Embracing the Prophetic: Courage, Sensitivity, and Truth

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the life and impact of Marjorie Kemp, a prophet from the 1400s, who lived during the same era as Julian of Norwich. Marjorie Kemp was an unlikely prophet, often misunderstood and even ridiculed by her contemporaries. Her life was marked by profound spiritual experiences and a unique gift of tears, which she used as a form of truth-telling. Despite societal pressures to conform, Marjorie remained steadfast in her calling, challenging the falsifications of Christianity and the injustices she witnessed. Her story reminds us of the often uncomfortable and lonely path of a prophet, who must speak out against the injustices and hypocrisies of their time.

Prophets, like Marjorie, are often seen as disturbing figures because they challenge the status quo and call attention to the moral failings of society. They are not concerned with popularity or acceptance but are driven by a deep sense of justice and a desire to align the world with God's will. This calling can be isolating, as prophets are often outsiders, misunderstood and marginalized by those around them. Yet, their voices are crucial in awakening society to the realities of injustice and the need for repentance and change.

In our own lives, we are invited to cultivate a more sensitive conscience, to be open to the prophetic words that God may speak through us, even in small, everyday interactions. This sensitivity can lead us to greater empathy and understanding, as illustrated by a personal story of a simple interaction with a hairdresser, which revealed the profound differences in life experiences and the importance of compassion.

As we reflect on the role of prophets and the call to be more attuned to the injustices around us, we are reminded that our stories matter deeply to God. We are encouraged to seek out and listen to the prophets in our lives, those who challenge us to grow and align more closely with God's vision for the world.

Key Takeaways:

- Prophets are often misunderstood and marginalized because they challenge societal norms and call attention to injustices. Their role is to speak truth, even when it is uncomfortable, and to align the world with God's will. [01:37]

- Marjorie Kemp's life exemplifies the courage required to follow a prophetic calling. Despite societal pressures, she remained true to her spiritual gifts, using her unique gift of tears as a form of truth-telling. [04:23]

- The prophetic voice is one of deep sensitivity to injustice, often perceived as extreme or hysterical. Yet, it is this sensitivity that highlights the moral failings of society and calls for repentance and change. [07:49]

- We are invited to cultivate a more sensitive conscience, to be open to the prophetic words that God may speak through us, even in small, everyday interactions. This can lead to greater empathy and understanding. [08:59]

- Our stories matter deeply to God, and we are encouraged to seek out and listen to the prophets in our lives, those who challenge us to grow and align more closely with God's vision for the world. [10:40]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:52] - Disturbing Encounters
[01:05] - Marjorie Kemp: An Unlikely Prophet
[01:37] - The Loneliness of Prophets
[02:08] - Prophetic Performance
[02:37] - Seeking Serenity
[02:57] - The Gift of Tears
[03:34] - Fearless Judgments
[04:23] - Truth-Telling Through Tears
[05:14] - A Call to Prophetic Living
[06:14] - The Sensitivity of Prophets
[07:49] - Indifference vs. Sensitivity
[08:59] - Cultivating a Sensitive Conscience
[10:40] - The Importance of Our Stories
[11:10] - Community and Connection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. James 4:8-10 - "Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
2. Amos 8:7-8 - "The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: 'I will never forget anything they have done. Will not the land tremble for this, and all who live in it mourn?'"

Observation Questions:
1. What was Marjorie Kemp's unique gift, and how did she use it as a form of truth-telling? [04:23]
2. How does the sermon describe the role and perception of prophets in society? [01:37]
3. What personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the importance of empathy and understanding in everyday interactions? [09:14]
4. How does the sermon connect the sensitivity of prophets to the moral failings of society? [07:49]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does James 4:8-10 relate to Marjorie Kemp's gift of tears and her role as a prophet? [03:34]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that prophets challenge societal norms and call for repentance? [04:23]
3. How might Amos 8:7-8's depiction of God's response to injustice inform our understanding of the prophet's role in society? [07:18]
4. What does the pastor mean by cultivating a more sensitive conscience, and how does this relate to the prophetic calling? [08:59]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt misunderstood or marginalized for standing up for what you believe is right. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently now? [01:37]
2. How can you cultivate a more sensitive conscience in your daily life? Identify one specific area where you can be more attuned to the injustices around you. [08:59]
3. Think of a person in your life who challenges you to grow spiritually. How can you engage with them more intentionally this week? [10:40]
4. In what ways can you use your unique gifts to speak truth and align your actions with God's will, even if it means going against societal norms? [04:23]
5. Consider a recent interaction where you may have lacked empathy. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future? [09:14]
6. How does understanding the role of prophets in the Bible inspire you to address moral failings in your community? [07:49]
7. Identify one small, everyday interaction where you can practice greater empathy and understanding this week. What steps will you take to ensure this happens? [09:14]

