Ask the Pastor

By Pastor Scott Denham of Harvest Fellowship, Shambaugh, IA

Clarinda Herald Journal Publication Date : 08/29/2007

Don't Just Take My Word For It

            “How credible is a prophetic word, the words of angels, words I hear in prayer, etc.? How much stock should I put in them, compared to what is written in the Bible?”

            Christians have the great privilege of hearing God's voice and being guided by Him (John 10:27). Rarely is God's voice "audible." Rather we experience it through an internal prompting—a “small... voice behind you” (Isa 30:21; 1 Kgs 19:12).  Often, we can't explain exactly how God speaks to us, only that we are certain that He has. Henry Blackaby says somewhere that we shouldn't get hung-up on “how” God speaks, but rather appreciate that He does speak. That's the important part.

            Now, what taints this precious privilege are all the wacky things attributed to God, that He never said. Joseph Smith encounters an angel (so he says), and a cult is formed. Mohammad, meditating in a cave, believes the angel Gabriel visits him, and another false religion is born. God speaks to your Uncle Ernie, and now he's sitting on a mountain in a white robe, eating locusts and honey, and awaiting the return of Christ in a UFO.

            Like it or not, people can have outlandish notions and do a lot of things in the name of “Gawd.” Strange doctrines made their way into the early church, and much of the New Testament is devoted to doing “damage control.” Paul the Apostle, warning against error, writes in Galatians 1:8; “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”

            No matter how stunning and supernatural an event (like angels appearing), if the message brought is contrary to the gospel, it is to be shunned and the messenger “eternally condemned.” That's strong language! It’s Strong, because to change the true message is to alter the way of salvation—a salvation that comes to us through divine purpose and holy blood. God does not take perversions of the gospel lightly.

            No matter how eloquent, learned, and spiritual a preacher or prophet may be, the authentic ones invariably say, “Don't take my word for it; but search the Scriptures and see for yourself.”  We must be like the Bereans who, “were of more noble character... for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true”” (Act 17:11).

            If a message is true, it will hold up under scrutiny. 1Thessalonians 5:19-22  says, “Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”

            From these passages I conclude that we are to be open to the many ways God speaks to us, but we are not to blindly accept purported “revelations” without first seeking Scriptural support. If the “word” proves inconsistent with the clear, plain, and simple teachings of the Bible, then it is to be rejected. But, of course, don't just “take my word for it,” see what the Bible says!

--Pastor Scott (www.askpastorscott.com)