Prophets AND Pastors

A Pastoral Word in a Prophetically Dominated Conversation on Race:

One of the challenges of recent discussions regarding race is that we are hearing more from prophets than we are from pastors, and there is a world of difference. Prophets care more about the what. They speak to the issue. The prophet’s wardrobe has historically been monochromatic, allowing little room for variation. And please don’t misunderstand me, we need prophets. Prophets tell it like it t-i-is. Prophets make us squirm. Prophets tend to talk and tweet with their outside voice. Prophets tell us to #leaveloud, call out white supremacy and white privilege, then exit stage right, heading out to the next event. 

But when the event is over and you are sitting in a multiethnic room for the debrief, among people who go to your church where you have not been called to leave (or #leaveloud for that matter), what then? It’s here where you need a pastor.

Writing to the Colossians, Paul said something interesting regarding his aim as a pastor: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). In essence, Paul is working under the pastoral assumption of immaturity. Like a parent, Paul takes it for granted that his people just won’t get it, and so should we as pastors. Every day our people are being formed away from God’s vision for sexuality and generosity (to mention just a couple examples), so of course they won’t get it when we call them to steward their bodies and money God’s way. 

The same holds true when it comes to matters of race and ethnic unity. For four hundred years in America, we have been shaped by a system that seeks to extend value to one group of people based on the color of their skin and extract value from other people groups based on the color of their skin. So when they show up to our churches, we likewise must assume immaturity in matters of race and ethnic unity. The prophet points this out, while the pastor must patiently walk this out.

It was the great African American pastor, A. Louis Patterson who said there are three qualities for the pastor: 

1. Patience with people. 

2. Patience with people. 

3. Patience with people. 

While prophets care about the what, pastors care about the who and the how. While prophets point to the desired destination, pastors join with the people on the journey. While prophets are blunt with their language, pastors are careful with their language. Prophets have a low threshold for pain; pastors have a much higher threshold.

So what does this mean for us on a real practical level? Several things. First, you have to know your calling and function accordingly. We need both prophets and pastors. But if you try to function as a prophet while wearing the title of “pastor” in a multiethnic church setting, you will not last long. You can’t retweet prophetically true, yet abrasive statements while wearing the mantle of pastor or leader in a multiethnic church. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve found myself nodding my head over the prophet’s social media post, while resting my thumbs.

Second, as pastors we must be careful with language, especially in a multiethnic church setting. Truth is uncomfortable. I get that. When talking about matters of race and ethnic unity, you can say things as carefully as you can, while injecting a lot of levity, and people will still send the nasty email—and even leave. Understood. I am not asking us to water down the truth. However, the multiethnic pastor is keenly aware of how people will hear things, and will not unnecessarily trigger. After all, they are dealing with immature people, shaped by four hundred years of racism. The pastor, in talking about race, will always ask, “Is there a way to faithfully deal with the text, exegete the culture, and call out the sin, without unnecessarily alienating people?” 

Prophets are needed, and so are pastors. Prophets are like doctors who diagnose and necessarily inflict pain during surgery. Pastors are the physical therapists who encourage their patient to push through the pain. Prophets, like doctors, are there for a moment, while physical therapists show up over and over again, coming alongside their patient in their journey into wholeness. 

We need both.

We don’t need pastors who ignore the prophets. 

We don’t need prophets tearing down pastors.

We need both. 

We need to work together.