Prophetic Imagination
We recently lost a theological giant! Before Walter Bruggemann, I thought the Old Testament was filled with bizarre dreams, irrelevant stories, and ancient history. Bruggemann brought the writings of the prophets to life by helping Christians stay focused on the throughline… justice. Like Isaiah, Amos, and Jeremiah, Bruggemann challenged us to critique the status quo and reject the empire’s vision of the world.
It is easy to live in denial about the problems that we face: wealth inequality, consumerism, climate change, and authoritarianism… just to name a few. It is also easy to give up and advocate that overcoming these challenges is a lost cause. But it requires a mastery level of spiritual development to reorient people toward a hope that transforms society.
My favorite image that Brueggemann uses is of spiritual breath. He reminds us that human life begins with the gift of breath. “Then the Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7). Brueggemann brilliantly connects the text:
“Breath belongs to God; we do not own our breath, and we cannot hold it; but we rely on that moment-by-moment gift of God’s goodness. Without that constant gift of breath, the dust of Genesis 2:7 can only remain mere dust, and eventually it is “dust to dust.” With that gift of breath from God we receive energy, freedom, power, and imagination. Having the gift of breath permits us to do the things that make us truly and fully human.”
I remember learning this from Brueggemann just before watching the “I can’t breathe” videos of Eric Garner and George Floyd. It pierced my heart. Brueggemann had a unique way of writing powerfully, hopefully, and truthfully. He helped me to see that our greatest challenge is not a lack of morality, ability, or resources, but a lack of imagination. Brueggemann repeatedly pointed out that one of the empire’s key projects is to shrink our imagination until the future we imagine doesn’t threaten its agenda.
When Scripture calls us to have “faith like a child” it is calling to use our divinely inspired imagination. It is our resilient hope for a better world, especially now, that will usher in God’s reign. I believe that we can keep Walter Brueggemann’s legacy alive by continuing to prophetically imagine a better world. It is my prayer that we continue to work for justice, advocate for peace, and relentlessly work to make God’s vision our reality.
Can you see it?
Pastor Lucas
