Embracing Holy Disorder: The Prophetic Path to Transformation

The Tears of Things

Change, especially in established systems, never happens in a straight line. Reforms rarely move directly from the existing order to a new order automatically or by a single positive insight. The old order has to somehow show its disorder, its shadow self, its injustices, its wrongness. [1] In every institution, whether it's societal, religious, or personal, resistance to change is natural. People and systems cling to what is familiar, even when it no longer serves the greater good. And yet, it is precisely through this resistance that we uncover the very need for transformation. We cannot change until we see the flaws in the system. There must be a period of disorder, a fertile time of searching before a new order can be found. [1] Only through this process of revealing the disorder can a new, more effective order emerge. This process can be painful and disorienting, but it is through this chaos that new, more sustainable solutions are found. (Romans 12:2)

Religion, when it is healthy, plays a critical role in this transformation. Religion in its healthy forms gives every culture a method of survival through all of this change process, some form of learning how to 'die early,' so that you can keep moving when the world seems—and is—always chaotic and tragic. [1] This notion of “dying early” speaks to the need for us to let go of old attachments, assumptions, and structures that no longer serve us. We must be willing to face the chaos and accept that some of the old ways must die for the new to be born. Without this willingness to surrender, we remain stuck, unable to evolve or find peace in the face of an ever-changing world. It is in these moments of crisis and upheaval that we are invited to trust not just in the familiar, but also in the unknown that lies ahead. [1] (Matthew 10:39, John 12:24)

This trust is essential to the process. We need trust in some initial order (good parenting and healthy religion), but also trust in disorder when it eventually shows itself (good prophets help us here), and then trust in the new, livable, and ever-changing home base called reorder (love, community, and friendship). [1] When things fall apart, it is natural to feel anxious and fearful. Yet, if we are to grow, we must trust that the disorder is not the end, but part of a necessary process. It is through the guidance of prophets—those who can see beyond the immediate chaos—that we come to understand the deeper, transformative purposes of this time. They show us that disorder does not mean destruction, but that it can be the fertile ground for new possibilities, where love, community, and friendship can flourish and create new, lasting structures. (Jeremiah 29:11, Isaiah 55:8-9)

Prophets play a particularly crucial role in this process. Prophets move us beyond uncritical groupthink. Every group and every movement have their shadow sides. We need trained seers who are neither co-dependent on the religious system for their identity...nor seeking to make a good name for themselves. [1] Prophets are those rare individuals who can see beyond the confines of their own cultural or religious context. They don't merely reinforce the status quo or seek personal gain. Instead, they challenge us to confront our collective shadows, to see the flaws that we are often blind to, and to think in ways that move beyond groupthink. Their vision is not bound by convention, and they are not afraid to step outside the norms in order to guide us toward something more authentic and just. (Matthew 23:5-7, Acts 20:28)

This is not always easy to accept, as it requires a shift from dualistic thinking to a more creative and contemplative approach. It is in and through such conflicts that we come to third-way thinking and acting, moving beyond the argumentative dualistic mind to the creative contemplative mind where our ego is not steering the ship. [1] The prophet challenges us to think differently. Instead of seeing things in terms of black and white, they invite us into a space where we can hold the tension of opposites and think creatively. It is this ability to see beyond the limitations of dualistic thinking that allows us to find new solutions, new ways of acting, and new ways of being together. In this way, the prophetic voice moves us from division into unity, from confrontation into collaboration. (Matthew 5:38-41, Luke 6:27-31)

At the heart of this shift is the recognition that critique and loyalty can coexist. Critics can be loyal believers, too, and it is the prophets who show us how. [1] Prophets are not necessarily enemies of the systems they challenge. On the contrary, they are often the most loyal believers within those systems, deeply committed to their underlying principles. They call us to account not because they want to destroy the system, but because they believe in its potential for greater good. Their loyalty is not to an institution as it currently exists, but to the deeper truth and ideals that it is supposed to embody. This is the paradox of the prophet: they critique in order to preserve, not to dismantle, and their faithfulness is shown in their ability to speak the truth even when it is uncomfortable. (Matthew 23:37-39, Hebrews 12:6-11)

True prophets, then, are those who guide us through the discomfort and uncertainty of transformation. True prophets will guide us into, hold us inside of, and then pull us through to the other side of what will always seem like disorder. [1] Prophets do not abandon us in the middle of the storm. They are the ones who hold the space for transformation, helping us to navigate through the messiness and complexity of change. They stay with us, even when it feels like everything is falling apart, and they help us make sense of it all. They give us the courage to keep going, to trust the process, and to believe that something better is on the other side. (Psalm 23:4, Isaiah 40:31)

And yet, the issue that prophets confront is never about themselves. The issue they are confronting is really the issue, and not merely a means for them to achieve power, importance, or fame. [1] Prophets do not seek the limelight. Their message is not about self-promotion, but about something much larger than themselves. Their focus is always on the issue at hand, whether it is injustice, inequality, or spiritual stagnation. They are motivated by the truth, and their message is meant to shift the hearts and minds of others, not to elevate their own status. This purity of motivation is what makes their words so powerful. (John 7:18, Matthew 6:1-4)

Finally, we know a prophet by the fruits they bear. They manifest the classic 'fruits of the Spirit,' both in their person and in the effects of their message. [1] Prophets are not just defined by what they say, but by who they are. Their lives bear witness to the qualities they preach—love, patience, kindness, peace, and joy. The fruit of the Spirit manifest in their actions, their interactions with others, and the way they live their lives. Their words have the power to transform because they are grounded in a deep and authentic spirituality, one that is reflected in every aspect of their being. (Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 7:16-20)

[1] Richard Rohr, The Tears of Things