Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

When Bishops Replace Prophets

The Montanist Movement

The Montanist movement deserves special notice in that it represented the most significant manifestation of prophetism in the post-apostolic age. This influential movement eventually spread to all corners of the Greco Roman world, bringing significant pressure on the mainline Church of the day.A significant achievement of Montanism was that in the first years of the third century it made a convert of one of the great thinkers of that day, Tertullian.His capable presentations broadcast the tenets of the move ment throughout the Christian world. In some ways Montanism resembled the charismatic movement of our day.History has an interesting way of repeating itself, and I think the les sons from the Montanists can be of great value in the renewal of today's Church. David E. Aune feels that "in general, Montanism should be viewed as a renewal movement within the second-century church...." 23 The Montanist movement had its beginnings in the latter part of the second century, about A.D.172, in an obscure, mountainous area of Phry gia in Asia Minor.It took its name from its founder, Montanus.Von Camp enhausen calls it "a volcanic revival movement," 24 a spirited movement within Christianity that drew many people because of its sincere enthu siasm and claims to the supernatural.By the end of the second century it had reached the province of Africa. Although it was later branded heretical, the Montanists were ortho dox in their theology, agreeing in all essential points with the early Catholic Church. 25 The new movement was above all a prophetic movement that raised its voice against a worldly Church and an unspiritual leadership. It was the first major movement that demanded reform. Philip Schaff points out that Montanism was not originally a departure from the faith but a stressful emphasis on morality and discipline: "It was an excessive supernaturalism and puritanism against Gnostic rationalism and catholic laxity." 26 Montanists encouraged women in prophetic ministry, banned second marriages, exercised a stern and exacting standard of morality and discipline, courted martyrdom, believed that a literal millennium would begin shortly and that Jesus' Second Coming was near at hand. The biggest controversy came in the area of spiritual gifts.Montanists claimed that the Holy Spirit (Paraclete, as in John's gospel) was now oper ative in their meetings.They affirmed the continuance of prophecy and that they were, in fact, experiencing true prophecy. 27 But the Montanists preferred to believe their prophets more than their bishops, which irri tated the church leadership.Also, their tenet that spiritual gifts were avail able to all believers constituted a veiled threat, in that any layperson could use prophecy to challenge the lifestyle or teaching of the clergy.So critics 253 •