Mission and the Prophets

Prophet – a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God.

 The prophets ministered in times of tragedy and triumph in Israel’s history.
 The prophetic ministry directed toward the people of God carried strong missionary implication.
 God’s redemptive outlook for the peoples of the world is articulated by the prophets.

The Prophetic Attitude

 The missionary significance of the prophets is revealed in their response to the problems of
idolatry, syncretism, and external religion.

Idolatry
 The attitude of the prophets towards idolatry is based on the 2 nd commandment, “Thou shall not
make unto thee any graven image.”
 The seriousness of breaking this command was shown in Exodus 32, in the golden calf incident.
 The prophets also denounced idolatry during the monarchial period of Israel.
 The prophet Isaiah also anticipates a day when there will be no idolatry. (Isaiah 2:18-20)
 Jeremiah also dismissed idolatry as a worthless custom of the nations.
 Is there a Biblical reality about these gods? Answer: NOTHING! (De Ridder)
 Idolatry is a false religion because it entailed the worship of other gods (the gods of the nations)
which the Bible regards as false gods.
 The missionary role of the People of God was compromised by their participation in the religious
practices of the nations.

Syncretism
 Israel’s cultural dialogue with her neighbors degenerated into religious compromise.
 Syncretism is the blending of two or more contradictory belief systems.
 Syncretism is based on the assumption that all truth is only relative.
 The Bible does not permit syncretism.

4 Great Waves of Syncretism

1. Period before exile
2. During the time or the Roman empire
3. 13th century
4. Today

 The origin of the Samaritans is related to a case of syncretism.

 Syncretism is a massive issue in Asia especially in India which is home to two great syncretistic
religions, Hinduism and Buddhism.

External Religion
 False religions are the man-made religions of the peoples who do not know the God of heaven
and earth.
 False religions are also those religions of people who say that they believe in God but contradict
their profession because of their actions.
 The prophets denounced religion that is devoid of the fruits of righteousness.
1. Amos denounced the religious people of Israel whose lives demonstrate that they are
wicked people.
 2. Isaiah blamed the law-makers for violating God’s law by passing unjust legislation which
favored the rich but victimized the poor.
3. There was a demand for social justice in Jeremiah.
 To know God is to practice justice and to do otherwise is hypocrisy.
 God condemns external religion.
1. External religion is hypocritical and worthless.
2. External religion has no heart.
 By her disobedience, Israel had denied her mission.

The Prophetic Method

 The object of a prophet’s speaking was not sensationalism but spiritual and moral renewal. The
faith response of the People of Israel was seminal for the mission to the nations.
1. Preaching – the prophets were called to declare; they were preachers of the Word of God.
2. Symbol – the prophets were God’s spokesmen to rulers and people; the prophets
announced the Word of the Lord.
3. Power Encounter – the answers which the prophets gave to problems such as syncretism,
false religion and idolatry are found not only in their instruction but in a denunciation of
power.

Application
 An easy adjustment to the surrounding world may lead to acceptance of elements not compatible
with Biblical faith.
 The prophetic stance was uncompromising.
 The culture might change but the nucleus of revelation must never be changed – nothing
must be permitted to corrupt Biblical faith.