real issue that affects real lives. And that’s when the conversation can lead to change.

Historically, church leaders have spoken prophetically about complex problems and systemic sins. Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke against the Nazi regime. Martin Luther King, Jr. became the leading voice of the Civil Rights Movement. In these perilous times, a large part of the evangelical leadership remains silent. In a hurting world that is divided by politics and race, I think of Dr. King’s words: “There comes a time when silence is betrayal."

Stories Open the Door

Several years ago, I worked at a conservative Christian university, leading the effort in racial reconciliation. It was challenging. I was always trying to find the right balance of speaking truth and not offending. I was happy to have white co-workers laboring and lamenting with me. The people who served with me did so at a personal cost. One year I led a group of faculty, staff, and students on a Civil Rights Bus Tour. We spent days visiting important sites and discussing racial reconciliation. I was concerned about how honest I should be about my feelings. I was the leader, after all. I had to set the example. I chose to be vulnerable and bold, being brutally honest about the pain of minorities.

This opened the door to life-altering conversations. We experienced laughter and tears together. We disagreed, had our feelings hurt, and saw raw emotion. We felt anger, grief, guilt, pain, and forgiveness. We didn't have all the answers, but by the end of the trip, we did have true racial reconciliation. Many of those students went on to become champions of racial reconciliation. In fact, one student contacted me earlier this year to tell me how that trip and our interaction changed her life—all because I set the tone for speaking honestly, prophetically.

First Steps

What will you do? Will you speak up or keep silent? Bonheoffer writes, “We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.” It’s my desire to see us speak up when we witness injustices in our churches and around the world. I understand, however, that it can be a process to find your prophetic voice and speak out with thoughtfulness. Here are some practical ways you can begin that process:

1. Reach out to diverse church leaders.

Find faith leaders of different ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and political parties. Invite leaders in your area to lunch. Don't just ask questions about race, politics, or economics. Develop a friendship with them. Over time, your relationship will develop to a point where you can speak about these challenging issues.

2. Hire a multicultural staff.

If you have the ability, emphasize hiring people from diverse backgrounds. Then really listen to them and use their ideas. It’s not enough just to have them present at the table.

3. Acknowledge when injustices have happened.

Condemn injustice—even when you don't have all the answers. It's okay to say that you don't want to offend anyone, but say something. Take a moment in church services to reflect and lament.

4. Hear from diverse speakers.

Invite people from different backgrounds to speak at your church. Be sure you ask them to speak about more than just diversity and race issues.

5. Partner with others.

Connect with non-profit organizations or parachurch ministries in your area to find out what they are doing in the area of justice and ask how you can help.

These are just a few ways to help you find and use your prophetic voice. As you get to know people and hear their stories, you’ll gain a fuller picture of the need for justice. The world is waiting. Will you speak up?

Carmille Akande is a follower of Jesus, mother of a prince, and attorney. Carmille blogs at carmilleakande.com, and you can follow her on Twitter @CarmilleAkande.


Recent Posts

When Your Calling Is Challenged
As hardships come, you have 1 of 3 options.
What Is Calling?
Defining this “super-spiritual” word
Cultivate Your Calling in Each Stage of Life
Angie Ward discusses cultivating leadership amid ever-changing responsibilities.
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
How to know whether to leave or stay in your ministry context.

Follow us

FacebookTwitterRSS

free newsletters: