what is the role of Prophets in the NT?

Daniel Marsh said:

I read a story today, about someone who was told by a prophet to use their retirement funds to start a business which failed. And, they still think the prophet is a true prophet.

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A few years back I heard a bit of commentary on the "wolf in sheep's clothing passage". In our culture, we tend to depict that as a wolf wearing a lamb disguise. But the ancient Israelite's didn't really have a culture of theater like we have, except for their exposure to the Greeks but even in that case the acting was largely done by masks etc. rather than the kind of costumes we have used for centuries. Anyway the person related the sheep's clothing to the prophetic mantel of sheep skin that ancient prophets used to wear as part of their uniform. And that also make sense when you think about Matthew 24:5, referring to people claiming not necessarily to be the Christ, but to be "anointed".

I got to admit as bad as the Word of Faith movement has been, the worst money grubbing I ever encountered was with the Prophetic Church folks. My best friend really described it well. Stan said he felt like one of the those Looney tunes characters, where someone after money would grab Bugs Bunny or some other character turn him up side down and shake all the money out of their pocket!

Some of what I saw reminded me of this Social Psychology classic book written to describe how salesmen, conmen etc. operate. I have not just seen "Words" used to raise money, but even worse long drawn out pauses going on for minutes.... Where the person is waiting in prayer to hit the magic figure he believes God wants to raise... But in reality this just emotional black mail, because people hate pauses and most don't have the stones to walk out. But once you got one person committed to give that a thousand dollar offering, its easier to get other fence sitters joining in, if for no other reason then to end the ongoing prayer that has been going on for 30-50 minutes....

https://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychology-Persuasion-Robert-Cialdini/dp/006124189X

Daniel Marsh said:

How many witnesses does it take to verify that God called someone to be a prophet today?

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How many witnesses did John the baptizer need?

And what about the "each one has a revelation" statement in 1 Cor 14 by Paul about the church members at Corinth? How many witnesses did each one of them have?

Daniel Marsh said:

How many witnesses does it take to verify that God called someone to be a prophet today?

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It only takes one.

God!

A Prophet does not have to prove he is a Prophet, God will take care of the person who speaks falsely in His name.

Jay Sea said:

Prophets are those who read the signs of the times. The do not tell the future but of a possibility if changes of heart and mind are not made.
The future is the response or not to the prophets. Assuming that the revelation of the "prophet" is judged to be a consequence of current events. If the change of heart or mind does not lead to love and compassion for all or leads to war or attacking others then it is false.

In Love
Jay

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I try to be optimistic, however it get more and more difficult when TRIBALISM RULES and divides the world the God gifted everyone of us no matter where we live, worship, or place in society. We are to be brothers and sisters. I do not want to make another a "Christian" but to bring them into fellowship with a loving community that would accept them as the are pagan, Muslim, Rastafarian or whatever and let the love that we have been gifted by God to bring them into closer fellowship with their brothers and sisters of all faiths on our common journey to the Kingdom. We all hope to share. Remember there are many rooms and we should visit and give and accept hospitality and respect. I look on myself as a world citizen because the whole world is of God and then an Australian as I live there and as Scottish because I was born there. I speak Esperanto as my world language and English as my countries language and a little French and German and Spanish because at various times I have been in situations where those were the languages spoken by those I was among.
God is unity in diversity.
I am frustrated by Dogmas and rules in the churches that do not permit diversity of beliefs and interpretations of scripture as long as the lead to compassion and love and working as brothers and sisters. Not everyone in a family thinks and acts the same.
In love
Jay

John Oliver a Prophet calling out the Unjust!!

in love
Jay