BOOK REVIEW - "COUNTERFEIT KINGDOM: THE DANGERS OF NEW REVELATION, NEW PROPHETS, AND NEW AGE PRACTICES IN THE CHURCH" BY HOLLY PIVEC & R. DOUGLAS GEIVETT

"Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices in the Church" by Holly Pivec and R. Douglas Geivett is a well written expose of the New Apostolic Reformation (aka NAR). 

You may be uncomfortable with the type of books because of it taking a negative view. I hear you - I don't enjoy books like this. But is it needed? The authors make a good case why. Additionally, in "Chapter 2: Who Are the New Apostles and Prophets," it includes a short auto-bio of the authors, stating why they have concerns about this movement.

Some might take this book as presenting a cessationist view (i.e. that gifts like prophecy and tongues have ceased). However, the authors clearly state that this is not the case, and point out that many Pentecostals and Charismatics are worried about the NAR. 

Two chapters caught my attention. "Chapter 7: The Passionately Wrong 'Bible,'" the authors look at how the recent Passion Bible contain NAR teachings. I was in a Sunday School class where we shared different translations, and at times I brought three translations including the Passion Bible, and the teacher referred to it as "The Hollywood Bible" because of how it read. 

As a songwriter and music lover, I also paid attention to "Chapter 8: Toxic Worship Music." The author point out that a major producer of today's worship music is via a prominent NAR church. Their concerns are that NAR ideas show up in the song, as well as the music creating an interest in the church. Other chapters that would be of interest are "Chapter 10: Deception-Proofing Your Children" and "Conclusion: Joining the Resistance."

Are the authors on target? I would advice reading this with an open mind, praying for God to give wisdom (James 1:5) to know if there is a real danger from the NAR or not.

 

BOOK REVIEW - "DANIEL: FAITHFUL IN THE FIRE" (BIBLE STUDY) BY J.D. GREEAR

 

The Sunday after Easter, a newly formed men's Sunday School class at my church went through "Daniel: Faithful in the Fire" by former Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear While Daniel is known for its spectacular rescues and for the prophetic element, Greear's focus is on the character of Daniel and his friends and how that is a model for our lives.

This book has eight lessons. Each starts with a group discussion. This is followed by a trio of personal studies. There also is an access code that you can use to view the videos.

If you're familiar with Daniel, you're probably aware that it consists of 12 chapters, with the first six looking more at the historical events in Daniel's life, and the latter focusing more on what many (including me) consider to be end times prophecy. You'll then ask what he does to trim 12 chapters to 8 lessons. Disappointingly but not surprisingly, that's because seven of the lessons deal with the first six chapters (two on chapter 1), and the only chapter in the latter six chapters deals not with prophecy but with (absolutely not surprisingly nor disappointingly) Daniel's intercessory prayer in chapter 9. 

I will admit - I do want to deal with the whole book. But again, the book's theme is on us being faithful in a culture that is opposed to everything we affirm and glorify what we consider wickedness. That's definitely a needed theme today.

I highly recomme1d this series for either personal study or for a group.

By the way, isn't the cover art wonderful?

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 40 OF 48 - PSALM 131

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Park (some of these birds are native to the area, like the ducks.

 

1   LORD, my heart is not haughty,
    Nor my eyes lofty.
    Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
    Nor with things too profound for me.
2  Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    Like a weaned child with his mother;
    Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3  O Israel, hope in the LORD
    From this time forth and forever.
        Psalm 131:1-3, New King James Version
 

How often are we guilty of violating verse one of this short and sweet Psalm? No, I'm not saying that your heart's haughty or your eyes lofty. But do we concern ourselves with great matters, with things too profound for us?

Christians have unfortunately done this for centuries. The debate of the relationship of free will and God's Sovereignty/Election has been going on a millennium and a half, and yet I hear people who think they have the final answer on it and why they're right. The same is true in dealing with eschatology (end-times, Bible prophecy) or the gifts of the Spirit.

When I was selecting a photo for this blog, I thought the picture of ducks and swans in the pond (or is it a lake) at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden would picture the calmness in verse 2. Of course, is it completely quiet? That pond isn't far from roaring lions and trumpeting elephants, and it's right by Gibbon Island - Gibbons are known for "singing," but it isn't either quiet or melodious. But as Christians, we can be clam and restful trusting in Christ in spite of all the clamor around us. 

