Martin Luther King - The Prophetic Minister of the South

Walter Brueggemann writes, “Prophecy is born precisely in that moment when the emergence of social political reality is so radical and inexplicable that it has nothing less than a theological cause,” (B, 6). Not only do prophetic ministers grab hold of communities stuck in despair, but they also rally communities to keep reaching for a better future. Jeremiah, a prophetic minister of the Old Testament, delivered a message from the Lord to the Hebrew people who were struck with despair after their community had been split and one half destroyed. He wrote, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’” (Jer. 29:11). This is the true essence of a prophetic minister. I argue that Martin Luther King, in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” illustrates prophetic ministry, as defined by Brueggemann, through criticizing the Christian community, attacking their royal consciousness, and bringing hope that a new consciousness will be brought forth. I will argue this by defining the prophetic ministry expressed by Brueggemann in his book, The Prophetic Imagination, analyzing King’s letter in light of this definition, and lastly comparing King’s prophetic ministry to the Old Testament, prophetic ministries of Jeremiah and Second Isaiah. By examining King’s letter through these relations, it is evident that King embraces the role of Brueggemann’s prophetic ministry.

According to Brueggemann, the goal of prophetic ministry is to encourage and stimulate an alternative consciousness than the governing culture. He argues that the main goals of this alternative consciousness are to provoke criticism of the community and to energize the community wi...

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... can see that King illustrated similar acts of prophetic ministry in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

While describing prophetic ministry, Brueggemann wrote, “Change resulted from being addressed, called by a name, cared for, recognized, and assured,” (B, 71). I think this quote sums up Martin Luther King’s message in his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” King uses such deep, imaginative language to embrace the hope of tomorrow. He writes, “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will son pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities…,” (K, para. 39). Through his criticism of the church community, his attacks on the royal consciousness of the South, and his ever present hope of change to come, King exhibits the distinguishing features of Brueggemann’s definition of prophetic ministry.