Does your church talk much about prophets?

Chances are, if you go to a Charismatic or Pentecostal church, they do a LOT. Otherwise, possibly not.

Some Christians have co-opted this term, “prophet”, to mean people who mysteriously predict the future. These modern day "prophets" are the superstars of some churches (and online communities). After all, who dares argue with an announcement from a church leader when it is preceded by the magic words, "The Lord told me...."

These guys must have special Zoom connection with God. I better listen and obey!

My Zoom device isn't picking up the divine signal. How about if I tilt it this way and squint my eyes?

But Biblically and historically, true prophets spoke out boldly against injustice and exploitation. They spoke on God's behalf when his people went astray and forgot the poor.

Like a good comedian, true prophets punch up. Not down.

The Biblical prophets spoke truth to power, not condemnation to the downtrodden and marginalized.

True prophets in 2022 would be speaking out about the needs of refugees, the homeless, and people in poverty around the world. They would be speaking out against war and violence. They would speak out loudly and boldly against politicians, corporations, and churches who refuse to help the poor and the downtrodden.

(As a fun exercise - have a read through the book of Amos and see how much these words resonate, or not, with the words of the so-called "prophets" of your church today).

There are a whole lot of people who call themselves "prophets" but most of them barely acknowledge poverty, exploitation, or injustice.

Truly they are charlatans.

Jesus knew this, and that's why he warned that there will always be a bunch of false prophets and fake teachers running their mouths off who will "deceive many people" (Mt. 24:11).

In Biblical times, there were two types of prophets.

Firstly, there were those “prophets” who feasted at the King's table because they had been co-opted to speak well of evil leaders (1 Kings 18:19). They were bringing smarmy words of favor and influence and prosperity to the king and his cronies. And the king lapped it up. Like a sucka.

Secondly, there were those who were exiled to the caves, or beheaded (like John the Baptist) because they spoke out about the injustice or immorality of their leaders (1 Kings 18:4). The king didn't like them very much. He tried to have them knee-capped.

So how can you tell the difference?

You will know false prophets by their fruit and their focus. That focus is you.

Some come with a message that makes you feel AMAZING - God is going to "enlarge your tent" and "expand your influence", he's going to "give you great favor" and "bless you mightily"…

Others come with a message that makes you feel FEARFUL, like “the end times are upon us”, “prepare for the apocalypse”, “buy more gold quickly, hide yourself away from the chaos”…

Notice how the focus is always you at the center? Not Jesus or those who are suffering.

[Note: Of course God blesses. Of course God gives people favor, and even gives them influence sometimes. But these were not the main priorities of the Biblical prophets. This did not form the core of their message.]

I would suggest to you that many church leaders today, Q-Anon adherents, and other so-called "prophetic leaders" of the evangelical church have become the false prophets of this generation. We have gone astray.

Let’s instead consider what a true prophet sounds like. Here is a sampling of Biblical prophets just to remind you what they sound like:

“Hear this, you who trample the needy and destroy the poor of the land!”
Amos the prophet (Amos 8:4)
“Seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 1:17)
“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice”
Jeremiah the prophet (Jeremiah 22:13)
“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.”
Ezekiel the prophet (16:49)
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah the prophet (Micah 6:8)
"Thus says the Lord of hosts… do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the immigrant, or the poor…”
Zechariah the prophet (Zechariah 7:9-10)

Got it? It's pretty clear to anyone who has immersed themselves in these scriptures what true prophets sound like. True prophets are not babbling on about the “deep state”, conspiracy theories and Donald Trump. The teachings of many modern day evangelical church leaders just do not resonate with God's heart for justice and Shalom, the way the Biblical prophets did.

So who will you listen to? I invite you to turn your ear towards people who echo the prophets of the Bible, speaking truth to power, and grace and love to the downtrodden.

I'd love to know, who you see as prophetic in this day and age? Share in the comments.

Here's the problem with most modern day prophets...

In Biblical times, there were two types of prophets.