MOVIE REVIEW - THE 7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION: TIMES OF FIRE

 

 

A friend told me about this video as I was preparing a study on the 7 churches of Revelation. I definitely included this film in.

"The 7 Churches of Revelation: Times of Fire" does an excellent job in dealing with Patmos, Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos. Christophe Hanauer does an excellent job going through these communities as well as interviewing several scholars. This documentary not only looks at the Biblical text, but the history of those communities both before and after.

You may notice that I only listed the first three churches and the isle of John's exile. That's right. If you want to look at the remaining four churches, you'll need to get volume 2, "The 7 Churches of Revelation: Times of Deception." I'll admit, I feel gypped, because "Times of Fire" did not mention it the first volume. 

This does not change that this is a great video to watch. It does an excellent job of pointing out the persecution of the church, and makes the point that things haven't changed. 

I highly recommend this video. You can go to their website, https://7churches.com, if you want more information on both films. I'm surprised it's not available on Amazon.

By the way, I'm posting this the night I'm starting to lead a study on Revelation.

WHAT WOULD THE GIFT OF PROPHECY LOOK LIKE TODAY? - A LOOK AT PROPHECY, PART 5 OF 5

The Prophet, woodcut by Emil Nolde

 
Let me repeat this for those who have followed this series: What would the gift of prophecy look like today? 

So why are you looking at me? Do you expect me to have the answer?

Yes, I believe God still can use the gift of prophecy. Have I ever seen it where I'm convinced it is God speaking to us? No. Do I have the gift? No.

There have been times I've been in churches that fit in the Charismatic/Pentecostal category that I have heard someone give what would be called prophecy. Each time, though, it is a positive affirmation that sounds like a blending of Scriptures. Could they have opened their Bible and read a verse with the same message? Yes. As the cessationist rationale I mentioned previously in this series says, "If it agrees with Scripture, it isn't necessary." If it was from God, I believe it would be given for a specific purpose, and I'd sense a power. In fact, my opinion is that the true gift of prophecy would either be rebuke to a disobedient church that they don't want to hear, or a clear promise to those who are suffering something specific. Likewise, I didn't remember what the message was. I think I'd remember if God clearly spoke through a prophet/prophetess.

One thing we need to remember - God chooses the prophets, not the other way around. Some, like Isaiah, say, "Here I am, send me." Others, like Moses, say, "Here I am, send Aaron." (Some may remember this was the title of a 1984 book by Jill Briscoe.) 

Not only that, but remember Jesus saying to the Priests and Pharisees, "Which prophet did your fathers not persecute?" Let me put it a different way: ALL the true prophets were persecuted. Not only that, but they were persecuted by the people God sent them to. If that is true, wouldn't we expect the prophets of the church to not be the most popular members of the congregation? Would you invite a prophet to a party?

My opinion - some people want the gift of apostle or prophet because they want to be considered a spiritual authority. Cessationists have been given ammunition by those who claim these offices. But more often than not, true prophets are ignored. Remember when the remnant from the fall of Jerusalem asked Jeremiah whether they should go to Egypt or not? When the prophet told them to stay there and not go to Egypt, he added that they already made up their mind to disobey. And the remnant said, "God didn't speak to you," and did what they wanted to do.

Would I want the gift of prophecy? To be honest, I'd rather have the gift of encouragement or teaching or helps (to support a brother in the Lord), or maybe the gift of discernment of spirits (though that may not be any more popular than a prophet would be). But if God gave me the gift of prophecy, I'd have the heart of Isaiah. But to me, it's not the gift that matters - it's a desire to be obedient to God.

You have my thoughts. You might agree. You might disagree. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the topic.

P.S. I mentioned in the first blog of this series that most churches operate on two or three of the gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11 for the equipping of the saints (depending if you consider pastor and teacher to be one or two gifts). I made the case for us having a place for prophets. But didn't the gift of Apostle die out in the first century? That's one of three views I've seen dealing with that gift. Church growth specialist C. Peter Wagner defined that gift as being a pastor's pastor, a gift for a denominational leader. A more likely view of that gift is that of a church planter, particularly those who do pioneer missions work and bring the gospel to a people who never heard. If you define the gift of apostle as a church planter, I'd accept it. Because in those case, it's people wanting to fulfill the Great Commission, but not wanting to be considered an authority.

