If someone offered to prophesy over you, many of us know what they mean. In fact, many of us would be itching for that prophecy, eager to hear what that person has to say. Others will be confused. They might be unfamiliar with the language, but nevertheless listen politely. Still, another group of people would be put off by such a statement, and walk away. Depending on your church background, the word prophecy will have different connotations. So there is much confusion around it. Critically, prophecy is a biblical word. Therefore, we can’t avoid or ignore it; we must consider the different connotations and develop a better theology around it.
We can’t ignore prophecy; we must develop a better theology around it.
In this article, my contention is that the prophetic ministry that we observe in many Pentecostal and Charismatic churches today cannot be aligned or supported from the Bible. My aim is to assess the countless claims of prophecy around our continent, comparing them with what the Bible teaches about prophecy.
Should I Even Be Writing This?
Chances are some readers will be wondering: ‘why is this guy worrying about what is happening in other churches? He should stay in his lane and stop judging others.’ After all, as I said above, my focus for this article is what’s happening in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. But I’m not in those churches. So is it even my place to critique them?
We have the right to point others to walk in the manner of their calling.
Firstly, I’m not judging. Nor am I putting out a ‘holier than thou’ signal. No. As believers we have the right to question and even point others to walk in the manner of their calling (1 Corinthians 5:12). If one calls herself a Christian then other Christians have the right and responsibility to lovingly examine her life and doctrine. How else can we encourage, teach, exhort, rebuke and correct one another?
Secondly, we must refute error and submit every lofty opinion to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5-6). We must scrutinise and make sure that any behaviour, view, conviction, and practice is in line with scripture. We must not “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).
Thirdly, love means speaking candidly with others, asking questions and holding believers accountable to their profession of faith. Biblical love promotes what is right and godly, true and God-honouring. Silence or ignorance isn’t love. It’s because of love that I speak—well, write.
Africa: The Wild West of Prophecy
In recent years I’ve noticed a shift in the practises of self-proclaimed apostles, men of God, spiritual fathers and the Lord’s anointed. Previously, there was a major focus on promised miracles, whether that was in the shape of more money, healing, and even raising the dead. But it seems that COVID-19 humbled some to abandon such claims. And they’ve shifted their attention to an aggressive focus on prophecy.
While the promises are muted, prophecy is still focused on people’s pressing problems.
Across Africa, prophecy involves a self-proclaimed authoritative figure claiming to have a supernatural ability and knowledge regarding the future. This gift or office, depending on who you ask, is the exclusive possession of the man of God, the mighty apostle. Using their gift, these men will declare God’s will for his people and their lives. With this special knowledge or foresight, they confidently identify God’s plan for the individual believer. Part of that plan also commands action, to stay on course—not to mention monetary gifts for God’s prophet. In the end, it’s new revelation from God, tailored to the individual, for a small fee.
While the promises of health and wealth are perhaps muted, prophecy is still focused on people’s pressing problems. Sickness and death. Poverty. Abuse. Barrenness. Stress. Battles at work or unemployment. Or just about any sort of misfortune. The man of God claims to have a special power of sight into the unknown or unseen circumstances and causes. By speaking a word of prophecy he offers some kind of solution or necessary action.
What Is the Purpose of Prophecy?
Something isn’t right. What is that? If you listen carefully to the sheer abundance of prophetic declarations across our continent, you’ll notice something. Very few of them have anything to do with loving God, hating sin, and becoming more godly in life and practice. Instead of exhorting God’s people with the truth, these words only sow confusion and even conflict.
Very few prophetic declarations have anything to do with loving God or becoming more godly.
For example, in the workplaces we’re seeing employees ruthlessly competing with each other because of some prophecy of promotion. I’ve seen families torn apart because some prophet identified a relative as the reason for misfortune. Neighbours have become enemies instead of collaborators. Where are the gospel fruits and signs of the Spirit’s work (Galatians 5:22-23)? How can prophecy turn people against each other? Should prophetic words make us hate our neighbour, relatives or colleagues? Surely not. Surely such words are not from God.
