"Pilgrimettes"
From
THE PILGRIM
"Pilgrimettes"
From
THE PILGRIM
by
MARK
A. MCNEIL
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you; they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord... I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied... I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour." [Jeremiah 23:16-27].
These selections from Jeremiah 23 only represent a larger number of verses that could be cited from the Old Testament, not to mention the great body of texts in the New Testament that warn of false prophets and deception. All such spiritual deception and false prophecy is accompanied by a claim to speak for God. It is this claim that, at least on the surface, gives legitimacy to the spokesperson.
One need only turn on a Christian television channel in order to be arrested by a series of "stories" in which it is claimed that God has directly communicated with the "minister." Some of the conversations with God that are related give the impression that the speaker has daily conversations with God over coffee or breakfast.
What is wrong with this kind of typical claim to divine communication and instruction? Perhaps the greatest problem is that the speaker has not really had an audible or direct discussion or encounter with God. In other words, upon further questioning, most of those who freely relate their dialogues with God would back away from claiming that they hear the voice of God audibly just as we hear one another in a conversation. Rather, the "voice of God" is heard through spiritual sensitivity. In other words, you have to listen closely to your "spirit" or inner man in order to discern the voice of God.
Upon further questioning it maybe found that his "inner voice" is usually identified with "thoughts" that are deemed means of God's communication. How can one tell the difference between the voice of God and that of the person's own mind? Well, that's a good question. Though I have heard and read after various people who have sought to answer this question, the only real answer that can be given is, "Because you feel or discern that it is so." I have seen enough of this kind of "feeling" and "discernment" to know that it is not dependable. Since the human heart is deceitful, it is therefore often difficult to distinguish between our own desires and purposes and those of God. Since there is no substantial way to distinguish between the voice of God and that of the individual's own thoughts, it follows that one should be quite tentative or at least milder in claims of divine communication.
It seems that whenever someone says, "Thus saith the Lord," and then proceeds to express their own thoughts, an incredible thing is being done. This is especially astounding whenever the person is identifying their own thoughts with divine communication whenever there is no difference between the process by which they are speaking the words of "God" and those of their own ingenuity and contemplation. It would seem to be much safer to say something like, "I feel like the Lord is leading me in this direction or that" rather than to presume to speak for God, as if you are a direct "pipeline" from the heavenly divine to other human beings!
Another problem with speaking in the name of God is that it is, at least subconsciously, a way of removing one's self from the realm of criticism and discernment. That is to say, if God has directly communicated with me and I say that He did, for you to question my words is equivalent to calling God in question. Think of how unspiritual you would look if you argued with God! If the preacher were to say, "I think the Lord is leading me in this direction," there would be some room for counsel and conversation.
Claiming to be a direct source of divine communication not only suggests that one is beyond correction, it also brings about confusion over the locus of final authority. Does authority rest in Scripture or in the preacher who is presently being used as an instrument of divine communication? (Isn't it more "exciting" to listen to someone who receives their message directly from God rather than one who has only labored to understand the Bible?) What if the Bible does not specifically address what a speaker is claiming to reveal by divine information? For example, what if the preacher says, "God has just revealed to me that Johnnie should marry Susan." There is no way to test this statement. What if the message is confused with the desires of the preacher and yet undetected because of his blindness to the deceptive nature of the human heart? Since these kinds of "prophecies" are made today, it is a very relevant question. What kind of authority will I place in modern-day prophecies? How shall I test them? How are they different from prophetic utterances in Scripture? Despite the cries of modern-day defenders of "extra-biblical revelation," the belief that new knowledge is being communicated today by God compromises the authority of Scripture. I have yet to find a way to distinguish between a statement preceded by "Thus saith the Lord" in Scripture and such a statement today. Does God speak in differing levels of authority? Is a "word from God" less authoritative today than it was in Paul's day? Why? How?
The only safe position is to say that the Word of God is to be identified with Scripture. Those who interpret their own thoughts to be God's words need to more carefully consider what an awesome thing it is to claim to speak directly for God. Ministers need to also recognize that they are to be followed and trusted only as long as they preach what is in conformity to God's revealed Word. It is dangerous and irresponsible to claim divine origin for our thoughts since it lowers not only the discernment of the people but also can tend towards bringing deception to the preacher himself regarding the origin of his own thoughts.
Certainly God works among His people today in regenerating and enlightening their hearts to His Gospel. As we reflect on the meaning of the faith as passed on to us in the Sacred Scriptures, genuine light and illumination are received. Does God speak today? We hold that Scripture is sufficient and complete and therefore God does not reveal new truth but He does enable us to reflect on and understand what He has already revealed in the person and work of His Son. It is on this basis that we learn the true meaning of our personal lives and we make decisions based on the pattern of Christ which is to be lived again and again in the life of the Church [Colossians 1:24, Philippians 3:7-8]. If you or anyone else, claims to speak by divine inspiration in the name of God adding to the Word of God based on identifying your "thoughts" with God's Word, my response is that God told me He didn't speak to you! [Jeremiah 23]
"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirits, and have seen nothing!" [Exekiel 13:2-3]
| written by Mark A. McNeil B.A. & M.A. (Biblical Studies / Luther Rice Sem.), MA (Theological Studies / St. Thomas School of Theology), PhD. Student (University of St. Thomas), Assistant Editor/Writer for THE PILGRIM Magazine, and author of "An Evaluation of the 'Oneness Pentecostal' Movement "— $ 3 / Pilgrim Pub. |
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