Mission with Prophetic Power: The Journal of John Woolman (SRSC 12)

Resources for Application

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Go back and read Philemon once again, now that you have read Woolman’s Journal . Do you notice how Paul navigates this “tough talk”? Think of the prophets and their confrontations with religious and political leaders. Those are some tough talks. Woolman perceived himself as one carrying the ministry of a prophet. Yet, as we have seen, a successful prophetic ministry is not simply about shouting condemnations. How do we become faithful communicators to our fellow Christians of the pains within God’s heart? How do we follow Jesus, who healed demoniacs, ate dinner with corrupt tax collectors, confronted religious leaders, and managed all the drama within his own small group of disciples? We step into our tough talks and promote peace in whatever way is appropriate for us in each situation. Two examples from history will have to suffice. Saint Raimondo Palmerio (d. AD 1200), for example, was a shoemaker who had an encounter with Christ on a pilgrimage. After his pilgrimage, Raimondo married and returned to his workshop and nourished his fellow workers with his encouragement. After the death of his wife, he made further pilgrimages and, following a vision, was compelled to care for poor people in the city of Piacenza, Italy. He founded a hospital and other institutions. More importantly for our concerns here, “He also intervened in the internal conflicts of the city to promote the cause of peace.” 8 I can imagine what those “interventions” might have been like.

8 André Vauchez, The Laity in the Middle Ages: Religious Beliefs and Devotional Practices , trans. Margery J. Schneider (Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1993), 56.