In recent years, the prophetic movement has been plagued by a lot of scandals. The one involving Mike Bickle and IHOP-KC left many with unanswered questions. It shook the foundations of the prophetic movement and rightly so as some of the foundations the movement was built on wasn’t right.
However, the more recent ones involving (false) manufactured words of knowledge by Shaun Bolz and a few others and how that this was a common practice amongst well-known figures in the prophetic movement from way before has brought the credibility of the entire movement into question.
Now, people are justified in questioning the movement’s credibility due to its many obvious errors. On the other hand, however, just because there have been errors, it need not necessarily mean that the movement itself was totally false from the very beginning.
I am grateful to God for my years in the prophetic movement, as I learned a great deal from that experience. At the same time, I was disturbed by some of the excesses at that time and felt that a drastic course correction was needed even then (wrote a series of articles based on those concerns as early as 2008/2009 Where is the prophetic movement today? – 1 – Cross Visions)
It is greatly painful and deeply grievous to see where the movement is today with its many missteps with (still) little being done to address or correct it.
This article aims to highlight the movement’s credibility without excusing its mistakes. This is not a full defense of the prophetic movement as we will also examine reasons for its current state.
A one sided perspective: – Today when critics of the movement gather their information, it is always negative. While the instances and the examples may be true, for every mistake there could be four or five instances where accurate words were given from the Lord and people were blessed as a result. It is important to have in mind that a few 4 hour videos talking about the mistakes of a person or the movement do not give a proper perspective; a perspective in its entirety of a movement or the person’s ministry that has spanned over 40 years or more. If the people who were blessed came out and testified, we would have hundreds of hours of testimonies.
I am saying this because I was blessed powerfully by the prophetic movement several times personally and I/we have seen hundreds of people blessed firsthand when prophetic ministry (tables) was done.
I’m not totally criticizing those who highlight issues but believe equal or greater attention should be given to listening to those positively affected by the movement or a person’s ministry (not Shaun Boltz) also. It should be shared along with the negatives to bring a balance, that those who see and read also can have a balanced perspective.
We may sometimes become so influenced by our negative perspectives that we fail to consider positive things, always perceiving others or an organization through the filter of our preconceived negative judgments. The opposite is also true where one can’t see anything negative because of an overly positive mindset and it is one of the main reasons for the deviation of the prophetic movement from its course,
Now those bringing things to light with good intentions must be appreciated as some of the mistakes have been covered up, hurting many thousands for years together. On the other hand, if not careful in bringing a balance when bringing things to light it will close many people to the genuine giftings of the Spirit and the men of God who function in them.
A narrow perspective: Many readers who read through Israel’s time in the wilderness come out with the perspective of God as angry and judgmental or at the most that He revealed Himself as such because of His Holiness and Righteousness. They only attribute those characteristics to God primarily,
However, in Deuteronomy when Israel was about to enter the promised land, God says “as a man (father) carries his son; so, I have carried you in all your ways till now”. A completely different perspective altogether. Also, when God introduces Himself to Moses on the mountain, He describes His nature and the first four aspects of it has to do with His Love.
So, why are the different conclusions? This happens from failing to understand the text in its entirety. It can also be if we have a tendency towards negativity and are judgmental.
Israel’s time in the desert was for 40 years and cannot be properly understood and processed within a 40-minute read. Yes, Israel was judged 10 times, but it was in the span of 40 years.
God kept performing several powerful supernatural miracles for them despite their rebellion. He was manifest among them for 40 years; every day, all the time; as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He faithfully guided them, shielded them from heat and cold and guarded them. He made sure none of them fell sick all through the 40 years and He made sure that the dresses and the sandals they wore didn’t wear out at all.
He faithfully provided for them every day in the morning and evening for 40 years despite their rebellious nature. They had around 14610 miracles in the morning and 14610 miracles in the evening over a span of 40 years. It goes beyond ones comprehension as to the goodness of God displayed in the desert towards them.
When we bring all of those things into the context it shows how greatly, greatly loving and merciful God was and we can see properly as to why God said He was a Father to them all those years. He took care of everyone of their physical and material needs and intended to meet their spiritual needs also.
Now the above spiritual truth may not apply in its entirety in relation to that of the prophetic movement but the general principles behind it do.
About the prophetic movement as much as there are glaring errors and some of them very concerning, there have been plenty of times where God has moved powerfully through the movement and many have been blessed. Prophetic ministers’ accurate words of knowledge and words of prophecy have helped many in making the right decisions in life and ministry.
Rick Joyner’s prophetic books, the quest and the call and others have blessed many thousands and reshaped their understanding of God and their foundations to that of Biblical standards. The prophetic movement played a vital role in bringing forth the truth that everyone can prophesy and not just that, from it laid the foundations for the understanding that all believers can operate in the gifts of the Spirit.
Its interpretation and application of 1 Corinthians 14:3 (though fundamentally flawed) brought healing and restoration to many who needed it. Many were strengthened in their faith in God to move forward in life. There are others who can certainly add more to what is written here positively about the movement.
Dearly beloved, even if there comes a time where the whole movement turns apostate, it doesn’t negate in any way the many good things that came out of the movement! Our heart should be thankful on one hand but on the other filled with love and intercession that God restore the prophetic and apostolic movements to the level of glory He has intended for them in the New covenant. It will happen but whether from within or from those without, time will tell.
In the upcoming articles, we will examine the causes of some of the errors that were brought to light recently.
TO BE CONTINUED
