Legend has it that this author once considered himself cessationist, but the story goes that that was due to a misunderstanding of what ‘cessationist’ means, and that he is more accurately described as a careful continuationist. Some say that on a dark night, if you spin around three times and shout ‘prophecy has ceased’, that you can still hear him saying ‘amen!’
That was a tangent, but we mention it simply for disambiguation: this article is not about the spiritual gift of prophecy that Paul talks about, which this author earnestly believes is still active today (though much of what we call ‘prophecy’ is anything but).
This article is about being prophetic in the Old Testament sense. What do we mean by that? When you read the Old Testament, and especially the history and prophets, you see countless instances of a King or nation about to do something foolish and ungodly, and then a prophet of God who comes before them and warns them to change course, to follow God’s statutes, and to walk in righteousness, lest God’s judgement fall upon his people. Sadly, 90% of the time God’s people ignored his prophets, and then only after they made a royal mess of whatever they were doing, did they seek God with a humble and contrite heart, and experience his faithful mercy.
Essentially, being a prophet is like being a canary in a coal mine, or a watchdog, or a road-sign. A prophet speaks God’s truth to his people. He is bold, he is unafraid of scorn (and expecting much of it), and he is unashamed in relying on God’s word when calling his nation to repentance. Brothers and sisters, we are entirely persuaded that if even half the Christians who try and fail at giving ‘prophetic words’ to their brothers and sisters had the boldness and tenacity to be prophetic in the OT sense, our nation and our church would be far better off.
John the Baptist lost his head for telling the politicians of his day that their actions violated God’s law. John was not in error. He was not violating some concept of ‘separation of church and state’. No, he was actually showing great love to Herod by showing him the error of his ways. We all ought to be ready to confess that Christ is Lord, and to keep making that confession in the public square, not just in our churches and living rooms.
Here’s an encouragement for you: Jesus specifically taught that you are blessed when you endure mistreatment for his sake and for his words. Here’s another encouragement. Whatever your eschatology, we all confess that there will come a time when Christ reigns fully and directly on Earth, and that the obedience of his statutes will be a blessing to the nations. That’s the end we’re working towards.
For a final note, let’s return briefly to the Old Testament. God’s word clearly shows that God doesn’t just deal with individuals for individual sin, he also deals with nations for national wickedness. Gentle reader, if you are Australian or American, then your nation openly endorses and finances the worship of Molech (via modern abortion), Mammon (through our consumerist greed), Gaia (via Extinction Rebellion, and the ‘climate catastrophe’ eschatology), and many other timeless pagan gods.
Yahweh does not change, not does his standard of justice. He wasn’t some angry God who was just angry until Jesus arrived but has now cooled off. He is perfect in all his attributes, with no shadow of variation due to change (James 1:17).
So, hear this next point, and heed it well. We have tallied up an unimaginable record of bloodguilt and wickedness in our nations. God has been extremely merciful and patient to let our nations continue in their peace and prosperity as he has. It would be no surprise at all to us if tomorrow he said ‘the hour has come, the sins of the Australians have reached their fullness, I will extend my hand against them, and against their land, for 10 generations.’
Things are not fine. We need to get prophetic. Don’t be afraid, you don’t need to make up new doctrines or words from God. Just tell your town and your nation what God has already revealed in his word.
Not everyone will go from collecting stamps one day to open-air preaching the next day. Start small. Be prepared to give a defense for your worldview, and to advocate for justice and righteousness in the world (i.e. obedience to God’s law). It is time to stand up for the unborn, for the poor, for the voiceless and for the resident alien. It’s time to call your nation to repentance and faith.
Distilled Orthopraxy 