So perhaps you can explain to me: how can a revelation from God be false (as most modern "prophecies" seem to be in practice)?
I really can't get my head around Grudem's concept of unreliable yet somehow "from God" non-apostolic NT prophecy.
Radagast,
What causes you to state that a revelation from God is false, as practised in prophecies in contemporary churches?
We do know that there are false prophets in churches. Jesus predicted that would be so. Remember the warning Jesus gave in Matt 7:15 (NIV): 'Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves'.
What will happen as Jesus' second coming approaches?: 'For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect' (Matt 24:24 NIV).
What should accompany the gift of prophecy? Paul told the Corinthians:
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people (1 Cor 14:29-33 NIV).
This is what I do not see very often in Pentecostal-charismatic churches, the gift of discernment used as others with that gift 'weigh carefully' the words of prophecy given to see if it agrees with or contradicts Scripture, is internally inconsistent, promotes mysticism, etc. However, Paul clearly promoted the gift of prophecy:
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified (1 Cor 14:1-4 NIV).
This is what Wayne Grudem stated in his
Systematic Theology (Zondervan 1994). Concerning the gift of “revelation”, Grudem explains that
“a spontaneous ‘revelation’ made prophecy different from other gifts. If prophecy does not contain God’s very words, then what is it? In what sense is it from God?
Paul indicates that God could bring something spontaneously to mind so that the person prophesying would report it in his or her own words. Paul calls this a ‘revelation’: ‘If a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged’ (1 Cor.14:30-31). Here he uses the word revelation in a broader sense than the technical way theologians have used it to speak of the words of Scripture—but the New Testament elsewhere uses the terms reveal and revelation in this broader sense of communication from God that does not result in written Scripture or words equal to written Scripture in authority (see Phil. 3:15; Rom. 1:18; Eph. 1:17; Matt. 11:27).
Paul is simply referring to something that God may suddenly bring to mind, or something that God may impress on someone’s consciousness in such a way that the person has a sense that it is from God. . . .
Thus, if a stranger comes in and all prophesy, ‘the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you’ (1 Cor. 14:25). I heard of a report of this happening in a clearly non-charismatic Baptist church in America. A missionary speaker paused in the middle of his message and said something like: ‘I didn’t plan to say this, but it seems the Lord is indicating that someone in this church has just walked out on his wife and family. If that is so, let me tell you that God wants you to return to them and learn to follow God’s pattern of family life.’ The missionary did not know it, but in the unlit balcony sat a man who had entered the church moments before for the first time in his life. The description fitted him exactly, and he made himself known, acknowledged his sin, and began to seek after God.
In this way, prophesy serves as a ‘sign’ for believers (1 Cor. 14:22)—it is a clear demonstration that God is definitely at work in their midst, a ‘sign’ of God’s hand of blessing on the congregation. And since it will work for the conversion of unbelievers as well, Paul encourages this gift to be used when ‘unbelievers or outsiders enter’ (1 cor. 14:23)” (Grudem 1994:1056-1057).
Oz