On Being A Prophet

I was kind of sad to see Mr. Webb leave.  I have no animosity toward him and I am sure we could have had some interesting conversations.  He mentioned in his last comment that Jonah was a reluctant prophet what is funny is that Jonah and I are alike in that regard.  I am a very reluctant prophet.  I mean who wants to hear that G_d is pulling His hand of protection from our country.  That the church is loosing sight of its first and true love.  And talk about using the “foolish” to confound the “wise”.  Why call a man who has NO desire to go before people and tell them what they don’t want to hear?  Come on, I freeze up in family related social situations to the point other family members ask my wife if I don’t like them.  How well do you think I am going to do with complete strangers?

Mr. Webb indicated that it was his understanding that the prophets ended with Yeshua’s fulfillment of prophecy and that the apostles were a special group of believers with powers directly from Yeshua. Yet just a quick search in acts alone shows that the title of prophet did not end.  What has changed is our understanding of the job of the prophet.  It got rolled up into to office of pastor or preacher.  There are probably a number of reasons for this but I am not that adept in church history or adept in the understanding of how people think and reason to give an accurate accounting of why it happened.  What I do know is that there seems to be a stigma attached to being a called prophet, especially in evangelical circles. Yet even a simple study would show that the need for prophets never really ended.

   

   25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;

   26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

   27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

   28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world And this took place in the reign of Claudius.

   29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.

   30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
Acts 11: 25 – 30

   30 So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.

   31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

   32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message.

   33 After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren in peace to those who had sent them out.
Acts 15: 30 – 33