Many are trying to pick up the prophetic mantle and speak for God today. Just recently, well-known Pastor / Author, and Oprah Winfrey protégé’, Rob Bell, announced that if the church did not conform to modern cultural views and beliefs, it would be increasingly irrelevant. When did Rob Bell become the protestant Pope? Who ordained him to speak on behalf of God about the precepts and dictates of Heaven?
Since the early days of Judaism – and later Christianity – people of faith have contended between the voice of God and the voice of the world. For millennia there has been a struggle to determine right from wrong. Modern culture tells us that the Bible is full of fairy tales to scare children into obedience. Worse, many well-known seminaries and Bible colleges have been infiltrated by teachers who see the role of scripture as a mere suggestion. Many have relegated God to a force of energy rather than a person who is interested in all that concerns us. They drill well-orchestrated demonic doctrines into the minds of future preachers, who then, all-too-often, carry those lies into their pulpits. These views are a far cry from what the Bible tells us about itself.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” – (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT)
Over the centuries since the books of the Bible were carefully and prayerfully chosen, there has been a word to describe the divine collection. This word, “Cannon” came from Latin and means “standard” or “measure.” It conveyed the idea that scripture is a standard by which we should live our lives; a measure by which we can judge whether or not we are truly in the faith.
Faith cannot be re-organized like a social club. Scripture does not lend itself to modification. If God is truly God; if He is all knowing and all powerful; if He is perfect, then how can His views evolve? Don’t misunderstand, OUR faith evolves as we attain a greater understanding of God and His Word (illumination,) but God never becomes someone different than He has always been. He never strays from whom He has already revealed Himself to be (revelation).
As our personal understanding of faith changes, it must never contradict what He has already said. He is the God that changes not (Mal 3:6.) Contemporary religion has birthed many who speak for God without first hearing from Him. These self-appointed prophets will one day learn that their stirrings came from their own infected spirits.
When we – by choice or laziness – perceive God differently than Scripture reveals Him to be, we are no longer serving the One true God. The image we create in our minds, is not the God of the Bible but one fashioned in our own image and likeness – one that we can control, rather than the One we must serve.
Is this our goal? Do we really want a God who is no bigger than our imagination or impulses? Do we want a god who is constrained by the imagination and dictates of the progenitors of modern culture who have given us our current state of affairs? God forbid!
Holy Father, raise up true prophets to this generation who hear and speak only Your Word. Amen!