My criticism, then, is twofold.
1. Prophecy Should Conform to the Bible
Firstly, most of this so-called prophecy is disconnected from the Bible and godliness. It’s all about finding out what the future holds; it’s little more than fortune-telling. Christians chasing after prophetic words aren’t sitting under God’s word. They desire to discover the source of their problems and what they might do to make them go away. Belonging to a church and general Christian living have nothing to do with these prophecies.
When you look at the first Christians, a central element of the church is preaching. So the early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching when gathered (Acts 2:42). It follows then that the man of God, according to scripture, should be ready in and out of season to preach the word (2 Timothy 4:1-5). His concern should be sound doctrine and faithful instruction—not speculation, myths or fortune-telling. He should be devoted to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation and teaching (1 Timothy 4:13).
When prophecy doesn’t align with God’s truth, it isn’t from God.
Whatever prophecy is, it shouldn’t stray so far from the Bible. “If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed” (1 Timothy 4:6-7). Sadly, those heading up the innumerable prophetic events around our continent are not committed to the things God exhorts. Whatever his title, the man teaching God’s people should “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught,” writes Paul, “so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9).
Therefore, the Bible should always be the central map, plan, message, and God’s declared will. When prophecy doesn’t align with God’s truth, it isn’t from God.
2. The Prophetic Office Has Ceased Because of the Bible
Secondly, to defend their prophecies, some men of God will ignore the New Testament (above) and appeal exclusively to the Old Testament. But the Old Testament prophets also pointed people back to God, exhorted personal holiness, and prioritised God’s written truth. They enforced God’s law. What they didn’t do was come up with all sorts of strangely personalised messages for individual Israelites.
This isn’t to say that they didn’t occupy a unique office. Quite the opposite, God’s revelation through the Old Testament was progressive. This is why we have the recorded teachings of Isaiah and Habakkuk, Ezekiel and Hosea.
Prophecy is to build up, encourage, and comfort believers to walk worthy of the Lord.
That’s why the apostle Peter says the prophets “were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven” (1 Peter 1:12). Just as they were looking forward (1 Peter 1:10-11), in many ways we look back. For we now have the complete, written revelation from God. We have the Bible.
Therefore, prophecy in these “last days” is no longer an office but a gift given to ordinary believers (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11). It isn’t authoritative or novel, but bound to the word of God. Prophecy doesn’t predict the future or identify the source of all our problems. It is to build up, encourage, and comfort believers to walk worthy of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:3).
Devote Yourselves to Prophecy
As I’ve noted, prophecy must be connected to the scriptures. Added to that, the word literally means speaking forth or proclaiming. So we saw that prophecy has encouragement and exhortation as its purpose, rather than fortune-telling or exposing the hidden causes behind misfortune. Prophecy’s right place is in the local church. And it serves to rebuke, teach and comfort.
Prophecy proclaims God’s truth, set forth in the Bible.
As I get closer to concluding, we must consider another important text. “We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). Linked with 1 Peter 1:12 (above), Peter is pointing Christians to what they already possess by way of prophecy: the Old Testament. For their message was confirmed and more fully explained by the coming of Christ and the ministry of the apostles. God’s people, therefore, should be devoted to prophecy; that is, to God’s word in both the Old and New Testaments (see 2 Peter 2:20).
Prophecy proclaims God’s truth, set forth in the Bible.
Discernment Is Crucial
I cannot remain silent on this matter. Nor should you. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12). I’m sure that the devil delights in seeing believers chase after fresh revelations and prophetic utterances instead of God’s life-giving words. We’re fooling ourselves if we think he isn’t at work under Christian and church banners. He is, after all, the deceiver.
When prophecy is breaking apart families, undermining the unity of churches, causing envy, or making enemies—not to mention charging for services rendered—it’s unlikely that such words come from God. When prophecy doesn’t point people to God and his word it’s probably not inspired by the Holy Spirit.