IS THERE ROOM FOR THE GIFT OF PROPHECY IN A CLOSED CANONICAL WORLD? - A LOOK AT PROPHECY, PART 4 OF 5

 

Bishop Blesses a Church, by Marie Ellenreider.

 I've heard of a church that collected the prophetic utterances in the congregation, and consider them equal to Scripture. I noticed a similar thought with Sarah Young's devotionals in the Jesus Calling Study Bible. A new phenomenon? No. The Montanists had the same thought about their "New Prophecy" in the 2nd and 3rd century, encouraging the formation of an official canon.

Let me start by saying that I believe the canon is closed. There is no new Scripture being written today. What is included in the Protestant Bible is sufficient for us.

So is there room for special revelation today? More to the point of this series, is there a place for the gift of prophecy even though the canon is closed?

Allow me to give several points on why I believe in a "yes" to the above.

1. We have the Holy Spirit in us directing us. That is special revelation. 
2.  Not everybody has access to our closed Canon. There are many people groups that have no Scripture, no knowledge of who Jesus is. I have no problem with the sign gifts (including prophecy) being used by God to establish His word now as He did for those who have access to God's Word.
3. Canon comes from the Hebrew word quaneh, which means cane or measuring stick.  Whenever we hear a sermon or a Christian song, let alone what someone is prophesying, I need to compare it with the Canon, just as the Bereans did when Paul and Silas taught the Gospel in their synagogue (Acts 17:11). We should NEVER take someone's word that they're speaking God's truth without comparing it with Scripture.
4. What about those who say that if it agrees with Scripture, it's not necessary and if it disagrees, it's unbliblical? No disagreement about the second clause, but concerning the first: well, does God ever need to repeat Himself? He does in Scripture. The Ten Commandments are given in both Exodus and Deuteronomy. Psalms 14 and 53 are basically identical, the final five verses of Psalm 40 are repeated in Psalm 70, and Psalm 108 is a mixture of the endings of Psalms 57 and 60. There are prophecies that appear in more than one prophecy book. And of course there are two sets of the history of Israel's monarchy and four accounts of Jesus' life. Maybe God wants to remind us of something we should know but have forgotten (either unintentionally or not).
5. Could your pastor be forthtelling God's Word as he preaches? I once filled out an application for pastoring, and it listed a set of preaching styles including one titled "the prophet." They defined that style as one who focuses on contemporary issues and applies God's Word to those items.
6. I mentioned a couple of days ago that spiritual gifts are meant for the local church. Is it possible God has a message for an individual or a local congregation that is more specific to specific circumstances, such as property purchase, a planned ministry, etc.? 

You may agree with me, and you may not. You may have a batch of Scriptures used in context to refute me. But hopefully, I've given something to think about.

SANCTIFIED DEISM, ENTITLEMENT AND LOW BARS - A LOOK AT PROPHECY, PART 3 OF 5

Joseph Interprets Dreams, by Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow

"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." 1 Corinthians 12:11, NKJV

Raise your hands if you believe this verse concerning Spiritual Gifts. Okay, looking into this computer screen I see everybody's hand raised. But do you know what God's will for gifts for the church? Ah, I think I see some hands start wavering. They probably should.

The focus on this series is the gift of prophecy. We need to remember, though, that prophecy and tongues are the gifts primarily focused on in the debate on Spiritual Gifts today, because of their mention in 1 Corinthians 13:8 as failing and ceasing.

If you paid attention to the title, you'll notice my first mention is "Sanctified Deism." Most of you will know that "sanctified" means "set apart." I have a hunch that some of you may not be as familiar with the term "Deism." It is a view that God got this world started, then sat down and watched what will happen. A popular version of that is the song "From a Distance."

I know enough about cessationism to not put everybody in the same box. There are cessationists that believe God is still at work, that the Holy Spirit directs our lives, and that while some gifts have ceased because they were for a sign to the 1st century Jews, God still gives spiritual gifts today. 

However, I've heard some who basically believe the Holy Spirit isn't doing much today. Related - one book pointed out that the Spiritual gifts that haven't ceased (e.g. giving, helps, mercy, administration) can be exercised without the Spirit's activity.

