WHERE IS THE PROPHET?
by Donald Norbie - Greeley, CO
In many situations it would have gone undiscovered. Christians would have rejoiced over their generosity and they would have smugly smiled. But the piercing discernment of prophecy flowed in that congregation. Peter confronts Ananias in the moment of truth. With blazing eyes and cutting words Peter says, "You have not lied to men but to God" (Acts 5:4), and Ananias falls dead at Peter's feet.
Awesome, isn't it? God's holiness is proclaimed and man's hypocrisy is laid bare. No wonder fear and reverence gripped the whole assembly. Their God was not a God with whom to trifle.
Today sin may go undiscovered for years in a congregation, or if known it is quietly ignored. People might be embarrassed; families might leave. Better to say nothing and hope it will go away! No wonder the church is often powerless, and the butt of the world's jokes. Church discipline in many quarters is a historical antique, not a living experience.
A man becomes a church leader, affluent, urbane, influential. His family seems to be a model of propriety. But for many years he has been seeing another's wife in clandestine, furtive meetings. Finally after all these years he is exposed. One might wonder, how did it go undetected so long? Those who had suspicions or knowledge – why was nothing said or done? Perhaps we need to pray more for a discerning spirit, a prophetic spirit, which will sense and expose evil that God's people may be holy.
Then there is the spirit of Corinth where sin is known but ignored, a fearful condition. When Christians should have been broken and repentant, they were arrogant (1 Cor. 5:2).
Where are those who, like the prophets, will point the finger of God's judgment and say, "You have lied. You have been immoral. You are an adulterer. You no longer can continue to lead God's people?"
The Scripture is still true: "Pursue holiness without which no one can see the Lord" (Heb. 12;14).
From Milk & Honey, 3/84
