I found this very interesting. Enjoy!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Prophecy in the Church Today
I've often wondered what it would be like for me to have a major problem with someone giving a prophecy in the local church, either to the congregation or to someone personally? Either I am just naive, closed minded, or neither on the subject of prophecy. I sure am hoping it's neither!
All kidding aside, I often do wonder why God has not allowed me to see it from a cessationists view in regards to prophecy. Let's face it we could all break it down theologically speaking; side-ways, vertically, around the corner and back, frontwards, backwards, upside down, and even inside-out, and surely come up with differences in opinions on how this gift is to be used, or even be used at all. I tend to be more conservative, but I guess I would be considered liberal by my cessationist friends. This is no antagonistic approach to start a slug match with those of a different position on the gift of prophecy. The question is, is it or is not valid, Biblically speaking, in the New Testament church? Could God in His awesome sovereignty be taking me down a road where I will have to change my theology totally on this, or am I pretty close to accurate on this gift? Too many questions, I know!
Apparently Paul felt as though he needed to encourage the Church of Corinth to prophesy. "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy." (1 Corinthians 14:1) John writes in Revelation, "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10) Paul continues on his encouragement to all believers with, "For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged," (1 Corinthians 14:31). "So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues." (1 Corinthians 14:39). The Bible even gives us liberty to judge prophetic words, but does not give us liberty to judge those who prophesy. To insinuate that would make God look like He was contradicting Himself. "Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)
So what can we conclude? To answer this broad base question we must first ask the following questions.
1. Is prophesy relevant today?
2. Is prophesy only a high level of teaching the Word of God?
3. Should we encourage Christians to prophesy?
4. Should we all become cessasionists?
All kidding aside, I often do wonder why God has not allowed me to see it from a cessationists view in regards to prophecy. Let's face it we could all break it down theologically speaking; side-ways, vertically, around the corner and back, frontwards, backwards, upside down, and even inside-out, and surely come up with differences in opinions on how this gift is to be used, or even be used at all. I tend to be more conservative, but I guess I would be considered liberal by my cessationist friends. This is no antagonistic approach to start a slug match with those of a different position on the gift of prophecy. The question is, is it or is not valid, Biblically speaking, in the New Testament church? Could God in His awesome sovereignty be taking me down a road where I will have to change my theology totally on this, or am I pretty close to accurate on this gift? Too many questions, I know!
Apparently Paul felt as though he needed to encourage the Church of Corinth to prophesy. "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy." (1 Corinthians 14:1) John writes in Revelation, "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10) Paul continues on his encouragement to all believers with, "For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged," (1 Corinthians 14:31). "So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues." (1 Corinthians 14:39). The Bible even gives us liberty to judge prophetic words, but does not give us liberty to judge those who prophesy. To insinuate that would make God look like He was contradicting Himself. "Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)
So what can we conclude? To answer this broad base question we must first ask the following questions.
1. Is prophesy relevant today?
2. Is prophesy only a high level of teaching the Word of God?
3. Should we encourage Christians to prophesy?
4. Should we all become cessasionists?
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