The Folly of Denying the Prophetic

Let’s be clear: the way many of our churches operate today is hindering the full expression of God’s Spirit, specifically regarding the vital role of prophets. I’ve heard this dozens and dozens of times from faithful people: “My pastor doesn’t believe in the prophetic.” Have we become comfortable, perhaps too comfortable, in our routines and our carefully controlled leadership structures, often sidelining or ignoring the very voices God intends to use to guide and correct us? One of the mandates FHM operates under is to see the prophetic come into the mainstream.

Let’s ask the question:

Where in Scripture is the leadership of the church exclusively the domain of the pastor? The early church was built on the foundation of apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20). God spoke powerfully through prophets throughout the Old Testament, directing kings and nations. To suggest that this divine pattern has been entirely superseded is a dangerous assumption.

We have erected walls of tradition and human qualification, often prioritizing seminary degrees and institutional approval over the raw, unfiltered voice of the Holy Spirit speaking through those gifted with prophecy. We meticulously vet and control, while the very word of God, carrying the fire of divine truth, is often deemed too disruptive, too unpredictable for our liking.

Let us not conveniently forget the stark warnings: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20). By creating environments where prophetic voices are unwelcome or unheard, are we not in danger of actively despising what God Himself might be trying to communicate?

The pastor has a critical function: to shepherd, to teach, to provide pastoral care. But the prophet has an equally essential, though distinct, calling: to speak truth to power, to challenge complacency, to unveil God’s perspective, and to call the church back to its divine mandate. These are not mutually exclusive roles; they are complementary parts of a healthy, Spirit-filled body.

To deny prophets legitimate access and influence within our congregations and leadership is not humility; it is a form of spiritual arrogance. It presumes that our current understanding and leadership structures are exhaustive of God’s will and wisdom. This posture risks leaving us spiritually deaf and blind to crucial truths and necessary course corrections.

Therefore, we must actively dismantle the barriers that prevent prophetic voices from being heard and heeded. We must move beyond a model where only one type of leader holds the primary platform. Test the spirits, yes, rigorously (1 John 4:1), but do not preemptively silence those whom God may be raising up to speak with His authority.

Open the doors! Open the pulpits! Open the leadership meetings! Let the prophets speak. Their voices, when genuinely from God and properly discerned, are vital for the health, growth, and direction of the church. We must repent of any spirit of exclusion and embrace the fullness of the gifts God has given. The church today desperately needs the unvarnished truth and the visionary insight that authentic prophetic ministry can bring. Let us not allow our comfort or our traditions to silence the very voice that could ignite revival and bring transformative power to our midst.

Reflection and Call to Action:

As we reflect on this important matter, let us humbly consider how we can better embrace the fullness of God’s provision for His church. I offer the following five points as a starting point for prayerful action and discussion:

1. Cultivate Understanding through Education: Resource our congregations and leaders with teachings on the biblical understanding of prophecy, its purpose, and its appropriate function within the church today. This could involve dedicated studies, sermons, or recommended reading materials that explore this vital gift.
2. Foster Environments of Discernment: Create safe and structured spaces within our church communities where individuals who believe they have a prophetic word can share and have their insights prayerfully and biblically evaluated by mature leaders. This requires humility, open communication, and a commitment to testing all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
3. Encourage Dialogue and Relationship: Facilitate conversations between pastoral leadership and individuals recognized as having prophetic gifts. Building trust and understanding through relationship can lead to a more collaborative and Spirit-led direction for the church.
4. Develop Clear Guidelines for Integration: Prayerfully establish clear, biblically-based guidelines for how prophetic insights can be shared, considered, and integrated into the life and decision-making processes of the church, always under the oversight of pastoral leadership. This ensures both the freedom of the Spirit and the orderliness of the church.
5. Pray for the Spirit’s Empowerment and Wisdom: Above all, let us commit to fervent prayer for the Holy Spirit to move powerfully within our congregations, raising up and equipping all the gifts He desires to bestow, including prophecy, and granting us the wisdom to discern and steward these gifts for the building up of His Kingdom.

May we, with open hearts and discerning minds, seek the fullness of God’s Spirit and embrace all the ways He chooses to speak to His church.