Prophets and You
During the past two weeks, we have read about two great prophets of the Old Testament, Elijah, and Elisha. Both were involved in some miraculous and frightening events. Both men solved complex problems for people who regarded them as men of God and raised havoc and destruction for those who chose to go a different way, mock or threaten them.
We live in circumstances that are far removed from these accounts in the Old Testament, but the principles that undergird the actions of the ancient prophets are as relevant today as in the past. Could you imagine what would happen if the prophets of our time employed the same methods as Elijah and Elisha? I think there would be a pile of ash where the offices of a certain local media outlet once stood, and there would be mass executions of those who openly defy the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But that is not the case. God, in His infinite wisdom, deals with people in a manner that is suited to the circumstances and culture of our time.
One of the criticisms we hear from those opposed to religion is; If God is unchanging, why do we have constant and sometimes even contradictory changes in the messaging? Or why do church policies change when dealing with complex issues in our ever-changing cultural landscape? These are valid and understandable criticisms if you think God is the only part of the equation. However, you must also understand that these patterns of change are due to us, not God. Even we, as flawed mortals, are smart enough to realize that you have to adjust the methods you use to teach principles to the learner’s age, capacity, cultural environment, experience, and intelligence.
So, how do we process the messages of prophets? If we use Moses and the children of Israel as an example, we know that the instruction God intended to give the people was not how it ended up. They received the lesser law that was eventually superseded by the teachings of Jesus. But here is a question that needs to be asked: Were there individuals who recognized the higher law implicit in, the lower? Were there people who could see the Savior’s atonement in the blood sacrifices on the alter? I believe some could differentiate the implicit intention behind the message or the spirit of the law over the letter of the law.
When the prophets speak today, do we take the Pharisaic, dogmatic letter-of-the-law approach, or do we look for the underlying principle or spirit of the law? Sometimes the letter and spirit are one and the same because the conditions of the people and culture are such that explicit instruction will not be rejected out of hand. God knows that even his plan will fail if people are not adequately prepared to accept and live it.
It is always problematic to follow prophets blindly unless you have no previous experience or knowledge of the subject of the instruction. Still, even then, humble questioning is preferable to blind obedience. After all, is it even possible to learn the principle or spiritual foundation of prophetic utterances without acting with thoughtful intention?
Another criticism that is presented to diminish the prophets’ messages against those who the critics see as sheep is a misunderstanding of the doctrine of agency. They think ‘free agency’ means that you should be able to go your way and do your own thing regardless of what the old man behind the pulpit says. While agency –moral agency– trumps everything else or at least is at the pinnacle of the principles list, it does not excuse us from the instructions we receive from the prophets. If we reject the teachings of prophets based on ‘nobody tells me what to do,’ we do so at our peril.
If we believe that prophets speak for God and that God knows the end from the beginning, we demonstrate superior judgment when we listen, spiritually verify, and act on the counsel of prophets. Matters, both spiritual and secular, are fair game for prophets to address, and God is interested in helping us navigate the troubled waters in which we find ourselves.
The world is full of turmoil, and we need help to right wrongs, defend and promote individual liberty, stand for the voiceless and disadvantaged, and restore civil discourse. I believe we need to listen to the implicit messages of prophets. Because of the litigious nature of our society, even the prophets need to walk a very fine line to avoid putting the church at risk of reprisal from hostile agents in the seats of power. Even Jesus had to use cautious speech when asked about Roman taxation of the Jews to avoid cutting his mission short. What I am getting at is that the prophets may not be able to say explicitly what needs to be stated, and it is incumbent on us to be close to the spirit to discern what we need to do.
The Danger of Interpretation and Justification
The improper interpretation of prophetic scripture has been used to justify some of the most horrific historical events. Twisting prophetic guidance in the Old Testament as justification for genocide is an example. However, the danger for us may be in the little things. We could argue that because we have been taught ‘family first,’ frequent family activities on the Sabbath are more important than worshipping God. In my opinion, that shows improper prioritization and a lack of creativity on our part. You don’t have to choose between one or the other. In this scenario, you should be concerned about creating a more permanent separation from God. That makes family bonds temporary, not eternal, and that is not the intention of the justification.
The words of prophets used out of context can and are used as fodder to justify almost everything. That is why understanding the underlying principle, coupled with a spiritual verification of your interpretation, is critical. If you think you may be treading in dangerous territory, you probably are. Proceed with caution. If you see yourself deviating from prophetic counsel for whatever reason, stop and carefully consider the worst-case scenario because it will probably happen. In the Old Testament, Elijah burnt up the dissenters. For us, it could have generational and eternal consequences that are far worse.
Conclusion
I know that some of us would like to hear “Thus saith the Lord” more often or see fire come down from heaven from time to time to teach someone a lesson, but that is unlikely. God knows what we need and when we need it. Because of the agency God gave in the beginning, he will only intervene in that manner in hopeless situations. Until then, he gives us prophets. It is up to us to know how to hear what is being said.