Hi Robert
I totally subscribe to the theory you advance, though I fear that the charismatic emphasis on prophecy has cheapened and degenerated the concept, along with those who try to treat the scripture as prophecying the future.
I would go further and say that the prophetic voice HAS to be immediate and relevant: and it is not confined to "church" voices.
With the exception of some lonely voices crying in the wilderness and a stubborn rump of fossilised conservatives, the Christian Church faces being wiped out in the next generation. We are being destroyed by the prevailing view that each individual is free to do whatever s/he wants within constraints only as imposed by society to protect other people's 'rights'. There is no referential standard or imperative that comes from outside of the self. I am not an advocate of a 'laws of God'approach to meeting this challenge because that does not work nor is it theologically defensible.
The prohetic call to the church is to rise to meet this challenge which is destroying not only the church but, inexorably, the whole of humanity. We will only win the war against our extinctioin if we first win the war against the ideology of self-reference.
To achieve this challenge, our first task is to do our theology and do it well, re-interpreting it to meet the situation we are now encountering. Simply trotting out the old formulae doesn't cut it any more.
My blog on re-interpreting Christianity is at http://kiwiprophet.blogspot.com. I have applied to set up a ring on Re-interpreting Christianity.
David
I believe that there are folks that have been given prophetic giftings, etc. just as in the days of old. I do not believe everyone out there claiming this, has them, but also do think that some are the "real mccoy". The thing is, it is a gift or soemthing given by God- not something that people can be taught into. The Word says that we should want such, but not that we all will have such. & Also says to some this and to others that and so on. When rightly fitted together in the Body, then there is nothing missing. Many times, the flesh in people long to "be" something God hasn't necessarily called them to. & The Word also does say there would be many false.
The Lord has worked with me greatly in the way of dreams and visions. Moreso in dreams. Is every dream of God? No. In fact, most probably have not been.
& The last couple months or more it seems as if the things I am seeing are changing. Widening, etc. Before seemed much of what was seen had to do with things going on right around me. Now, not so sure. & The last dream actually seemed like should be very scary. Yet, I had peace & I can think of what I saw and not go to pieces. In prayer about it, meditating about it and waiting on God now.
But- I will say that in my own place there really is not much openings for such things. There really isn't a person or people to talk to about any of it- because quite frankly the few that know don't know what to make of it or have discounted. & So I adhere to thye headship of my own home and that of the leadership= Pastor of my church.
However, the Lord has brought a few in my life from outside my own church who such things are NOT odd to. This, a gift to me. & Greatly appreciated.
I think that overall those looking on go one way or the other. They either don't believe in these things- and think it's all a crock or they are totally over on the other side.
I think when Jesus walked the earth clearly there was both the preaching and teaching the Way- and how to become more like Him------ and alo the miraculous. It was neither all one or all the other. People seem to take the scales off balance.
For me personally, I would like to be able to walk fully the way God made me. I do feel as if I am in a bit of a box. It isn't my will or my timing that needs to break me out though. He will or He won't.
I have seen too much and even been spoken to over the years too many times to not know inside that the spiritual things are just as real . . .
But I believe signs and wonders are to "follow" believers, as the Word states-
They are what happens when we are walking out His will for our life-
& not our own.
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