Prophetic Mourning. Cries of Liberation and Justice in the age of Chaos

Master's Thesis , 2017 , 77 Pages , Grade: A

Theology - Biblical Theology

As far back as I can remember, I heard my parents say to ministers “Don’t forget your Bible and newspaper.” My parents always judge preachers who had no social or political understanding of biblical texts. They would see ministers in their communities who would not touch on what the people were facing and would consider those sermons empty and devoid of substance.

My parents believed that they were not just responsible for handing out government cheese to welfare recipients during the Reagan years, but that as elders in the church, their responsibility, along with the ministers, was to advocate for and sometimes create public policy. They thought there must be a balance between the theology of prophetic action that supports protest and organizing the protest called for by the prophetic message. I put this memory out of my mind until I had started seminary. However, when I came to seminary and I met people like Obery Hendrix, Jeremiah Wright, Peter Heltzel, and Father Michael Pfleger the message of my parents came back. Each of them in their own way has echoed the sentiment that real ministers have a newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other hand, that Jesus always advocated for rights and never against rights as he preached against injustice and bigotry. Howard Thurman, mystic and philosopher, believed preachers must have a word for the men and women with their backs to the wall as the preachers seek to marry the historical Jesus and the Jesus of Faith.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Chapter 1: God: The Spiritual Trinity and Physical Manifestation
• Chapter 2: Jesus of Liberation and Justice
• Chapter 3: Holy Spirit of Intercession
• Chapter 4: Soteriology
• Chapter 5: Ecclesiology and The Mission of the Church
• Chapter 6: Eschatology Our Own Fault
• Chapter 7: Seminary
• Chapter 8: Finding Myself in Seminary and Systematic Theology
• Chapter 9: The Impact of Donald Trump's anti LGBT policies

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis explores the intersection of faith and social justice, emphasizing the need for active engagement in promoting equality, dignity, and human rights. It draws upon biblical interpretations, particularly the lamentations of Rachel, to demonstrate the importance of prophetic action within the church. The thesis also examines the role of the church in addressing contemporary social issues, including those related to the LGBTQ community.

• Theological interpretation of social justice through the lens of biblical lamentations
• The responsibility of the church in advocating for social change
• The importance of prophetic action and advocacy within ministry
• The intersection of faith and social justice in addressing contemporary issues
• The significance of historical and contemporary figures in the fight for equality and human rights

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the author's personal journey and the guiding principle of "newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other hand," emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to ministry that combines theological understanding with social and political awareness.
• Chapter 1: God: The Spiritual Trinity and Physical Manifestation: This chapter explores the concept of God as a spiritual trinity, highlighting the connection between the divine and the physical world. It examines the role of God in the struggle for liberation and justice.
• Chapter 2: Jesus of Liberation and Justice: This chapter focuses on the teachings and actions of Jesus as an advocate for the marginalized and oppressed. It emphasizes the importance of Jesus' message of justice and equality.
• Chapter 3: Holy Spirit of Intercession: This chapter explores the role of the Holy Spirit in promoting justice and inspiring individuals to act for social change. It examines the role of the Holy Spirit in shaping the church's mission.
• Chapter 4: Soteriology: This chapter delves into the concept of salvation, highlighting the importance of understanding salvation as more than just individual redemption, but also as a transformative process that leads to social justice.
• Chapter 5: Ecclesiology and The Mission of the Church: This chapter examines the nature and mission of the church, arguing that the church should be actively involved in promoting social justice and addressing contemporary issues.
• Chapter 6: Eschatology Our Own Fault: This chapter explores the concept of eschatology, emphasizing the role of human agency in shaping the future and the importance of working towards a just and equitable world.
• Chapter 7: Seminary: This chapter reflects on the author's experience in seminary, discussing the influence of mentors and the importance of theological education in shaping a commitment to social justice.
• Chapter 8: Finding Myself in Seminary and Systematic Theology: This chapter continues to examine the author's personal journey in seminary, exploring how theological study has shaped their understanding of faith and social justice.
• Chapter 9: The Impact of Donald Trump's anti LGBT policies: This chapter addresses the specific social and political challenges faced by the LGBTQ community in the context of Donald Trump's presidency. It discusses the role of the church in advocating for LGBTQ rights.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This thesis delves into the intersection of faith and social justice, drawing upon biblical interpretations, particularly the lamentations of Rachel, to demonstrate the importance of prophetic action within the church. It explores the role of the church in addressing contemporary social issues, including those related to the LGBTQ community, and emphasizes the importance of theological understanding and social and political awareness in promoting equality, dignity, and human rights. Key terms include: prophetic action, biblical lamentation, social justice, church advocacy, LGBTQ rights, systematic theology, and eschatology.

• Grade: A
• Author: TJ Williams-Hauger (Author)
• Publication Year: 2017
• Pages: 77
• Catalog Number: V365282
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668446700
• ISBN (Book): 9783668783225
• Language: English
• Tags: prophetic, mourning, cries, liberation, justice, chaos