Another Tragic “Prophetic” Drive-by
“I was prophesied over and called as a prophet to the nations,” said devastated Dave who is ironically working with the nations, sort of, as a delivery boy for an after-hours Chop Suey joint.
Dave, who is hiding his last name out of embarrassment for falling for the world’s second oldest profession – religious huckesterism – was a college student who got involved in a cool new campus church, and got in over his head.
He liked up the upbeat music, the upbeat message. Why, the pastor even made masturbation jokes during sermons! He was soon convinced that he was called as a herald of “the only church doing God’s will” to the nations. The pastor told him that he was “special” to God and he needed to repent of his “education idol” and be discipled for ministry; by him, of course. A visiting evangelist came and “prophesied” confirming his awesome destiny. Praise God!
He abandoned his dream of medical school and soon went to work at a Piggly-Wiggly telling everyone who bought produce that they were “religious devils” in apostate churches and they needed to “come out of her” and join what God is doing now! Dave was a rising ministry star. He was privileged to retrieve the pastor’s laundry, mow his lawn, and assist on street outreaches. He tithed 50% of his income and was perpetually exhausted but it was a small price to pay for attending God’s “special” church, the “cutting edge” of all ministry today.
Soon, he combed his hair like the Shepherd, walked like him, and even had the same multi-syllabic inflections and intonations whaa-henn-nah he spoooo-keh a-boouuuttt Je-EE-sus. To follow Christ, you had to follow the pastor without question, right? Questioning is a form of rebellion. Doubt is of the devil. Besides, what true disciple had time to really study the Bible with the entire world to win? And didn’t the Apostle Paul say something about following him if you want to follow Christ?
Due to another prophetic word from the Pastor, Dave was encouraged to immediately marry a girl in the church as a sign of his commitment. 2 weeks later she was pregnant. The baby was premature at 8 months though it looked normal enough. And wow, talk about the miracle of unquestioning submission to headship, the baby looked exactly like his Pastor-Discipler!
Surely God moves in mysterious ways.
Ten years later Dave is delivering Chinese takeout, his credit is ruined from medical bills he could not pay since he was only making just above minimum wage when, uninsured, leukemia killed his son. Worse, bone marrow screening revealed the child was not his. He and his estranged wife are divorcing but no matter, she ran off to join her Pastor-lover who was suddenly felt “called” to the foreign mission field.
David said quietly, “God did not heal my son. I just don’t understand. I spoke the Word of Faith without wavering. And I am called as a prophet to the nations. I really am. Or was I?”
Dave, known better as Dysfunctional Dave by former friends and estranged family members, was a victim of a drive-by prophecy. He talks about going back to school to start over but the Prozac makes it hard to stay coherent.
He is struggling to reconnect with his parents and the old friends he alienated with his obnoxious behavior. A few of the more insightful of them finally realized that there is a difference between being humbled and being totally shattered, and are trying to reach out to him in redemptive love. And as for his God? On that thorny point, Dave is simply silent…
If you receive a “personal prophecy,” check it against the Bible. Don’t listen to someone’s opinion of Scripture. Read it for yourself. God will always confirm his leading for you – to you. If a prophetic message violates the character of God, does not line up with the clear teaching of Scripture, or if you have no inner peace about it, ignore it. And the only mediator between you and God is Jesus himself. You’re made in God’s image; trust yourself.
Discipleship will lead you to be transformed into the image of Jesus, not the image of a flawed man. And if a man can give you your destiny, a man can take it away.
Don’t become the victim of a drive-by prophecy. It can ruin your eternal life.
We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you… 1 Thessalonians. 5:12
Bryan Hupperts © 2009
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Comments
By Beth on February 10th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Shaking head… Your article is spot on. Some of us in the charismatic movenment have been the victims of drive by prophecy. It happened to a guy who thought he was told by the Holy Spirit to marry a girl right away. They ended up divorced.
The Bible says to test the spirits. It is a much needed lesson for the Christians to learn. Times are going to get worse and Christians will go through much fire. Let us be found faithful to Jesus and His written Word.
By Vicki Carr on February 10th, 2009 at 11:34 am
So sad, but true in content …
This was brilliant!!! Thank you for exposing this, informing the naive, and offering wisdom and truth that sets one free!
By BS on February 13th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Well this is right on. People take advantage of people who
who are codependent. These types of church leaders are leeches
B
By schpsy on February 13th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Well let me more general in my thinking then some church leaders take advantage of people who are unknowledgable of the tactics that people use to take advantage of other people. What goes around comes around in a way I feel sorry for church leaders that do this.