It’s an election year. Predictions and emotions abound in terms of what November’s outcome will be.
Although a plethora of predictive prophetic messages can be found regarding the election, such messages don’t interest me much.
Here are three reasons why:
- The main purpose of the gift of prophecy is to strengthen, encourage, and comfort Christians as they face trials and difficulties together (1 Cor. 14:3). The main job description of a prophet is to equip followers of Jesus for ministry and help them unite and mature (Eph. 4:11).
- Predictions of the future are not a main theme of New Testament prophecies. Occasionally prophecy offered believers a heads-up concerning upcoming challenges like persecution or famine. Prophetic words served as warnings and prompts for saints to take action on behalf of one another (Acts 11:27-28; 20:23; 21:4, 10-14). That said,
- New Testament prophecies do not center on governmental issues and concerns, nor is there any exhortation for believers to try to increase their power and/or rights. Members of the early church saw themselves as citizens of an other-worldly kingdom. As such, they functioned wisely within the culture of their day to spread the good news of this other kingdom, inviting others into it.
Paul writes,
“As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ…Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:27: 3:20).”
He gives believers a motive to pray for those in authority in this world:
“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:1-4).”
Our perspective needs to match that of the ancient Christians who lived out the faith before us.
Yes, our government is quite different from that of ancient Rome, but we are still first and foremost citizens of another kingdom.
As such, we are to share and live out the gospel with peaceable, godly dignity.
The term for “quiet” (hesuchios) in 1 Tim. 2:2 implies compliance to the law versus resisting it, harmony with others instead of hostility, and peace rather than argumentation.
Let’s circle back to the purpose of prophecy.
Given that New Testament prophecy served to strengthen, encourage and comfort believers, New Testament prophets equipped believers for ministry, and New Testament prophecy was not primarily predictive, here is my conclusion:
Legitimate prophetic words center on building up the church. Prophetic words which focus on politics tend to veer off topic from the church’s main mission.
As we filter through the many prophetic messages available during this election season, let’s employ these useful questions:
- Is this prophetic word in line with the main purposes for the gift of prophecy and the role of a prophet? Does it specifically strengthen, encourage, and comfort believers and/or help them grow in ministry, unity, and maturity?
- If the word is predictive, does it offer believers a specific, doable way for us to help one another in a coming crisis?
- Is the tone of the word in keeping with an attitude of heavenly citizenship, or does it focus on pursuing worldly power?
- Does it promote dignified, godly, holy living, or does it stir up rebellion, hostility and arguments?
Let’s keep our focus as citizens of heaven, proclaiming the good news of a wholly other kingdom.
May our words match our mission.
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I expound on the gift of prophecy and the office of prophet in Prophesying Daughters: How Prophetic Ministry and Women in Leadership Strengthen the Church and its accompanying study guide. The audio book is being edited, and the Prophetic Ministry Foundations video course will be available soon!
Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
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