The Bethel Controversy: Should you believe it when someone says, “The Lord told me to tell you…?”

Part of the controversy now surrounding Bethel Church is about a speaker they hosted (not one of their own leaders) who pretended to “prophetically” know things about people in the audience when, in fact, he’d been checking their Facebook profiles for personal information.

His deception was exposed, leaving many people wounded, confused, or at least wondering if there is any such thing as true prophecy.

In light of this they’re asking, “Is prophetic ministry phony? Is it dead? Should we ever believe someone who says ‘God told me’ or is the whole thing so messy we should avoid it altogether?”

Let’s try unpacking this.

This is the second in a Series on questions the Bethel controversy raises.
To read Part One: “Should Miracles Be Our Priority?” click HERE

1. Prophecy is Biblical

Some are claiming that this dishonesty recently exposed is proof that true prophesy doesn’t exist. But the misconduct of a man claiming to be prophet doesn’t nullify the reality of prophecy, any more than the misconduct of an evangelist nullifies the reality of evangelism.

From the time God referred to Abraham as a prophet (Genesis 20:7) the prophetic has played a huge role in Israel’s development and history, with entire books of warning, promise, and prediction featured in the
Old Testament.

In the New Testament, prophets and their messages are highlighted in the Gospels (Matthew 11:9; Luke 1:67-79) and the Book of Acts (Acts 11:27-28; Acts 21:4.) The office of Prophet, along with instructions on exercising the gifts of prophecy and the word of knowledge, is also verified in the Epistles. (Romans 12:6; I Corinthians 12:1-29; Ephesians 4:11)

So to deny the existence and importance of prophecy, you have to deny whole chapters of the Bible.

2. But No Prophet is Infallible

In Scripture, the Prophet is classified alongside (not above or apart from) the Pastors, Evangelists, and Teachers. (Ephesians 4:11) So although prophecy within the church (described by Paul as divinely given words of exhortation, edification, or comfort) is wonderful, the person who prophesies is no closer to God, nor spiritually remarkable, than anyone else.

This needs to be emphasized because it seems common in some circles to refer to people with prophetic gifts in extravagant terms: “Man of God,” “Astounding in prophetic ministry,” “Amazingly attuned to the Spirit.”

Yet church history has shown that too often, as in this recent case, the accolades given the prophet were not just inaccurate, they were damaging, in that they fed into the entitled narcissism that allows anyone to continually lie and manipulate in the name of the Lord.

This is nothing new. In I Kings 13, a man was told by God to deliver a message to Judah’s king, and not to stop for food at any time on the way,
or back.

But an older prophet met him and told him that he, being a prophet himself, had been told by God to tell the young man to come into the older prophet’s home for dinner. It was a bold-faced lie, but the young man seemed to think, “Well, this guy’s an established prophet, so he must know better than me.”

God sent a bear to kill the young man for not hearkening to the word that was said to him, and for taking the word of someone else instead. A prophet’s lie ended a young life.
 (I Kings 13:24)

God spoke through Jeremiah of such men, saying:

“I did not send these prophets,
Yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
Yet they have prophesied.”
(Jeremiah 23: 21)

So let’s remain leery of anyone who positions himself as the prophet who knows best, or who hears better from God then we can, or who allows himself to be is extravagantly praised. That’s a setup for disaster.

3. Therefore Prophecy Should Be Judged
When someone speaks a Word of Knowledge (I Corinthians 12:8) or a Prophecy (whether a prediction, a warning, or a message of comfort and encouragement) it should be seen as a good thing (I Corinthians 14:1)

Of course, a prophecy needn’t sound “prophetic” to be real. It’s simply a message God has laid upon a person to speak, either at a gathering or to another individual.

I happen to think, for example, that the late Billy Graham often spoke prophetically, without any dramatic flourishes or “Thus saith the Lord” preambles. What matters is that the prophetic message is spoken plainly, clearly, and in a non-disruptive way. (I Corinthians 14:40)

But even then, its authenticity should be judged.

First by the Bible, since God never will contradict Himself, and the infallible Word always takes precedent over any human message. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

Second, by leadership in the church. If a prophetic word is spoken in public, the church’s leaders, according to I Corinthians 14:29, should judge not only whether or not the message is Biblical, but also whether or not it is applicable. In some cases, they may determine the message was not relevant to their church at that time, and their judgment should determine the validity of the message.

Third, it should be judged by the individual to whom it is spoken.

The doomed young man of I Kings 13 learned the hard way that just because someone says “The Lord told me to tell you…,” that alone doesn’t prove the Lord really did.

Certainly, words given from God through one person to another can be helpful, encouraging, edifying. I’ve experienced that myself many times, and I sincerely thank God for each of them. That’s Body Ministry, and that’s Biblical. (Romans 12:3-8)

But prayerfully judge, as well, by asking yourself a few questions:

1. Was the word spoken to you aligned with what God has already been speaking to your own heart?

2. Does it point out something you need to pay attention to?

3. Do you feel a peaceful assurance about it, something often called
“bearing witness?”

By all means, let’s stay open to what other Christians have to say to us, especially when they claim their words have been laid upon them by God.

But let’s also remember the human element in all forms of ministry, prophecy included. Not all who claim to be prophets are prophets, and when a real prophet says “God told me,” it’s still possible that he got it wrong.

So remember the Lord’s promise: “My sheep hear my voice.” (John 10:27) None of us hear God infallibly, but if God wishes to speak to you, He’s quite able to help you hear, in that still small voice within, that it is indeed He
who speaks.

Or, as my first pastor Chuck Smith used to say, “God’s got my phone number. He knows where to reach me.”