The prophetic voice
Roger Seal writes about the language and meaning of prophecy
These days you often hear people, and Friends in particular, asserting or even claiming prophetic authenticity. So, it is perhaps timely to remind ourselves what that might mean.
If someone, individually or corporately, prefaces a statement with such words as ‘Quakers say that…’ then it is essentially descriptive: it tells the listener that this group of people make that assertion. It is informative and probably interesting, but no more than that. The listener is free to stand back, detached from both it and the community from which it emanates. And making the statement exposes the spokesperson to no risk. It is probably the end product of a calm and careful process of reflection, deliberation and discussion. What could well have burned and burst initially has had time to cool down until it is safe to handle and talk about. And, even if it is still inflammatory, why shoot the messenger?
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