disruptive grace

In the last post I wrote about “adding to the stock of available reality” this fits in with the idea promoted by Walter Brueggemann of “The Prophetic Imagination” [a book I cannot recommend highly enough]. Taking a route through the biblical narrative from Moses to Jesus, Brueggemann recasts the role of the prophet as more than just a ‘predictor’ but as one who engages the imagination in ways that moves beyond the dominant mentality [the 'managed data' of the prevailing culture] and gives freedom for the life of God to be revealed.

“The prophet engages in future fantasy. The prophet does not ask if the vision can be implemented… The imagination must come before the implementation. Our culture is competent to implement almost anything and to imagine almost nothing… Every totalitarian regime is frightened of the artist. It is the vocation of the prophet to keep alive the ministry of imagination, to keep conjuring and proposing alternative futures.” [Brueggemann]

The managed data of the empire known as ‘western civilization’ or ‘the western world’ has been described and exposed by many. But I shall use Edge’s poetic description here (in the form of U2’s Numb)

Brueggemann’s paints the role of the prophetic imagination (embodied in a community) like this:
[text interpreted graphically by me]

With this prophetic imagination comes eschatological hope, As Henri Nouwen explains:

Energizing Visions
Are the great visions of the ultimate peace among all people and the ultimate harmony of all creation just utopian fairy tales? No, they are not! They correspond to the deepest longings of the human heart and point to the truth waiting to be revealed beyond all lies and deceptions. These visions nurture our souls and strengthen our hearts. They offer us hope when we are close to despair, courage when we are tempted to give up on life, and trust when suspicion seems the more logical attitude. Without these visions our deepest aspirations, which give us the energy to overcome great obstacles and painful setbacks, will be dulled and our lives will become flat, boring, and finally destructive. Our visions enable us to live the full life.

Anticipating the Vision
The marvelous vision of the peaceable Kingdom, in which all violence has been overcome and all men, women, and children live in loving unity with nature, calls for its realisation in our day-to-day lives. Instead of being an escapist dream, it challenges us to anticipate what it promises. Every time we forgive our neighbor, every time we make a child smile, every time we show compassion to a suffering person, every time we arrange a bouquet of flowers, offer care to tame or wild animals, prevent pollution, create beauty in our homes and gardens, and work for peace and justice among peoples and nations we are making the vision come true.

We must remind one another constantly of the vision. Whenever it comes alive in us we will find new energy to live it out, right where we are. Instead of making us escape real life, this beautiful vision gets us involved.