Comments on: Prophecy http://nathangann.com/?p=84 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:14:10 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Derek http://nathangann.com/?p=84&cpage=1#comment-46 Derek Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:26:36 +0000 http://nathangann.com/?p=84#comment-46 Nathan, you write: <em>Prophecy is not just recognizing contextually relevant ecclesiology, and then making correctives. Catalysts for change, from so many diverse sources today, are not the same thing as prophecy either</em>. I see where you are coming from in drawing a distinction between missional changes and prophetic utterances. Prophecy is not just making outward, programmatic changes. Painting a picture of what prophecy looks like today is tough. It is like trying to nail Jello to the wall. There is the specific gift of prophecy that is given for edification, but I don't think that is where your thinking is leading us. A prophet is something (someone?) bigger in terms of scope and sphere of influence. I would say that prophets are agents of change...revolutionaries of sorts. Prophets in the biblical sense proclaim a spiritual change, a call towards repentance and God-likness. When I think of prophets I think of the the "prophetic voice." Prophets are much more akin to leaders in that they give direction. This is a better mode of operation rather than the popular forms we see in Robertson and others. My thoughts for the night... Derek Nathan, you write: Prophecy is not just recognizing contextually relevant ecclesiology, and then making correctives. Catalysts for change, from so many diverse sources today, are not the same thing as prophecy either.

I see where you are coming from in drawing a distinction between missional changes and prophetic utterances. Prophecy is not just making outward, programmatic changes.

Painting a picture of what prophecy looks like today is tough. It is like trying to nail Jello to the wall. There is the specific gift of prophecy that is given for edification, but I don’t think that is where your thinking is leading us.

A prophet is something (someone?) bigger in terms of scope and sphere of influence.

I would say that prophets are agents of change…revolutionaries of sorts. Prophets in the biblical sense proclaim a spiritual change, a call towards repentance and God-likness.

When I think of prophets I think of the the “prophetic voice.” Prophets are much more akin to leaders in that they give direction. This is a better mode of operation rather than the popular forms we see in Robertson and others.

My thoughts for the night…

Derek

]]> By: Stetson http://nathangann.com/?p=84&cpage=1#comment-38 Stetson Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:39:54 +0000 http://nathangann.com/?p=84#comment-38 I enjoy your writing and the clarity of thought in your blogs. It makes me want to focus more when I write mine. That is something I haven't done in a while. Anyway... The great temptation IS to give the church a verbal spanking, but if we were to spank anyone it should be ourselves. Church is not a business of pay your tithes and leave. I think we could benefit greatly from understanding Christianity from the more Jewish perspective of a nationality, a corporate identity of the heavenly kingdom, rather then the business. Which if we do, we are forced to Kennedyize ourself and ask not what the church can do for my kingdom, but what can I do for my church. Like you say prophecy calls us to responsibility for what we do generally in the corporate sense, but more specifically in the individual sense. Repentence, service, charity, etc. I enjoy your writing and the clarity of thought in your blogs. It makes me want to focus more when I write mine. That is something I haven’t done in a while. Anyway… The great temptation IS to give the church a verbal spanking, but if we were to spank anyone it should be ourselves. Church is not a business of pay your tithes and leave. I think we could benefit greatly from understanding Christianity from the more Jewish perspective of a nationality, a corporate identity of the heavenly kingdom, rather then the business. Which if we do, we are forced to Kennedyize ourself and ask not what the church can do for my kingdom, but what can I do for my church. Like you say prophecy calls us to responsibility for what we do generally in the corporate sense, but more specifically in the individual sense. Repentence, service, charity, etc.

]]> By: Jesus Creed » Weekly Meanderings http://nathangann.com/?p=84&cpage=1#comment-35 Jesus Creed » Weekly Meanderings Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:56:07 +0000 http://nathangann.com/?p=84#comment-35 [...] 10. iMonk has a thoughtful post about the temptation to quit. 11. A new blog I’ve seen; this post on prophecy has some good ideas. 12. Those struggling dinosaurs who were bugged to [...] [...] 10. iMonk has a thoughtful post about the temptation to quit. 11. A new blog I’ve seen; this post on prophecy has some good ideas. 12. Those struggling dinosaurs who were bugged to [...]

]]> By: Nathan Gann http://nathangann.com/?p=84&cpage=1#comment-33 Nathan Gann Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:10:46 +0000 http://nathangann.com/?p=84#comment-33 Steven, I don't know, maybe the jury is still out on the state of the church? Although I do know the Church is beautiful, and statistics aren't everything, but the trends aren't exactly music to my ears either. Rick, Jesus and later Paul talks about them being killed, which might be under the heading of unkind! They certainly weren't the most popular group. Prophets today? I don't expect a guy eating locusts, or a "Thus saith the Lord," but I don't know if we will receive/recognize them because they're like a mirror. Who likes that?! My big question was, where are the prophets today? I know they're out there. Naturally your question is next, which is, will we listen? Five-fold ministry? What was Paul up to? Cheers. Steven,
I don’t know, maybe the jury is still out on the state of the church? Although I do know the Church is beautiful, and statistics aren’t everything, but the trends aren’t exactly music to my ears either.

