The “God Card.”
Every where around us people are using the “God Card.” Whether it’s ending/entering/avoiding relationships or justifying heinous crimes or wars, the God Card is the ultimate ticket in/out/around/and everything in between any situation imaginable. The subject matter of “prophecy” in the modern world is something I have been wrestling with for quite sometime. Digging through Scripture. Watching people around me. Listening to those who claim to have a prophetic voice and ear.
In my time in the Word, I find it fascinating the amount of structure given to this Spiritual gift. The amount of painstaking writing given to how dangerous those who falsely use it are. This is serious business. The amount of time spent emphasizing the importance of Love over all the spiritual gifts. Nevertheless the prophetic voice remains there. It’s in the Bible and has a purpose.
For me personally, and I emphasize the personally, I think the Biblical notion of prophecy has been tainted by the overuse and more importantly misuse by the “crazies” out there. Crazies who drop the terms “prophetic dream” ”prophetic word” “prophetic worship” ”prophetic vision” at the drop of a hat. It takes the God inspired awesomeness out of it.
The crazies who use “God’s voice” as a way to skirt around relationships. Crazies who continue to predict the future and continue to be wrong.
The crazies who have manipulated “God’s voice” to pursue personal feelings and desires…HEY THAT’S ME!
There is an excellent article on Relevant Magazine’s web page by Andrew Schwab on the phrase, “But God told me…” It has helped me gather my own thoughts and see them stated coherently in written form.
“Wouldn’t life be easy if God just opened the clouds and told us the answers to these questions every time we were stressed? But most times we don’t get an audible answer. Other times we receive the answer we don’t want to hear, not through a “word” but through circumstances.
“One problem with any ‘God told me’ statement is it becomes immediately divisive. Someone says that God told them that you’re not doing this or that right. Well, if you disagree then you are immediately placed in opposition to God; or at least that person’s view of what God’s will is.”
Now, let me say this, in conclusion: I do believe that God can speak to us. He can do anything he wants, of course. I just don’t think it’s nearly as often as people claim, as evidenced by all the misuse and failed prophetic claims.”
But I would be doing you an injustice if I only picked a single quote or tried to sum it up. Please, go read it. No matter what sentiments you have on the matter. I’m still wrestling.
Read it HERE.
//chet
