Discernment

While reading the Pyromaniac, I stumbled across a profound statement.

I let you in a little on the background. Phil is attempting to discuss the very real difficulty with false prophecy. Of course it quickly moves into any topic other than the simple one I just mentioned. Although he has tried to set a boundary the conversation takes on a life of its own. The main point though seems embodied in the following bit.

Whether you are a cessationist or not, you ought to be able to see that fatuous predictions which never come true are false prophecies, not legitimate spiritual gifts. And false prophecies are irrefutable proof that the mouthpiece who utters them does not really speak for God. If the contemporary church including both charismatic and cessationist believers cannot come to grips with that fundamental reality, then the only spiritual gift anyone ought to be seeking is the gift of discernment.

Frankly, we have an overabundance of professing prophets and tongues-speakers these days, and precious few men with real discernment.

The post is found here, and the comments afterwards, are in many ways amazing. Bits of scripture that come out have challenged me. Not necessarily specifically in how I view modern prophecy, but more in the manner of my attitude towards my view point.

I believe that Phil's simple statement about discernment is so true. We assume as Christians that the gift comes with our faith, no questions asked. Further, if and when this gift is applied, it quickly comes under fire for not being loving or caring, or the feel good phrase for the week. It is rarely accepted as wise advice, and is always open to debate.

Now I don't mean to imply that love is not important, and that the testing of those words that claim to be discernment, is wrong. These acts in themselves are discernment. Just do not let them cloud the truth, for fear of falling into the same fate as Hannaniah.

(back to prophecy) In the time of Jeremiah there was another prophet named Hannaniah. Hannaniah was a false prophet and suffered the fate of death. (Jeremiah ch 28) There was no tolerance for error on God's part. Should there be from us? Or should we look at discernment a little more hardily.

In OT prophecy (not that I'm any expert) there was quite a pattern. It is one that I have never seen followed to this day. It was not reactionary. This is evidenced in the previous passage in verse 11, when it states that Jeremiah went his way. It also took into account a pattern of short term, long term. Evidenced again in chapter 28 v 13-17 in which Jeremiah speaks of Hannaniah's death and the long term effects on the Israelites. A true prophet would show that he spoke the truth of the long term, by providing a short term bell weather.

This, to me, begs for more than a small amount of discernment when it comes to modern prophecy.

As the Apostles states, desire the greater gifts.