Prophetic or Pathetic Ministry?

by Fred G. London

So many of our prophetic words, dreams and visions are delivered with impunity, sort of "hit and run" tactics, with no sense of responsibility to the word or the people to which it is directed. This lack of personal accountability to these "words" gives rise to ministerial malpractice. This ever growing phenomenon must be called to account and be addressed for the sake of discernment and accurately knowing the Mind of Christ.

With the myriads of prophetic words, dreams and visions posted on various websites, it is high time to examine these so-called "prophetic words" which are quickly compiling a track record of being scripturally unsound, or a "one size fits all" form of soothsaying, rarely coming to pass. "God" is not a "God of confusion," offering scores of contradictory "words," heavy on power and blessing, and lacking in "Christ and Him crucified." Employing the Old Testament criteria for judging true prophets and their words would result in greatly reducing all of this free-wheeling prophetic hype we are currently being inundated with.

In truth, it would almost be comical if it weren't so tragic. Not everyone who calls themselves a prophet is a prophet. Based upon Scripture, it is therefore incumbent upon us to hold these messengers accountable and examine their words carefully, now more than ever. A line by line exhortation of Jeremiah 23 might work wonders in helping to eradicate the artificial and misappropriated prophetic words so commonplace in our day.

It has become arguably a scourge of epidemic proportions, of the "prophetic word" made cheap. These things ought not to be. Can the explanation for this ongoing "Mars Hill" prophetic circus, which continues to grow in popularity, be attributable to a true lack of the fear of God, an overactive sense of self-importance or need to garner attention, and a lack of discernment by many who receive these words? Is it worth the risk of being found naked before God and men? You be the judge!

Sooner or later, someone in the crowd will speak up and declare what should have been obvious to the multitude. "The king isn't wearing any clothes!" Going along with the crowd in order to gain tacit approval or knuckling under to peer pressure simply will not fly. There is no escaping personal responsibility as it always comes down to, "Who do YOU say that I am?"

Here is an analogy. Terrorists are cowards at heart, bomb throwers who use hit and run tactics, who avoid facing their targets directly, do not discriminate between combatants and innocents, and don't consider themselves accountable for their actions. This is what much of the so-called "prophetic ministry" has become, in word and practice. But, it is even more than that.

It is a character issue. It is an integrity issue. It is a heart issue. It is time to come to grips with this matter. It is time to clean house. It is time to repent. It is time to treat this ministry as holy before the Lord. Are we jealous enough to desire to see the reality and purity of the Lord's testimony? It would serve us well to be restored to a healthy fear lest we "speak that which the Lord has not spoken."

What would be the result? It is quite likely that today's glut of "prophetic words" would be significantly reduced and its scarcity would once again cause it to be restored to its rightful preciousness. What should it be worth to us? No less than everything!