The Editor, Sir:

Hopefully, the prophetic 'silly season" has come to an end, and now we can consciously and responsibly determine our own fortunes for 2009.

Understandably, people are always curious about the future, especially to secure their personal safety and the well-being of their family and business. Whether political, economic and social pundits themselves believe all they propose, predict or claim, they certainly expect the public to do so, without assuming divine unction.

Not to be ignored are our religious prognosticators who publish their pronouncements with some claim of infallibility. Are they more likely to be right than their secular counterparts? Do they have a source more reliable than others? Although they carry the 'thus saith the Lord' signature, in reality, the results are an embarrassing distraction to the truth and to the integrity of prophets and prophesying.

Columnist Devon Dick's article of January 22, takes the issue beyond the 'silly season', referring with grave concern, to other recent unfulfilled predictions by local churchmen. He fears that, without some clarity, this may lead persons to lose faith in prophecy.

But not to worry. In the Scriptures frequent warnings are given against false prophets and false prophesying, yet God's prophetic word still survives because truth prevails.

TRUTHS ABOUT PROPHESYING

When Paul explains that we only "know in part and prophesy in part", he is not excusing false or inaccurate prophecies, but acknowledging that no one prophet has the whole picture nor the whole truth. Hence, he instructs that all prophecy must be judged.

Scriptures reveal that prophets speak either from their own human spirit, from occult spirits or from the Spirit of God, and sometimes they mix the sources. John, therefore, warns us: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

A mature prophet is one who can discern the difference between his own spirit and the voice of the Spirit of God. The true test of integrity is whether in his pronouncements he can admit the difference. Paul himself distinguished between instructions based on his own opinion and those given as a command from God.

Intuitive gifts, natural to many, are sharpened by experience, academic training or by spiritual exercises. Hence, clairvoyants predict events, soothsayers reveal the fortunes of individuals, diviners interpret dreams and mysteries, wizards and witches control the minds and spirits of others, conjurers consult the dead, and astrologers interpret the influence of astral bodies in the universe. By contrast, the distinctive concern of the prophet of God is the moral, spiritual and redemptive transformation of the people.

The message and the spirit in which prophecy is conveyed are more significant than the words spoken and the images cast. Prophetic accuracy is not in the prediction of "times and seasons which the Father has put in His own authority." It is in His divine demand to "Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Constant scrutiny

In the New Testament, the Spirit of Christ indwells every believer so he can hear God for himself. Nevertheless, the ministry of the prophet remains essential. Along with the apostle, he lays the foundation in church building. He encourages the believer in his faith or admonishes him. Where he publicly predicts, interprets or makes declarations, it is to establish the purpose of God for individuals and for nations.

In biblical tradition, the prophet of God lived in constant self-scrutiny, bearing the burden of the prophetic message with compassion, humility and self-effacement. Most of the prophets were not acknowledged or venerated within their own generation.

Prophets today must constantly subject themselves to self-judgment and remain transparent and accountable to local church leadership, and ultimately to God.

I am confident that God is judging the Church and the nation in such a way as to develop the prophetic ministries and other spiritual gifts for His glory and for the good of all the people. In the meantime, it is my prayer that we will not succumb to prophetic distractions. The above statements are substantiated by scripture references even where they are not included.

I am, etc.,

Bishop CB PETER MORGAN

email: bishop.petermorgan@yahoo.com