When Senator John McCain died in 2018, news programs shifted from whatever they were talking about to a thorough commentary on his life and work.They spoke on his experiences as a prisoner of war, American politician, and in a unique interest, his ability to work with those who did not always share his beliefs and values. There were detailed accounts of the ways in which he worked with liberals and Democrats alike, seeing different viewpoints. He was known for facilitating bipartisan support for bills and policies. When asked how he did this, his consistent belief was that the “nation came first.”
Hearing this about the former senator reminds me of important facets of Christian unity. It also reminds me of a recent Seminary class discussion on the Minor Prophets. As part of a Prophets Class, we study the 12 Minor Prophets of the Old Testament:
Each study of these prophets is a fascinating journey. It’s not just about learning the background for these essential writings, but learning about these prophets as people and ministers.
An interesting overlap
One of the most interesting things to learn about prophetic history is the way it overlaps. Most of the Minor Prophets had ministries that either coincided or overlapped with other prophets, including Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah. They were all contemporaries, all regarded equally as prophets (the designation of Major and Minor Prophets is a literary one, used to compare the length of recorded prophetic words), and all doing God’s work. A second point is that every single one of their prophecies, ministries, and ministry calls were all very different.
Hosea
Hosea was called to Israel. He compared the unfaithfulness of Israel, off chasing after false gods, to adultery. In the process, he was called to marry a prostitute and raise up children with her, even though he couldn’t guarantee they were biologically his, to show Israel what it was like for God each time they chased after foreign deities.
Joel
Joel prophesied to Israel during a locust invasion. He encouraged the leaders to lead the people through a convocation experience. In it, they were to repent from sin and hear God’s voice in their situation.
Amos
Amos was a farmer called to the northern kingdom of Israel even though he was from the southern kingdom, Judah. The School of the Prophets had become so corrupt, Amos had nothing to do with it. The abuses of Israel’s day were notorious: exploitation of the poor, rebukes of those who were using the temple to abuse and mistreat others, and to herald a day of repentance and divine judgment.
Obadiah
Obadiah’s extremely short prophecy details the divine judgment and fall of the nation of Edom. To follow was a promise of Israel’s restoration.
Jonah
Jonah was called to warn the people of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, that God would destroy them. He avoided this call, because of his hatred of the Assyrians. As the captors of his nation, he had no interest in seeing their transformation. His story is more personal than prophetically focused. Eventually preaching to Nineveh, the people did repent, and God didn’t destroy them at that time. Jonah’s completely successful mission left him angry and embittered.
Micah
Micah’s prophetic words call to the entire world. They herald a sense of worldwide judgment, specifically including Israel and Samaria. He had staunch words against false prophets and predicted impending doom. This intense prophetic call only shed glimpses of hope upon the promised restoration that would one day come to Israel.
Nahum
Nahum’s prophecy was, most likely, delivered in Jerusalem. It mostly details the fall of Nineveh, which came after Jonah’s ministry.
Habakkuk
Habakkuk’s prophecy is more a detailed discussion than a formal prophetic word. It expresses the prophet’s distress, directed to God, over the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. God replies to the prophet, although likely not in the way many would prefer.
Zephaniah
Zephaniah’s call was to the people of Judah, working along with governmental reform to abolish idols and stick to the straight and narrow of faith under King Josiah.
Haggai
Haggai delivered a word to the people of Israel through the governor and high priest during the time. They were urged to no longer wait to rebuild the temple, as it was already 18 years after returning from captivity.
Zechariah
Zechariah’s call was to the nation of Israel. His first purpose was to recount history. From there, he issued warnings and visions and told of the coming Messiah. This figure would bring God’s judgment, peace, and blessing in the latter days.
Malachi
Malachi’s call was specifically to the leaders, the priests of Israel. He detailed their deliberate sins and wrongdoings within temple sacrifices and ministry abuses.
Different messages, same God
The prophets of Israel didn’t prophesy during unified times. They saw their own nation splinter and then buckle under the weight of multiple foreign occupations. They were 12 different prophets with radically different messages, all working during difficult and trying times. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like they were on the same page about anything. Their themes did overlap at times, but their differences, audiences, messages, and approaches outweigh whatever commonalities they had.
Yet if we use modern standards to judge them, it could easily seem like they didn’t all hear from God. After all, none of them did the same thing or spoke the same way. None of them got the same exact “word” – so that means we question them, right?
Christian unity doesn’t mean copying everyone else
If there’s anything the study of these prophets reveals, it’s that much of our modern standards for “accuracy” among leaders aren’t Biblical standards. We tend to believe if many people say the same thing, that means it’s God, and no one should question it. But the Biblical world of prophecy isn’t quite so succinct. If anything, the fact that many people say the same thing can be grounds for its judgment as false prophecy. Throughout Amos and Micah, we find false prophets who said only what the people wanted to hear. These messages were uplifting in a time of moral compromise and meant the professed prophet wasn’t hearing from God.
Messages that copy other messages are not what God has to say in a given time or place. They’re not specific enough for the current needs. When God has something to say, especially through more than one person at a given time, the words will likely be different. They may overlap, but they will address different things. They will never be exactly the same. And that is the point.
A call to be different
Christian leaders are all called to be different, with a slightly different word. This doesn’t hamper Christian unity; it enhances it. Just like Senator McCain knew how to cross the aisles and political walls to find solutions that would benefit the country, we are supposed to cross the oceans and attitudes we carry to do what is best for the church and God’s people. The point is that we are different. Those differences force us to get along with one another. As we do this, we come to the greater road of truth, overcoming our personal prejudices and arrogance to work together.
Just because a minister is different in some way than you are doesn’t mean they are automatically “false.” Yes, there are standards for false prophets and false ministers (but that’s not what we are looking at in this article). There’s plenty of information out there about discerning ministries and teachings and how to recognize the true from the false. What there isn’t enough of out there are calls for each and every minister to humble themselves, and stop esteeming themselves so highly that they forget other people can hear from and have a call from God, too. This is the very heart of Christian unity.
A wise word on Christian unity
In politics, much like in ministry, we often put so much stock in our personal perspectives of values and ideals that we forget there are others out there who may not easily see things the same way. Senator McCain’s work and legacy reminds us of why it is important to work with others for the greater good of others. In ministry, we can hold to our own personal viewpoints and exclude everyone, or we can adopt the principle of the prophets of the Old Testament and let others do whatever God has called them to do, even if it’s different from what we are called to do.
Make room for people in your life who aren’t exactly as you are, even if their style of ministry is a little different or their message has different components. Christian unity doesn’t mean we all sound or look the same all the time. We can all learn much about what God is saying in diverse places and situations if we are only willing to hear about things from a different point of view. It may not be one we always personally like or cater to, but it will definitely open up our world to force the more difficult character aspects of temperance, kindness, and patience that we often avoid. Through it, we learn what God desires us to develop in assurance all along: letting you be you takes away nothing from letting me be me.
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