Activists and Prophets

ACTIVISTS AND PROPHETS

I want to talk about activism—what the Bible would call the prophetic. I believe the biblical prophets were, at their core, activists. I see them as one and the same.

I grew up in a Christian culture that believed in prophecy as the ability to foresee the future, inspired by the biblical prophets. But when I began seriously studying the Bible and theology, I learned that prophetic ministry had two aspects: fore-telling and forth-telling.

The biblical prophets were mostly known for speaking truth to power, uttering warnings and promises, and facing persecution because of it.

What fascinates me is that the Church generally prefers the fore-telling aspect of prophecy. Promises of reward for the righteous and threats of doom for the unrighteous are religious staples. But the forth-telling aspect—speaking truth to power—is often downplayed because it’s risky. Challenging authority comes at a cost, and the Church frequently chooses alignment with power to avoid that risk. It trades its independence, and therefore its prophetic voice, for the security power provides.

Regardless of how historical the biblical accounts are, the stories show that prophets played a vital societal role, exhibiting similar traits across centuries. I want to examine these traits and see how I can integrate them into my life as an activist. I feel called to speak truth to power, and I’m looking to the biblical prophets for inspiration and encouragement. What I learn, I’ll share with you, so that together we can speak truth to power effectively.

WITHDRAWAL

I’m starting with withdrawal because it’s the most crucial form of self-care—like putting on your own oxygen mask first.

One of the first things you notice about the prophets, from Abraham to John the Baptist, is their detachment from the crowds. They often lived in the wilderness, aloof and eccentric, almost hermit-like. If you wanted to hear them, you had to go out to them. Even Samuel’s school of prophets and John the Baptist’s community were somewhat removed from society's hustle and bustle.

Why did they live this way?

First, they may not have been the most pleasant people to be around. I imagine them as intense, brutally honest, and perhaps even moody. I relate to this. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, “How can we be enjoying ourselves when such-and-such is happening?!” Intense, indeed.

Second, prophets and activists need to withdraw to maintain an objective view of reality. Doom-scrolling the news entangles me in details and makes me lose sight of the bigger picture. Stepping back from social media helps me see the broader currents of events without getting overwhelmed by every minute development.

Lastly, withdrawal is about catching your breath. Activism is exhausting because the work never stops. Injustice is relentless. Those in power often employ a strategy of “shock and awe,” bombarding us with crises to exhaust resistance. We need to retreat, guilt-free, to regain our energy and zeal.

But withdrawal isn’t just about taking breaks. The prophets didn’t merely retreat to the wilderness—they lived there. They operated from a place of spaciousness and peace, enabling them to confront power effectively.

I live in a relatively secluded area in New Brunswick, Canada. Although I have a family, friends, and neighbours, I lead a hermit-like existence. This is my version of the wilderness. Not everyone can live this way, but everyone can find ways to rejuvenate themselves.

I don’t want to burn out. I want to burn bright. Withdrawal helps me do that.

EMPATHY

I’m choosing empathy over love because “love” is loaded with sentimental baggage. Empathy is more concrete. It’s the ability to understand and share another’s feelings, and it starts with self-awareness.

I once read a study that found people who read fiction are more empathetic because they learn to identify with characters’ lives and feelings. They develop empathy by seeing the world through another’s eyes.

The Church has two functions: pastoral and prophetic. The pastoral cares for people, while the prophetic speaks truth to power—but always in service of the pastoral. We speak truth to power to protect and care for people.

Some people ask me to avoid politics, but that’s impossible. If I care about people, I must be political. “Political” comes from “policy,” which is about caring for citizens. When policies harm, neglect, or marginalize people, pastoral care must become political advocacy.

Biblical prophets were profoundly political. They railed against rulers, priests, and kings who abused their power. Today, many in power lack empathy. They prioritize wealth and control over justice and human dignity. It takes empathetic people to recognize this, call it out, and demand accountability.

Empathy should be a requirement for leadership. Without it, power becomes abusive.

WISDOM

Wisdom is crucial for prophecy and activism—not just intelligence or knowledge. Plenty of intelligent people twist facts to manipulate others and pursue power. They’re clever but lack moral integrity.

Wisdom, however, is always linked to goodness. It uses knowledge to disarm power and liberate people. Prophets were wise because they saw the bigger picture. They weren’t magically predicting the future; they were analyzing patterns, connecting dots, and understanding how current actions would shape the future.

Prophets and activists are well-read and intelligent, but their knowledge is bound together by empathy and wisdom, aiming for the common good.

UNITIVE VISION

World-changers, activists, and prophets share a unitive vision. They see humanity as interconnected and believe in freedom and dignity for all people.

Even activists focused on a specific cause, like Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, or Greta Thunberg, fight for universal human rights. Their activism is driven by a concern for all of humanity, not just their group.

Freedom for some isn’t freedom at all. True justice is impartial. Until everyone is free, no one is truly free. This unitive vision stirs empathy, compassion, and activism not just for some but for everyone.

COURAGE

People often call me brave, but I don’t feel brave. I feel nervous, even afraid. But maybe courage isn’t a feeling—it’s an action.

Someone once said, “Courage is fear getting back in the saddle.” I can do that, and so can you.

Posting my cartoons sometimes scares me. I know they’ll provoke backlash, even hate. But I feel compelled to speak truth to power, no matter the consequences. I click “post” and wait, anxious but resolute. Maybe that’s courage.

Authoritarian regimes always target artists, poets, journalists, and activists because creativity is an act of defiance. It’s honest and authentic, refusing to be co-opted by power. That’s why they try to silence us.

I’ve seen activists metaphorically stoned and silenced for speaking truth to power. But this is what happens to prophets and activists—they pay a price for disturbing false peace.

Caring takes courage. And we need more courage now than ever.

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER

We need activists. We need prophets. We need people who will stand up, speak out, and remind those in power that they serve us, not the other way around.

This is what I’ve learned from biblical prophets and modern activists:

• Withdrawal: Self-care and perspective.
• Empathy: Connection and compassion.
• Wisdom: Insight for the common good.
• Unitive Vision: Justice for all.
• Courage: Acting despite fear.

Now, let’s go express ourselves.