"If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deut. 13:1-3).Did you get that? It is quite amazing when you pay attention to all it says.
We start with a "prophet". We are to test this "prophet". How are we to test this "prophet"? This "prophet" offers a sign or a wonder. The test, one would think, is "Does this sign or wonder actually occur?" If so, this is a prophet, and if not, it is a false prophet. But that's not what it says. In the case offered by God in this passage, the sign or wonder actually happens. The test is not the sign or wonder; the test is their words. If they deviate from a prime attention on following God, they are a false prophet.
Perhaps more mind boggling is the "for" statement - the "cause" offered here: "For the LORD your God is testing you." Who? God Himself is offering this test!
We see this actually occurring in our world today. "Christians" come on the scene with "signs and wonders". They claim healings or special power, and they actually appear to do it. I'm not talking about charlatans, false signs and wonders, but apparently real miracles. God says, "What they do is not good enough. Pay attention to what they say."
Popular Christianity, however, tells us to "back off", so to speak. If they are doing magnificent signs, we are told that we are not to put forth our hand against the Lord's anointed. "Maybe you think their theology is wrong, but clearly they are right because they are doing these miracles." And God replies, "The LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
Signs and wonders are not the true test of a prophet -- one who speaks God's words. The words they speak are the true test. Don't be mislead by miracles; they may be a lie, a test, to see if it is signs and wonders you love, or God Himself.
6 comments:
Amazing. I have read this passage many times, but I cannot recall ever getting that before. Yikes! Thank you!
I have a dear friend whose husband "speaks in tongues." I'm still unsure whether or not I agree that speaking in tongues still exists (my church does not teach that the gifts of healing and tongues are still in existence), but if they truly seem to be seeking God, and their life shows it, should I believe them?
When is skeptical to skeptical?
Samantha,
There are some who are "cessationists", who believe that some gifts have ceased. Their arguments are extremely weak. Further, they have created an entire set of "sign gifts" that have ceased without any means of actually classifying them as such.
I think it is clear from Scripture that spiritual gifts can be abused. A lot of what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians was on that topic precisely. Indeed, "tongues" is one of those that was (and is) abused. But because something is abused doesn't mean that it's always wrong.
Normally a person (like the husband of your friend) who speaks in tongues doesn't claim to be a prophet, so I'm not sure they would fall in the category of this post. Nonetheless, the principle is the same. "Sign gift" or not, do their words (and their life) line up with Scripture? That's the real test.
hellow everyone
concerning signs and wonders, one of the things that amazed me was the fact that Jesus was never accused of being a false prophet with respect to his miricals. what i mean is that dispite all the accusations directed at Jesus the one that is missing is that he did not trully perform miricals. this absence of scrutany concerning his miricals screams for attention. when jesus asked the question for what good work do you want to stonee me? they answered, not for the good works, but because you being a man equate yourself with God. so the accusers esentially agree that Jesus is performing miricals. now you know that something is going on when your enemys confess that you are performing miricals...
bob..
Well, this person claims that what they are saying "in tongues" is sometimes prophetic.
But....I'll keep what you said in mind :D
Tongues and prophecy are often linked in the minds of those who use them. Biblically, we see these things:
"One who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit" (1 Cor. 14:2). (Contrasted with "one who prophesies" - 1 Cor. 14:3.)
"one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret" (1 Cor. 14:13).
"If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret" (1 Cor. 14:27).
Churches that practice this rule are extremely rare, even though it is explicit.
1 Cor. 12-14 was directed at a problem at Corinth with the gift of tongues. They had an overemphasis on it. Paul was trying to back them off. Too, too often, those who are in favor of tongues seem to miss this entirely.
All this to offer just one of the measures of "Do their words coincide with Scripture?"
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