My Reply to Brandon's First eNews article on Prophets

I had intended to put a note here saying that I had just submitted a reply to Brandon's eNews article, Helping Prophets Relate to Their Community, but I submitted the reply and went out with Evie to run a few errands and, by the time we returned, the reply had already been published.

So, it's there for you to read.

In my reply, I praised Brandon for his references to Scripture. And, noted, as I so often do, that We Believe and our Statement of Faith, as I said it, "dictate" that the Bible be our only rule of faith and practice.

They do...and so often our leaders ignore that truth. So, good for you, Brandon!

Beyond that, I provided a survey of New Testament truths about the importance of being called to be a prophet and of the gift of prophecy that, at least in this first article, Brandon ignored. Among them:

The story of the ministry of Jesus actually begins with Jesus's prophet forerunner, John the Baptist.

The "Sermon on the Mount" includes instruction on how to deal with prophets and prophecy.

The Book of Acts contains many references to prophets travelling from place to place in groups or as individuals and speaking to individuals and churches and even the apostles.

The Book of Revelation contains letters dictated word-for-word to John functioning as a prophet.

...............

And, I focused on one of Brandon's Scripture references, 1 Corinthians 14:29:

"Two or three prophets should speak and others should weigh carefully what is said."

Brandon didn't quote the command, but did emphasize the importance of the body weighing carefully what is said.

I pointed out that Paul commands that, when disciples come together, a minimum of two prophets speak and that no more than three words be given.

In a church world that cherishes its sermons, preached by members of its clergy class for its laity to consume, becoming people who live in the Spirit and who embrace prophets and prophecy and allow for two or three prophets to prophesy and, as Paul does, allow one prophet to interrupt another...

...will be one of the "great challenges" facing the CGGC as we seek to be obedient to the Word.

...............

Anyway, I knew this eNews article was coming.

What Brandon says reflects the APEST literature available in the last 20 years or so. Honestly, to me, its more church, and less Kingdom, focused than it should be.

It's about prophets functioning within the church, not above and beyond it, as more frequently portrayed in the New Testament.

But, at least, it brings prophets and prophecy into our conversation.