Rick,
Jesus and later Paul talks about them being killed, which might be under the heading of unkind! They certainly weren’t the most popular group.
Prophets today? I don’t expect a guy eating locusts, or a “Thus saith the Lord,” but I don’t know if we will receive/recognize them because they’re like a mirror. Who likes that?!
My big question was, where are the prophets today? I know they’re out there. Naturally your question is next, which is, will we listen?

Five-fold ministry? What was Paul up to?

Cheers.

]]> By: Rick http://nathangann.com/?p=84&cpage=1#comment-32 Rick Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:12:47 +0000 http://nathangann.com/?p=84#comment-32 The author of Hebrews tells us that many OT prophets were treated unkindly. Are we sure we will recognize 21st century prophets? The author of Hebrews tells us that many OT prophets were treated unkindly. Are we sure we will recognize 21st century prophets?

]]> By: Steven http://nathangann.com/?p=84&cpage=1#comment-31 Steven Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:18:34 +0000 http://nathangann.com/?p=84#comment-31 RYC, not sure...I half feel like there's a hundred better things to do with my day (although I have no such feelings about a primary - I still remember the margin of victory of the mayor of my hometown (18-15) - if my wife and I had voted for the incumbent instead of the challenger, the incumbent would've won.) I wonder about the state of the church, but know that people with more time on their hands and a good understanding of the 'macro' picture are more the people to ask...like Kinnaman/Stetzer/Barna/etc. RYC, not sure…I half feel like there’s a hundred better things to do with my day (although I have no such feelings about a primary – I still remember the margin of victory of the mayor of my hometown (18-15) – if my wife and I had voted for the incumbent instead of the challenger, the incumbent would’ve won.)

I wonder about the state of the church, but know that people with more time on their hands and a good understanding of the ‘macro’ picture are more the people to ask…like Kinnaman/Stetzer/Barna/etc.

]]> By: Beth http://nathangann.com/?p=84&cpage=1#comment-30 Beth Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:02:51 +0000 http://nathangann.com/?p=84#comment-30 I liked your dreads post... funny! I'll sink my teeth into your more thoughtful posts later when I've had another cup of coffee. Too much to take in for a stay at home mom in the middle of sesame street and cleaning the house. As for the smoothies, here is my recipe: 1/2 C non-fat plain yogurt 1 cup milk (we use 1%) 1 cup frozen fruit (frozen makes it thicker, if you use fresh fruit add some ice along with it) 2T sugar free pudding mix (any flavor you like, the cheesecake flavor is very yummy in a smoothie. This ingredient flavors, sweetens and thickens.) 2T ground or milled flax seed Blend it all together and you'll have one large or 2 small smoothies. If you're nervous about the sugar free pudding mix you can use the same amount of regular pudding mix but we are ok with the artifical sweetener so we use the SF stuff. There are endless flavor combinations with this. Our favorites are Chocolate pudding mix with peanut butter and bananas, Cheesecake pudding mix with strawberries and Lemon pudding mix with frozen peaches. The lemon and peaches combo comes out really, really thick and almost tastes like sherbert or ice cream. That's Emily's favorite. We also like vanilla pudding mix with mixed berries. OK, enough domsetic stuff, I've gotta go take care of my pre-schooler! See you soon, I hope! I liked your dreads post… funny! I’ll sink my teeth into your more thoughtful posts later when I’ve had another cup of coffee. Too much to take in for a stay at home mom in the middle of sesame street and cleaning the house. As for the smoothies, here is my recipe:
1/2 C non-fat plain yogurt
1 cup milk (we use 1%)
1 cup frozen fruit (frozen makes it thicker, if you use fresh fruit add some ice along with it)
2T sugar free pudding mix (any flavor you like, the cheesecake flavor is very yummy in a smoothie. This ingredient flavors, sweetens and thickens.)
2T ground or milled flax seed

Blend it all together and you’ll have one large or 2 small smoothies. If you’re nervous about the sugar free pudding mix you can use the same amount of regular pudding mix but we are ok with the artifical sweetener so we use the SF stuff. There are endless flavor combinations with this. Our favorites are Chocolate pudding mix with peanut butter and bananas, Cheesecake pudding mix with strawberries and Lemon pudding mix with frozen peaches. The lemon and peaches combo comes out really, really thick and almost tastes like sherbert or ice cream. That’s Emily’s favorite. We also like vanilla pudding mix with mixed berries. OK, enough domsetic stuff, I’ve gotta go take care of my pre-schooler! See you soon, I hope!

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