Q4. Healthy Respect for Prophecy

[Onerivertrail]

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Corinthians 14) Why do churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy? What guidelines does Paul give here and in 1 Corinthians 14 to keep prophecy in a congregation healthy?      

 

The early church was new at prophesying and our churches now have new Christians who may give words out of their own wishes or excitement of the moment that was not from God for the people. Words given in haste and words that do not come to pass cause discontent and frustration with the people. They sometimes get the "why bother attitude." Truth is necessary and if its not real some will begin to despise prophesying. Paul gave guidelines to help keep a proper order in prophesying and the prophets are to judge the prophets. He said two or three should speak and the others should weigh the words. This helps to keep order in the body of Christ.    

[sunshine1962]

I believe that prophecy may be frowned upon now, because there are so many people claiming to be prophets. They talk out the side of their mouths and nothing spoken is true or becomes true. We should pray about what is spoken and also read our Bibles for ourselves.

[WinstonY]

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Corinthians 14) Why do churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy? What guidelines does Paul give here and in 1 Corinthians 14 to keep prophecy in a congregation healthy?

 

Churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy partly because of the age of reason and the modern age. This age which began by agnostic rational philosophers who were determined to break the spirit of the church. For 400 years the fight has gone on between church and scientific age thinkers. The agnostics have gradually driven the church thinkers away from the churches strong points and they delightedly debated the churches in their turf of rationalism. Prophecy is one of those things which defies logic and rationalism so the church, in order to appear logical and rational has turned away from prophecy and turned more to a rigorous form of formal sermon- which in itself is a form of rationalism. 

 

  In Corinthians Paul writes:"Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace."  (1 Corinthians 14:29-33a)  In our notes he writes "21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) It appears that the key to successful prophecy is to test the word by the scriptures. Prophecy does not trump scripture and we must pay close attention to the writings of the early church.

[JoanG]

People feel that any prophecy is a sign of evil. They feel that only witches and devil worshippers deal with any type of prophecy. They also feel that the person is crazy if they talk about the future.

 

Paul teaches that we should listen to people but hold what they say up to the gospel and scriptures. If it passes a test, hold it as true. But always listen with thought and discernment.

[lighthouse2014]

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Corinthians 14) Why do churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy? What guidelines does Paul give here and in 1 Corinthians 14 to keep prophecy in a congregation healthy?

Some or most churches today prohibit prophesying . The main reason for this is because they believe that the gifts of the spirit were only for the apostolic church, when they first got established. They have come to believe that gifts are no longer needed.

To keep prophecy healthy in the congregational church, the Apostle Paul commands them to first reflect on the prophecy, then search the word of God. If it is profitable and scriptural they are to be edified by it. If it is not scriptural or of evil content then they are to ignore it.       

[Damary Alembi]

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Corinthians 14) Why do churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy? Because of some bad experiences with people in the congregation prophesying things that didn’t occur or that were doctrinally incorrect. They may have gotten to the point that when someone prophesied in the congregation, there was a negative feeling.

What guidelines does Paul give here and in 1 Corinthians 14 to keep prophecy in a congregation healthy? Prophesy is the Holy Spirit speaking directly to the congregation through the mouth of a gifted believer. Prophecy, when it comes from the Holy Spirit, edifies or builds up the church. Prophecy can sometimes speak directly to an unbeliever who might be present and result in his salvation. When they come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of which must be done for the strengthening of the church. Prophecy can be given and evaluated in an orderly manner. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. Test everything and hold onto the good.

Not to put out the spirit’s fire, not to treat with contempt. Prophecy is for believers and for non-believers.

He advises that everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. For God is not God of disorder but of peace. Paul advices that not to be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

[Reuben]

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 Corinthians 14) Why do churches sometimes despise or prohibit prophecy? What guidelines does Paul give here and in 1 Corinthians 14 to keep prophecy in a congregation healthy?

It is a problem when people in churches start prophesying and are convinced that it is something that is from God, and they have the responsibility to tell everybody. The problem is too many are from the person thinking something or visualising something and not from God. This can cause a weakening in the faith of other believers when they see prophecies not happening. It can also cause disorder id people convinced everything is a prophecy go up on the stage and make continuous announcements. It can also cause bad feelings in the church when someone who wants to share a prophecy are told they can not.

The advice Paul gives makes sense in that we need to be certain, patient and discerning when we allow people to speak prophecies boldly. They need to council the leaders of the church and pray and test the prophecy with scripture before it is announced.  

[Jonathan Edwards]

Very tragic when churches prohibit the gift of prophecy.   Much of this stems from false prophets coming into the church and causing problems.  Mentally unbalanced church members, sad to say, think they have a prophetic message, in essence, they don't a genuine word inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The other problem is that people involved in the occult portray themselves as genuine Christians, but secretly are involved in occult practices.

The other issue is that a number of churches actually believe the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased centuries ago.   History proves that glossolalia, prophecy, miracles, eta have occured throughout the centuries.

Prophets are you speak 2 or 3 messages, letting others to judge whether or not they have spoken the truth.  Basis of judgement is the written Word of God.  Any message in tongues or prophecy not in harmony with the Bible, or doesn't come to pass, then it is to be judged false, the speaker most likely was speaking from his own spirit. 

[Krissi]

There's a huge, socio-theological divide between those who believe that spiritual gifts, or most of them, were confined to the First Century (John MacArthur's Cessationists) and those who believe that spiritual gifts are the leading edge of what the Spirit is doing in the world today (the prophetic/apostolic movement). Cessationists despise prophecy because it represents, to them, errant doctrine, emotional instability and permissiveness in worship -- the apostolic prophetic sorts (AP) are obviously into prophecy as an everyday, not-such-a-big-deal occurrence. For some charismatics, speaking in tongues and prophetically is merely a marker of spiritual maturity.

I have never heard a prophecy or tongues interpreted though have often heard speaking in tongues and prophetic utterances. It seems to me that if someone says something unintelligible, then an interpreter had better be present or it won't edify the body. One of the more common practices in the AP movement, now, is mass speaking in tongues without interpretation. No attempt is made to silence or quiet one's personal prayer language. It sounds like cacophony to me!

This is just my opinion -- i'm not speaking for any group or even God -- but prophecies don't need interpretation as they're usually spoken in the dominant language of the group. Tongues needs interpretation though no one seems to do it. Prophecies need explanation. They're obscure and hard to decipher, at times. I cor 14 provides guidelines to prevent wild and silly excesses in church including the need for interpretation.

What's excessive to me may not be to you. I'm quiet and restrained so some churches that seem out-of-control to me may be  wonderful worship to you. I'm not certain what constitutes unhealthy worship. Recently, I was reading a book on the First Great Awakening and was struck by the descriptions of falling over when saved, tongues, shaking and other spiritual-like behaviors. There's nothing new in what's going on today, huh?