A woman stands before a church congregation, sharing with them how she loves to get together with her friends and practice prophesying. She tells the people that they sometimes “get it wrong”, and she proceeds to tell them that this does not make someone a false prophet. She instructs those gathered to close their eyes, think on a word that the Holy Spirit is giving them, and if they do not get anything, they should make up a word.

A well-known Charismatic leader stands on a platform, teaching on the power of personal testimony and spoken words. He recounts a story from a professing prophet who was allegedly instructed by God to tell an infertile couple that they would have a child by the following year. When the prophet told God he could not say that to them, he alleged God responded by saying, “If you do not say it to them, it will not happen.” This leader goes on to tell the crowd that some things will not happen without their decree, and he encourages them that should they miss it, it is wise to acknowledge the error and clean up the mess. He confesses to them that in the supernatural school he oversees, it is mandatory for the students to “miss it” prophetically three times. If a student does not do this, then he/she cannot advance to the next year. The goal, according to this leader, is to foster a safe environment for making mistakes in the prophetic while encouraging the importance of taking risks.

An online discussion between two leaders in the Charismatic movement exposes a few false prophets by name. They both express great concern for others being led astray by the spoken words of these individuals. However, they believe that there is a difference between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament prophecy today in that there can be errant prophecy within the church. This belief is a recurrent theme within the prophetic movement: it is okay to miss it when prophesying based on the fact that we are to test all things yet not despise prophecy. It is said that a wrong prophet does not make one a false prophet.

Thinking on these examples and many others through the years leaves me personally perplexed by such beliefs I once held and even relayed to others. The term “practicing prophecy” leaves me cringing and concerned for others who hold to such beliefs and practices. Encouraging other influential young people to make mistakes when claiming to hear God’s voice is alarming, let alone making it mandatory to do so. I cannot help but wonder why teaching what Scripture has to say in context and being content with Christ Jesus who is our Prophet, Priest, and King is not sufficient. It would seem that if this was the route taken, then prophetic messes would not need to be cleaned up and safe environments would not be necessary.

What is most alarming is the lack of reverence for God’s Word and for God’s name. I am a firm believer that when one speaks on behalf of God, authority is automatically assumed and assigned to those words. None of us would read Scripture and say that at any time God spoke without authority. As a Christian, I believe that the Bible is authoritative, infallible, and inerrant. Why then is there flippancy today when saying, “The Lord told me?” When someone claims that God said something He did not say, this is bearing false witness and ascribing things to God He did not author. I am concerned that many have not grasped the severity of their actions in doing such things.

There are two trains of thought being proclaimed simultaneously within the prophetic movement. The first is that there are authentic prophets today who hear from God and who speak on behalf of God, but though they speak for God, they can be in error in their transmission of a word from the Lord. At the same time, should claimed prophetic words be called into question, there may be an outcry of not touching the Lord’s anointed, those who say they hear from God. People are told to trust the prophets and to believe their words, citing 2 Chronicles 20:20. Those calling things into question may even be told that a religious spirit lurks behind the accusations and that they are opposing the move of the Holy Spirit and God Himself.

There are vague words appealing to Gnosticism, seeking out God’s secret counsel and claiming that modern prophecy is releasing the mind of God. People are also told that those who will listen are those who are postured in Christ. I believe the stance can be made that God has already revealed His mind and His ways through Scripture, which is sufficient for our instruction and correction (2 Timothy 3:16,17). To make such claims is placing one’s claimed prophetic insight on par with Scripture because God does not speak unauthoritatively. Born-again believers are in Christ because of the gospel of His salvation. Our “posture in the Lord” is not determined by our willingness to listen to a self-professing prophet and believe his/her words that may or may not be fallible. Our posture in the Lord is found in the justification for our sins that can only come through faith in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:1,2 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.” Jesus Christ is our Prophet, Priest, and King. We follow Him and His Word that has been given to us and preserved for us by God. We are to testify of Him according to His Word. There is no need for prophets today with fresh revelation. There are no examples in Scripture that would point to a true prophet of God giving a false prophecy, including Agabus. To search the Scriptures for a loophole in allowing for errant prophecy in the name of God is perplexing and concerning.

A wrong prophecy is a false prophecy, and the loving cry is repent. This is not reserved for those claiming outlandish and absurd prophetic words. This is for the Gnostic practices and vague words and for those who encourage others to make errors in the name of prophecy. This is for those who tell others to make up a prophetic word. We must contend for the faith and be content with the more sure word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19-21). If one wants to prophesy, proclaim the gospel in accordance with Scripture. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10).

Listen to this episode for a more in-depth discussion on the modern prophetic movement: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: A Wrong Prophet Is Not a False Prophet, Right? on Apple Podcasts