Jeff the low stakes prophet

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I recently saw this video from Lutheran satire.

Here are some reflections. First  the video may play into a stereotype of Charismatic prophecy, people talking to their experience and with it the status of their ideas, with a “thus says the Lord”.   Now, it is fair to say that I have encountered people who either in youthful enthusiasm or a life time on the extremes have spoken just like this.  However, there are plenty of people who do not treat prophecy like this.  As far as I’m aware, the creator comes from well outside of a charismatic tradition and even outside of Evangelicalism.  Because of that, the stereotyping to make a point comes across as cruel.  Satire is a risky trade.  I remember that we used to make sure that other people had “change in their pocket” before teasing them.  In other words do  they have the capacity to respond?   Satire at its best challenges and rebukes those with a level of power to respond.  I’m not sure that this particular channel always gets the balance right.  Additionally, it tends to come best from within.  In other words, Lutheran satire is best used to challenge things within Lutherism worthy of satire. 

Second,  I think that because the video comes from outside of Charismatic thinking that it may paint a picture of contemporary prophecy that because it is unfair is dismissive of it generally.  I appreciate that some people will have big questions about the theology and practice of prophecy, words of knowledge etc.  I can fully empathise with this having worked through the question myself over time and having a lot of similar questions.  I think much of the problem comes because people confuse the place of special and of general revelation  

Thirdly,  I think that whatever our theological position on prophecy,  we can all fall into this trap. If you are pointing your finger and laughing at silly Charismatics and Pentecostals,  you may have missed the main points. So let me restate them.

  1. We should not find ourselves or others with things that God has not commanded in Scripture.
  2. We are loved by God in Christ through his death and resurrection so we do not need to find special meaning in the ordinary events of life in order to enhance our worth before God.