Cessationism puts God in a box. But are Charismatics guilty of the same thing? Yes, it is a bigger box, and God is allowed to do more, but it's still a box. 

I've heard some ask why the early church had gifts like prophecy, tongues, healing, and miracles but we don't. They probably think it deals with not limiting the Spirit, but I hear something else: Entitlement. That we're just as entitled to the showy gifts as they were in Jesus day.

Really? Yes, God is capable of giving those gifts. But is He obligated to? 

One other thing I've noticed from both continuists and Charismatics is setting a low bar on defining the gifts. With prophecy, it is drawing a line between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament prophecy. That line cancels the test of true prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:20-22, where it states that if the prophecy does not come to pass, it is not of God.

I have a friend who has a reason why Deuteronomy 18 was applicable to the Old Testament but not to the New: because we're no longer under Law but under grace. Interesting point, but why did God have that stipulation? Because God's Word is to be trusted to be true, and errant prophesy undermines that image. Has that changed between the Testaments? No. The reason for Deuteronomy is because the word of God, whether written or spoken by a prophet, is truth. 

Believe it or not, I believe that the bar lowering for the gift of tongues is allowing it to be a non-human language. But isn't that allowing heavenly languages? Ah, but how do I know it's a heavenly language? But if, as in Acts 2:5-11, tongues are known languages, then you have a means of verification, just as the listeners at Pentecost knew what was being spoken. 

Related, allowing the speaker of the message in tongues to interpret is another means of lowering the bar. But wouldn't it make sense if God wanted us to have a message, He'd speak it the first time so we all can understand it? 

To me, nothing would be more of an evidence of the Spirit at work than for this guy with a southern drawl to speak in a different language, followed by a Asian lady struggling with English to interpret it, and then this bewildered Hispanic say that the first guy gave a message in the dialect of the South American tribe his parents grew up in, and the lady accurately translated it. 

So let's get back to the verse. Both the cessationist and the one who believes all gifts need to be in exercise today are imposing their will on God. One is convinced God has limited Himself from using the sign gifts today, or in the future for that matter. The other believes God is required to allow the same gifts as He did in the Apostolic Age, and simplify things so it's easier to credit the Spirit for what could be done in the flesh.

SOME GENERAL THOUGHTS ON PROPHECY FROM SCRIPTURE - A LOOK AT PROPHECY, PART 2 OF 5

Belshazzer's Feast, Rembrandt

As we look at prophecy, I'd like to start off with certain observations of prophets and prophecy from the Bible. After all, we need to see what the Biblical record points to as far as prophets if we want to know if prophecy is a part of the church today.

So here are my observations.

1. Prophecy is not a synonym of foretelling. Yes, prophets do have prophecies in the future, but their ministry is at least as much forth-telling. 
2. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 gives an indicator that a prophet of God would have a 100% record in foretelling, and if it fails to come to pass, he's not of God. (Jeremiah 28:7-9 is similar, focusing on prophets of peace.) However, fulfilled prophecy is not proof of the prophet being of God: Deuteronomy 13:1-5 mentions a prophet whose prediction is true but whose message is false.
3. There's a difference in the book orders of the Jewish Tanakh and our Old Testament. The former divides the books into the Law, the Prophets and the Writings (or the Psalms, which is the first book of the Writings); the latter has the Law, historical books, poetic (wisdom) books and prophetic books. The Tanakh classifies some of the books we consider historical to be written by prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings). Also, Daniel is placed in the Writings. Why? While Daniel's book was prophetic, he did not exercise the role of prophet to Israel as the other prophets did.
4. No prophet ever applied for the job. God called them. Some didn't want the job (Moses, Jonah), and Jeremiah wanted to quit, but God was the one who called them. There were schools of the prophets, but nobody from those schools were named, and only one actually did something (1 Kings 20). Likewise, the prophets were not authorities themselves, but spokespeople for and servants of the ultimate Sovereign.
   
