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

When Bishops Replace Prophets

Thank God for the careful, meticulous approach of the researcher-teacher theologian! Form, logic and consistency are his or her trademark. How the Church needs this, and how wonderful to have this fund of information on tap to be called forth as needed! Nothing can replace the clear exposition of the Scriptures for the instruction and edification of God's people. Prophecy, in contrast, is uncomfortable with excessive constraints and cannot be put at the beck and call of ecclesiastical leaders. Prophetic ora cles cannot be conscripted to time, place or form; they are not served up like hamburgers at a fast-food drive-in. Spontaneity and "givenness" is the very nature of prophecy-and it is as valuable to the Church as the predictability of teaching. Prophecy is the language of higher inspiration rather than of logical exposition and demonstration. It is the disclosure of the hidden counsel of God. Both elements are essential for balance. But the fledgling Church lead ers apparently felt a cap must be put on the prophetic fountain while they addressed present dangers. They must have felt that to allow prophetic activity would only add more problems. 34 The sly introduction of ecclesiarchal authority (the investment of reli gious power in the ruling church leadership) allowed the key leaders to capture that authority for their own purposes, thereby eliminating the need for God's voice in prophetic form. An unspiritual, ungifted bureau cratic leadership arose that put out the gifted leadership. At this point prophetic gifts became identified with the offices of Church leadership, especially the bishops. Although the Holy Spirit was mentioned in prayers, the actual, dynamic, confirming Presence was gone. Unpredictable prophets were exchanged for the very predictable and reliable bishops. If only the two had worked together! But spontaneity was exchanged for routine and religious practices became standardized. With the loss of messianic consciousness came the emergence of ecclesiastical rule. 35 Undoubtedly the increased ecclesiastical authority was thought to be a safeguard. Bishops were created to perpetuate a tradition. But the sacred Presence was sacrificed. 3. Installing Ecclesiarchal Authoriry

4. Ordaining Minister-Priests

Church order and ministry became sanctified through prescribed method and orders. The i]llpartation or exercise of spiritual gifts became sacramentalized and routinized, thereby minimizing any prophetic activ ity. Prophecy must be exercised or it will be marginalized, and this is what 257 8