prophetic? or non-prophetic?

[LynnJ]

I believe that the primary focus of any church should be to gather for corporate worship of God and to preach the Word. If prophecy is also present, and if the prophecies line up with Scripture, that's great. But if the focus is primarily on prophecy, then I would question that.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Yeah Lynn you'd know being a pastor. It must all be tested I think.
One church I was part of this lady who always prophesied said the church would grow and flourish, the week later it shut down. There is some risk , but I don't think prophecy has to be followed or obeyed even if it is from God what do you think.

 

[1still_waters]

It's fine to say something like "the bible is all we need", we have the bible, so we don't need prophesy. That's probably true, but look at them, look at the churches that don't live by prophecy. Decisions are made by majority vote of councils, using man's knowledge and wisdom. Many are in debt, and are forced to ask for donations on the street like beggars or conduct raffles or other fund raising events. Sunday schools close, youth groups close. How many of them actually consult God's will on a matter. Should they really have closed the Sunday school because they couldn't afford it, or perhaps it was God's will to keep the Sunday school going, but rather cut costs in other ways, like turning off the unnecessary airconditioning or something. Some get the wrong pastor, and he or she ends up leading them astray. Or they are so set in their ways that the church is the same now as it was 20 years ago. Same programs, same routine, same results. If only they had consulted God's will there situation might be very different. Where are the churches praying and fasting and drawing straws? The lack of personal direction and prophesy in churches opens the way for people like Rick Warren and his purpose driven church to gain foothold.

It's fine to say "see what the bible says", but that doesn't cover every situation, and it is still very much open to personal interpretation. For example, should the church take out a loan from a bank?, should it move to another building?, should it hire this youth pastor or another youth pastor. The bible can't answer those questions usually. Sometimes specific direction from God is required and this can come via prophecy. Whether a known prophet in the congregation or if God reveals the answer to the pastor himself, perhaps the pastor is a prophet or functions in prophecy himself.

Same could be said of churches that live by prophecy. Many times decisions are made because the latest member ate some bad pizza the Saturday before church and had a 'revelation'.

 

[Thaddaeus]

ha, not sure about that. Use the wrong bible version , or you won't know for sure it's right unless you have the right interpretation.I remember once when a guy believed only few would be saved, literally. 6 people max, he was one of them. He took the bible literally, perhaps too literally.

I don't guess he read it all either, hey:

Re 7:9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;Re 7:10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.Re 7:11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,Re 7:12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.Re 7:13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?Re 7:14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 

[Thaddaeus]

Some people who consistently predict the future may be considered prophets. Or they could be psychic ha. Who knows. Prophets and apostles still exist today. But they may be called pastors or missionaries. Apostles are simply missionaries called to plant churches. If Prophets and apostles don't exist today then we have only half a church, or 1/5 of a church if all you have is pastors. That means it's a deficient church no wonder the church isn't growing but stagnant or people going elsewhere. Every part of the body is needed, as long as the church needs encouraging and pointing int he right direction, we need prophets, as long the church is evangelising and planting new churches in unreached areas, we need apostles. We don't just need pastors and evangelists, that's only 2 of the 5 functions in the body. Wheres the apostle and prophet.

Eph 4:11And he gave some,apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
The five fold positions of the Church, or Body of Christ good post Snail

 

[watchmen]

If you mean prophets as preachers/forthtellers yes, if you mean prophets as foretellers, no. Nor are there any apostles today.

Untrue.
Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:



Is the Church perfect? If not then all five ministerial roles are still present today.

 

[watchmen]

I believe in prophets and apostles. I am pentecostal Church of God.

.............

 

[KingdomGeneration]

I believe that the primary focus of any church should be to gather for corporate worship of God and to preach the Word. If prophecy is also present, and if the prophecies line up with Scripture, that's great. But if the focus is primarily on prophecy, then I would question that.

I'm in total agreement Lynn

 

[MaggieMye]

A 'Prophetic church' is a church that believes in prophetic ministry FOR TODAY and allows and welcomes prophecies given in proper form; personal prophecies should be given personally, even privately, and corporate prophecies given to the body AFTER the prophecy has been OK'd by the leadership. A Prophetic church and body understand that prophecies are CONDITIONAL and must be prayed through and activated upon AS THE SPIRIT LEADS. A Prophetic church understand that we are all human and subject to error and that when someone prophesies erroneously, they can go to the cross and repent and receive forgiveness from God...AND the body must extend forgiveness as well. There IS protocol for prophecy. Bill Hamon has some excellent books on the subject. A Prophetic church MUST seek discernment from God so as to not get caught in deception from prophecies given by false prophets: A true word can be given by a false prophet; a false word can be given by a true prophet and it is a prophetically mature leader that seeks to know the difference and what to do about it.
MaggieM

 

[shedrach]

i attend a prophetic church in africa,i see nothing wrong with it,so if a anybody thinks there is something wrong with it he or she should go through the scriptures.am shedrach i would like to know the type of one you go to and i would like you to contact me so that we can have bible [email protected]

 

[watchmen]

Some people think that prophetic church's aren't real church's they believe these people are crazy belivers or it's the devil dressed in white. Many other people believe their are some prophetic church's out there but the rest our misleading people or that church is crazy.



i want to ask you what do you think of this, you as a believer have you experienced being in a prophetic church or a modern day prophet?
My church is Prophetic most stuff that goes on in there is real and i seen prophecies done before in there. YEs i believe but i go to a prophetic church i want to see what other think. But i have to admit some stuff i seen on tv and other places about this topic are false.

Yes there are still prophetic churches, prophets, and apostles, however not all that claim to be so are.