Jeremiah will be in the lectionary in coming weeks.
There are true prophets who speak the will of God, and false prophets who speak the will of those who do not care about the will of God. They all claim to be true prophets of God.
We live in an age between Jeremiah (with gathering forces who threaten us) and Amos (a time of military strength and economic prosperity). In both those times, God raised prophets who would speak the will of God - the truth - to a people who did not want to hear it.
Jeremiah loved the nation, but was given a word of Exile, that his nation would fall because of its unfaithfulness to God. Hananiah, the false prophet, went to great lengths to proclaim that God's favor and blessings would be given. Jeremiah went to very dramatic lengths to show that they nation would fall to the gathering forces and that the people would be exiled, but there would be hope in the future if they returned to faithfulness.
Amos faced a nation that relied on its present military might and economic growth. The nation was corrupt and hurt many within the nation and outside of it with their unjust dealings and false, patriotic beliefs and pieties. Amos did not mince words or hold back in any way, but condemned the nation for its immorality and injustice due to greed, lust for power and false status.
It's more comforting to believe the false prophets of prosperity, growth, blessings and favor.
It's easier to believe the lies than face the truth.
But the truth will come.
True prophets share the harsh word.
In our day and age, they are spun in the media as being unpatriotic (as if their love for God is or should be synonymous with love for country), they are taken off the air, silenced, criticized by believers and non-believers, discredited, de-valued, vilified, de-humanized and disregarded.
It does not make their message any less timely or true.
False prophets and teachers twist the Word to suit their own interests and gain.
True prophets weigh the social, political, economic and spiritual climate against God's Word.
Jesus warned against the following of false teachers and prophets.
The Temple Cult leaders of Jesus' time and place were corrupt for personal gain in wealth, power
and status, having succumbed to the values of empire, so Jesus confronted them as a true Prophet.
The true prophets of our age, Wright, West and others, are misrepresented, silenced and/or disregarded. It does not mean that their messages are not true and the will of God.
In this time of relative ease, military strength and prosperity, do you not see how we have been corrupted by our love for wealth, power and status? Do you not see how we have treated our own people and others around us shamefully for our own gain? Do you not see the political, economic, social and spiritual forces growing that would destroy us?
Or are you listening to the Hananiah's among us? Are you believing the false messages of God's unending favor and blessings because you give praise, tithe and worship with prayer?
When people are/a nation is filled with Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status, hatefulness and ignorance, they are not being faithful to God. Period. Such a nation will implode or be conquered, as we have seen in history. Call it a natural consequence or act of God, it happens. It is happening to us because of us, now.
Our hope, as is always the hope, is REPENTANCE (metanoia - changing our thinking so that our direction changes). We must turn around and go in a direction faithful to God. Of course, those who most benefit from empire and the living of its values, will not allow that. Of course, the false prophets will tell you everything with empire values is just fine. If we do not come together to supplant the leaders and their false prophets, the nation will fall. It is that clear. It is that simple. It is that true. Again. Still.
Pastor Jamie
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