5. God chose women as well as men, though they were a minority. However, there was Deborah (Judges 4-5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-22; 2 Chronicles 34:22-28), Anna (Luke 2:36-38), and the four daughters of Phillip the Evangelist (Acts 21:9). The prophecy of the coming of the Spirit in Joel 2:28-32 says "Your sons and your daughters will prophesy." 
6. Approximately one fourth of Scripture was prophetic when it was written. Much of that has been fulfilled; the rest is yet to be fulfilled. How does this compare with holy books of other religions? Well, none of the others have future prophecies. It's like God was saying that fulfilled prophecy was a test of the speaker being of God, and then giving a lot of items to test and say the Bible is of God.
7. The purpose of Spiritual gifts is primarily the local church
   

INTRODUCTION - A LOOK AT PROPHECY PART 1 OF 5

The Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog by Caspar David Friedrich

Are there modern day prophets? 

Has the gift of prophecy ceased? 

How do we determine if a prophecy/prophet is really of God?

Today, I'm going to be starting a series on prophecy. These questions and others will be dealt with.

Concerning the issue of Spiritual Gifts, which includes prophecy, there are three views. These are:

1. Charismatic/Pentecostal - not only are all the gifts still in operation today, but are also an indication of God being at work today.
2. Continuist - while not emphasizing them as much as the Charismatic, they believe that all gifts still exist, as God chooses to use them.
3. Cessationist - believe that some of the gifts were given for the purpose of establishing the church and have ceased upon the completion of the Biblical canon and the death of the apostles. Examples of those are tongues and prophecy.
   

Which am I? Good question. Though my theological training is primarily cessationist, I'm not convinced. I'd probably fall into the continuist camp, though I believe God can according His will cause a gift to cease in a region/local church or for a period of time or permanently.

What reasons are there for prophecy to have ceased? Primarily, because prophecy involves special revelation. I've heard some state that if a prophecy/new revelation is in agreement with Scripture, it's unnecessary, and if it doesn't it's unbiblical. One reason for this view is the belief that the Canon was closed with the completion of the New Testament books and the death of the Apostles. But does that mean that God never uses the gift of prophecy?

Do I see someone raising their hand? Do I hear someone asking if I believe the gift has ceased? I guess I haven't seen or heard the above, partially because I'm typing this in a room I'm occupying by myself, and partially because you're guessing I have my doubts. You'd guess correctly. If prophecy has ceased, then:

• Why is it included as one of the four or five gifts given to help equip the saints (Ephesians 4:11)?
• Why does Paul spend a whole chapter (1 Corinthians 14) to convince us one ceased gift is more preferable to another ceased gift? 
• Why is prophecy one of two gifts mentioned in all three lists of spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12; and Ephesians 4:11) if it is going to be absent at least 95% of the church age? (The other gift is teaching, which is not considered a gift that will cease.)
• Why does Paul tell us not to despise prophecies (1 Thessalonians 5:20) if there aren't going to be any to despise?

While this study will not ignore other gifts, my focus is on the gift of prophecy. Part of it is that there are, as there always have been, those who claim to be speaking for God who are merely claiming their opinions are God's. The other part is that we may not be listening for God when we should. 

Now, some of you already have made up your minds and are already outlining the many ways I'm wrong. Hey, I could be. Or I could be right. Why not let me continue and let you decide where I've got a point and where I don't based on what I write, not preconceived notions? 

BOOK REVIEW - VOICE OF A PROPHET: WHO SPEAKS FOR GOD? BY A. W. TOZER

 

I found this book challenging in a good way. It does encourage one toward a closer walk with God. I placed it in my ten favorite non-fiction list I read in 2021. This is definitely going on my re-read list.

Prophecy (as in the existence of modern day prophets) is a debated issue. My upbringing is in groups that believe there are no prophets after the New Testament was completed, while others believe it is going on today. Tozer's focus doesn't quite fit either camp perfectly. The writing of this book seems to give the impression God still calls prophets, but it doesn't look like what I see in the modern movements that believe prophecy is still going on.

This book was published and edited post-humously by James L. Snyder from sermons and other writing of Tozer. This may not be as strong as Tozer's classics like The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy, but I still recommend it. (I learned about it by seeing it listed in the bibliography of Another Gospel by Alisa Childers.)

Let me get back to the issue of prophecy. I am interested in studying the role of a prophet, and I would find myself somewhere between the cessationists who say the gift of prophecy vanished after the completion of the canon and those who are on the Charismatic side. I'll be dealing with that subject later in the year in my blog (I'll announce that later).

I will admit that I do find myself a little frustrated by the two post-humous Tozer books I've read. However, while I'm not sure I agree with everything in this book, I'm definitely planning on reading it again.