In the contemporary world, the oppressor controls the social reality of many on the margins. Yet, a belief system—especially that of the Christian faith—offers one viable means to confront such oppression. A prophetic theological orientation, which motivates the church from complacency to activism, is critically needed to address today’s oppressive realities. From the perspective of prophetic theology, there is no distinction between the sacred and the secular: all creation begins with the Almighty (God). The African-centered church should concern itself with all aspects of life, including actively pursuing prophetic ministry. This pursuit is a historical tradition of the African-American faith context, undergirding its definition of faith as social justice. Enacting social change can help strengthen religious communities, allowing them to flourish and fight ongoing oppression. The goal of this study is to engage Christian praxis as it relates to the life in the community where the Humanity Baptist Church (HBC) is situated. It is praxis that uses the rich legacy of the Black church as well as its heritage of liberation. The biblical lessons from Luke’s gospel contain a plethora of narratives of political strife; the reactions of those communities can serve as models for contemporary communities of faith. There is much to learn from Jesus—the Radical Rabbi—about the acceptable disposition for action today. Ultimately, the goal of this study is to reclaim the movement of Jesus Christ—moving from apathy to activity.