Devotional

Day 1: The Courage to Challenge Injustice
Prophets are often misunderstood and marginalized because they challenge societal norms and call attention to injustices. Their role is to speak truth, even when it is uncomfortable, and to align the world with God's will. Prophets like Marjorie Kemp are seen as disturbing figures because they disrupt the status quo and highlight the moral failings of society. They are not driven by a desire for popularity or acceptance but by a deep sense of justice and a commitment to God's vision. This calling can be isolating, as prophets are often outsiders, misunderstood, and marginalized by those around them. Yet, their voices are crucial in awakening society to the realities of injustice and the need for repentance and change. [01:37]

Jeremiah 6:27-28 (ESV): "I have made you a tester of metals among my people, that you may know and test their ways. They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly."

Reflection: Who in your life challenges you to see the injustices around you? How can you support them in their prophetic calling today?


Day 2: The Gift of Tears as Truth-Telling
Marjorie Kemp's life exemplifies the courage required to follow a prophetic calling. Despite societal pressures, she remained true to her spiritual gifts, using her unique gift of tears as a form of truth-telling. Her tears were not a sign of weakness but a powerful expression of her deep sensitivity to the injustices she witnessed. This gift allowed her to challenge the falsifications of Christianity and the moral failings of her time. Marjorie's story reminds us that true prophets are often misunderstood and ridiculed, yet they persist in their calling, driven by a desire to align the world with God's will. [04:23]

Psalm 126:5-6 (ESV): "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him."

Reflection: In what ways can you use your own emotions as a form of truth-telling in your life? How can you express your feelings to bring about positive change?


Day 3: Sensitivity to Injustice
The prophetic voice is one of deep sensitivity to injustice, often perceived as extreme or hysterical. Yet, it is this sensitivity that highlights the moral failings of society and calls for repentance and change. Prophets are not indifferent to the suffering around them; instead, they are acutely aware of the pain and injustice in the world. This awareness drives them to speak out and challenge the status quo, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. Their sensitivity is a gift that allows them to see the world through God's eyes and to call others to do the same. [07:49]

Isaiah 58:6-7 (ESV): "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Reflection: How can you cultivate a greater sensitivity to the injustices around you? What practical steps can you take to address these issues in your community?


Day 4: Cultivating a Sensitive Conscience
We are invited to cultivate a more sensitive conscience, to be open to the prophetic words that God may speak through us, even in small, everyday interactions. This sensitivity can lead to greater empathy and understanding, as illustrated by a personal story of a simple interaction with a hairdresser, which revealed the profound differences in life experiences and the importance of compassion. By being open to the prophetic voice within us, we can become more attuned to the needs of others and more aligned with God's vision for the world. [08:59]

1 Kings 19:11-12 (ESV): "And he said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."

Reflection: Think of a recent interaction where you felt a nudge to speak or act prophetically. How can you be more open to these moments in the future?


Day 5: The Importance of Our Stories
Our stories matter deeply to God, and we are encouraged to seek out and listen to the prophets in our lives, those who challenge us to grow and align more closely with God's vision for the world. Each of us has a unique story that can contribute to the greater narrative of God's work in the world. By sharing our stories and listening to the stories of others, we can gain a deeper understanding of God's will and our role in bringing about His kingdom on earth. [10:40]

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (ESV): "You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

Reflection: What is one story from your life that you feel God is calling you to share with others? How can sharing this story help others see God's work in the world?

