I've been in the Charismatic movement for about forty years now, and I've seen a lot of people who claim to be a prophet. I'd say 95% aren't. A true prophet doesn't prophecy money out of your pocket into theirs. A true prophet doesn't put the focus on their prophetic gift, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. A true prophet will supernaturally see areas where people need correction as well as encouragement. In the late first century there was
a writing called the Didache that addressed the role of the prophet. Apparently false prophets were a big problem back then, too.
I have a beautiful dog which I walk daily. I appear to be under scrutiny by my community in some quarters who are ready to criticize the lead I use with him, the length of the walks, the times and the route of the walks, the time he spends running free.....and anything else they think they can criticize me for.
My dog is happy and healthy and wonderful; he knows his place, he is not overweight, he has plenty of energy.....and besides that he is MY dog, not anyone else's.
The funny thing is, all of the criticisms come from people who don't own dogs: they just want to make me think they know better how
I should do things.
I see exactly the same thing regarding the prophetic. People who are not prophets themselves appear to be an authority on what a prophet is, and what he isn't. They are not short on criticisms of others and to be honest neither do they have the guts to present themselves to the Lord for this ministry, being willing to be used as God sees fit.
If you are a prophet called by God to be so, you do not choose it, you learn what it is all about as you progress.
If you are NOT a prophet, for goodness sake, you are hardly qualified to judge. Ask questions by all means, but do not judge, and do not assume authority over those who are.