Some thoughts on Geroge Kennan and Prophetic Message
Tonight I have read an interesting article about George Kennan. In the diplomatic field, He have been labelled the 'father of containment', as the policy reccomendation that he has sent back from Sovient Union to USA through a long telegram in 1947 has become the blueprint of the US policy during the early cold war era. Deviating from Kennan original intention, US decide to use military method to contain Sovient Union by empowering its ally in Western Europe and Japan. Ever then, the word 'containment' was ever attached to Kennan.
The article state that Kennan has set a high standard for the policymaker to articulate the policy blueprint . To meet the standard,
1. It should be original and highly creative;
2. It should attract the attention and gain respect from the intecllect and academian, in order to stimulate further research;
3. It should not be just an empty word. It should transform the government behaviour and set path for a new direction for the country to follow.
If the above point was placed in the church context. It is called Prophetic message. In the secular world, human try to develop their idea and brainpower to contemplate the future and to transform the world in a way that they saw fit. Some has succeed and left the world with their legacy, even though the legacy they left may do more harm than good. Some has failed. Just wonder in God's kingdom, where are the 'prophet' of this age who has received calling from God to proclaim God's special message to transform people and the world? and how many false prophets are there who are laying people with yoke and burden that people cannot bear?
Coincidently I have read another interest article from a christian website, that many time in the contemporary world the 'prophet' (those who have a message to bring) are often challenged by the priests (1 Peter 2:9-10, lay people are royal priests). The macro-message from the 'prophet' seems to be so distinct from the real life of 'priests' from their localities, that the 'priests' prefer to follow something that can yield immediate value.
The article state that Kennan has set a high standard for the policymaker to articulate the policy blueprint . To meet the standard,
1. It should be original and highly creative;
2. It should attract the attention and gain respect from the intecllect and academian, in order to stimulate further research;
3. It should not be just an empty word. It should transform the government behaviour and set path for a new direction for the country to follow.
If the above point was placed in the church context. It is called Prophetic message. In the secular world, human try to develop their idea and brainpower to contemplate the future and to transform the world in a way that they saw fit. Some has succeed and left the world with their legacy, even though the legacy they left may do more harm than good. Some has failed. Just wonder in God's kingdom, where are the 'prophet' of this age who has received calling from God to proclaim God's special message to transform people and the world? and how many false prophets are there who are laying people with yoke and burden that people cannot bear?
Coincidently I have read another interest article from a christian website, that many time in the contemporary world the 'prophet' (those who have a message to bring) are often challenged by the priests (1 Peter 2:9-10, lay people are royal priests). The macro-message from the 'prophet' seems to be so distinct from the real life of 'priests' from their localities, that the 'priests' prefer to follow something that can yield immediate value.
posted by justanotherbrotherinchrist | 11:01 pm
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Read quite a bit of stuff on this blog. Recalled 3 years of memory. How can we forget those Christmas and New Year days? When cold and snow came, warmth of friendship warm up these oversea hearts. Can never forget those early morning Bible Studies, which watered the tiny seeds of faith in Christ. It was truly great time...
Very impressed that you kept on writing your blog without interaction with others. Maybe this is the real pilgram progress. Right, dear brother, enjoy your jogging and blogging...
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