Quotes


Marjorie Kemp lived at the same time of Julian of Norwich who we talked about in a recent video she's a very different kind of person the town of Bishop's Lyn is 40 Mi to the west of Norwich its most notable resident is a prophet named marjerie Kemp her neighbors and fellow citizens consider her an unlikely Prophet at best but is there such a thing as a likely Prophet it is a lonely thing to be a prophet margerie Kim sees clearly how the falsifications of Christianity make it a grotesque parody of itself. [00:01:10]

Marjorie has been led to become a grotesquery herself Richard Lisha writes in acting out her gifts she has created the scandalous form of Street theater performance U uh prophets in many way were kind of performance artists where they would deliberately shock outrage offend people to get their attention why would they do this she is not a recluse no doubt Church authorities wish she were enclosed but to everyone in her path she constitutes a peculiar disturbance these are disturbing people. [00:02:03]

Her signature gift is the gift of Tears she becomes quite famous for this Jesus brother James writes in his letter uh wash your hands you Sinners purify your hearts you double-minded weep mourn whail lower yourself before God and he will in due time lift you up those words sound kind of extreme don't they marjerie is fearless in her judgments whether of backbiting neighbors or high-handed clergy she is a woman who listens carefully to the stirrings of her own soul. [00:03:09]

Most of all her weeping is a form of Truth telling as a prophet she sees pain and Injustice that no one else notices and registers it in the only way she can as Abraham Joshua hesel writes of the Hebrew prophets their voices are always about an octave too high for the rest of society like fingernails on a chalkboard chalkboard was a device for public writing long time ago you can Google it prophets were almost always Outsiders and Marjorie experiences this. [00:04:12]

Her calling to be used by Jesus actually begins when she's coming out of what we would talk about now as a postpartum problem she went insane and for over 6 months was tormented and mad she ended up going through 14 births experiencing poverty uh an indifferent husband insanity and out of this comes a calling to speak to people on behalf of God out of a prophetic gift in particular to talk about ways in which our world our lives are not aligned with what it is that God wants for us. [00:04:48]

The world is a proud Place full of beauty but the prophets are scandalized and Rave as if the whole world were a slum they make much ad do about poultry things lavishing excessive language on trifling subjects what if someone somewhere in ancient Palestine poor people have not been treated properly by the rich so what if some people followed Idols to us a single act of Injustice cheating in business exploitation of the poor is a slight to the profits of disaster. [00:06:04]

To Us Injustice is injurious to the welfare of the people to the prophets it is a death blow to existence their breathless impatience with Injustice May strike us as hysteric we ourselves witness continually acts of Injustice manifestations of hypocrisy falsehood outrage misery but we rarely grow indignant or overly excited to the prophets even a minor Injustice assumes Cosmic proportions Amos says the Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob surely I will never forget any of their deeds. [00:06:47]

The prophet's words are outbursts of violent emotions his rebuke is Harsh and Relentless but if such deep sensitivity to evil is to be called hysterical what name should be given to the abysmal indifference to evil that the prophet bewail the paltriness of our moral comprehension the incapacity to sense the depth of misery caused by our own failures is a fact that no one can elude the prophet is a person who feels fiercely God has thrust a burden upon the prophet's soul. [00:07:38]

Prophecy is the voice that God has lent to the silent Agony a voice to the plundered poor it is a form of living a crossing point of God and man God is Raging in the prophet's words so I offer this as a thought today I know it is not a comfortable it is actually deliberately an uncomfortable a discomforting one God would you give me the gift of of a more sensitive conscience and I want to invite you today to walk through the day and ask the spirit of God to speak prophetic words. [00:08:25]

I got a haircut yesterday and while I was getting a haircut the person who was cutting my hair had her phone ring and asked if it was okay for her to answer it and my initial response was to feel like no you're not supposed to do that you're supposed to be um working for me now I'm paying for this I don't have a whole lot of time and then I got a kind of a twins where I thought about what might this moment be like for her and she had answered the phone in another language. [00:09:10]

There was here was this otherness and afterwards I asked her if everything was okay and what was going on and it turns out that her mom was supposed to be going through an operation and it was her brother on the phone and because of another problem in her mom's health life uh they had to put off doing the operation and because she has to be in the shop cutting hair she could not be with her mom and I thought how different her life is than mine. [00:09:38]

You have a story your story matters deeply to God none of us gets the story that we want but we need God's help David had a prophet named Nathan in his life not easy to be somebody's Prophet I need a prophet you need a prophet we all need that as we walk together in The Fellowship of the withered hand. [00:10:37]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?