As I think about how to begin this blog post, I am reminded of the apostle Paul’s words in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Now no one asked me a question per se when it comes to a recent document released concerning the prophetic movement, and I will be the first to admit that I am no theologian. I am merely a former false prophet saved by the glorious grace of God. However, while reading this document, I could not help but to have questions, concerns, and agreement with some of the statements put forth from recognized leaders in the Charismatic/Pentecostal church. I greatly desire that the words I write here will be seasoned with salt rather pouring salt into open wounds. I also cannot ignore my desired intention to lovingly place a pebble in someone’s shoe. Perhaps it will be yours.

By now you may or may not have heard about this document. If you have not done so, I encourage you to read the Prophetic Standards Statement and do so with an open Bible and an engaged mind. I also encourage you to read this post in the same fashion. The Bible encourages us to use reasoning. It encourages testing, and it finds those who receive the word with eagerness while testing things in accordance with Scripture to be noble (Acts 17:11). My ultimate goal is to point people back to Jesus Christ and to the written Word of God for proper instruction. Those who will read the Prophetic Standards Statement will most likely be those who are in the midst of the prophetic movement in some way or subscribe to specific beliefs pertaining to this movement, and it is to those I wish to address this post.

Let me say that the acknowledgement of serious error as well as spiritual manipulation that has taken place and continues to take place with regards to this specific movement is noteworthy. I appreciate that correction is being encouraged and that the call for belonging to a local church with Godly accountability in accordance with Scripture is of utmost importance. Most assuredly, Jesus Christ is to be exalted, and God desires to redeem people. This comes through the prophetic forth telling of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who will hear and repent of their sins before a holy and just God and in understanding that it is by faith alone in Christ that we are saved. I can affirm that I too do not despise prophecy as 1 Thessalonians 5:19 instructs. I also appreciate the acknowledgement in this statement that true prophets of God are not to be prognosticators and fortune tellers.

That being said, I do have several concerns and questions to particular areas addressed in this document that cannot be completely covered in the scope of this blog. What I can say is that prognosticating and spiritual fortune telling is indeed going on in this movement, and prophecy seems geared more toward foretelling of an individual’s personal life and great exploits than pointing to Jesus Christ and calling people to repentance. A personal example I can provide is having a public word spoken over me in June 2017, which entailed calling me out of the crowd and telling me that God was raising me up in the spirit to be a prophet of this nation. I witnessed personal prophecy being given to my husband and to other family members in 2019 that was detailed in names of business or employment, family member’s names, instruction to not quit a specific job, and prophesying contracts.

Many watching were amazed at the level of accuracy. Looking back now, I have to ask how that glorified God and pointed back to Jesus Christ. How did that testify of Christ? Who was exalted in those moments, God, myself, or the individual displaying accuracy in prognosticating? When I say that this type of ministering is taking place with frequency in this movement, that is not an exaggeration. The statement renouncing such conduct is noble, but it does not change the fact that this is much of what is occurring, and it is what occurred last year and on into 2021. There are those who have clung to these words which have fallen to the ground. Others may have become discouraged in their faith out of trusting those who claim to speak for God. My great concern having come out of this movement is that there are people who are enchanted by these manifestations and experiences, but there is little Biblical understanding of true prophecy or even the Bible altogether. I say that as someone who can attest to Biblical illiteracy while in this movement. I pray that people are not hearing the prophets prophesy falsely and loving it so as once occurred in Jeremiah’s day (Jeremiah 5:31).

Regarding False Prophets

This was a major area where I humbly disagree with the definition of a false prophet. According to Scripture, anyone who claims to be a prophet and who prophesies something which does not come to pass has not spoken on behalf of the Lord. That prophet has spoken presumptuously and need not be feared (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). Though sincerity is a good quality, it is not the standard. It is possible to be sincerely in error. Truth is the standard, and accuracy is not the only mark of a true prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-5). Under the Old Testament, that prophet was to be put to death. Praise God for His mercy and grace in granting repentance to those who will repent of their sins and turn to Christ today. False prophecy calls for repentance, and repentance brings a true change in conduct.

Hebrews 1:1-4 says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” We have a more sure word of prophecy, the Scripture, and as believers in Christ, we must make sure that we understand this Word above all other knowledge and supposed extrabiblical revelation.

It is my contention that we need to get back to the gospel of Jesus Christ and back to the written Word of God for proper instruction and correction, and those who refuse to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ and who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching presented in Scripture are to be marked and avoided (Romans 16:17). It is worth noting that those who teach falsely are noted in Scripture as those who bring division. We must call a spade a spade. False prophecy has occurred. It continues to occur, and God is granting mercy right now to those who will repent and test themselves to see if they are even in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Since the call is to not despise prophecy, then I pray that we begin by not despising the context of the truth found within the confines of Scripture, and may we be more concerned about offending God than offending man.

** For those interested, I will be going into more detail about this Statement along with Scripture on my podcast The Lovesick Scribe Podcast. Join me there next Tuesday on Spotify, iTunes, and other podcast streamers.