Born in Nebraska in 1933, Walter Brueggemann is an Old Testament theologian, St Louis Cardinals fan and for some, one of the most influential Old Testament scholars of the last 40 years or so. He uses a practice called rhetorical criticism (basically looking at the meaning behind words, phrases, images, gestures, performances, texts, films etc that people use to communicate) alongside others to interpret the texts of the Bible. Some of his thinking forms the base for what has been called ‘progressive’ christianity and his influence can be seen upon the likes of Rob Bell, Brian McClaren, Shane Claibourne and others. That’s about it…. Brueggemann is a theologian, he has written a lot, spoken a lot and taught a lot but his life is pretty normal. The reason I wanted to put Brueggemann down in this series is because of his ideas and his passion for seeing the radical nature of what God is doing in the world and his insight on what it means to be prophetic.
Here are some things Brueggeman has said and some questions to go with them.
Sabbath, in the first instance, is not about worship. It is about work stoppage. It is about withdrawal from the anxiety system of Pharaoh, the refusal to let one’s life be defined by production and consumption and the endless pursuit of private well-being.
In our own contemporary context of the rat race of anxiety, the celebration of Sabbath is an act of both resistance and alternative. It is resistance because it is a visible insistence that our lives are not defined by the production and consumption of commodity goods.
Sabbath is not simply the pause that refreshes. It is the pause that transforms.
We used to sing the hymn “Take Time to Be Holy.” But perhaps we should be singing, “Take time to be human.” Or finally, “Take time.” Sabbath is taking time … time to be holy … time to be human.
1. Of these four quotes which do you like the most and why?
2. When was the last time you properly stopped?
3. Do you have a rhythm of rest?
4. Do you see sabbath as an act of resistance?
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The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us.
Imagination is a danger thus every totalitarian regime is frightened of the artist. It is the vocation of the prophet to keep alive the ministry of imagination to keep on conjouring and proposing alternative futures to the single one the king wants to urge as the only thinkable one.
1. Of these quotes which one is your favourite and why?
2. Did you have an imaginary friend? If yes what was there name – what did they look like.
3. Now you are older, do you get to use your imagination much?
4. If you could imagine a different reality – what might it look like? What would be the things you want to see change?
If you want to read some of his work I would recommend these books (I own these three and some others)
Sabbath as resistance – How the sabbath is an act of resisting the powers of this world.