Should a modern day prophet be questioned or criticized?

If the prophet claims they only need to be right a percentage of the time, is it right to question them?

While it is true that we should not reject God’s prophets, that still leaves us with the responsibility to determine who God’s prophets really are. Not everybody who claims today to be a prophet of God can really be one, since they frequently contradict one another. If someone claims to be God’s prophet but teaches false doctrine or proclaims false prophecies, we have every right to reject them — in fact, we must reject them.

Some ‘prophets’ even say that prophecy is only accurate 10-20% of the time, (e.g. Mike Bickle & Bob Jones of the International House of Prayer-IHOP). Because they claim inaccuracy is ok, not only would logic tell us to test them, but the Bible also says to test them (1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Thess. 5:20-21)

In fact some have gone as far as discrediting the Old Testament Prophets, and when they do that and couple it with a 10-20% accuracy level, this opens door for any and every false prophet and false teacher. And ‘coincidentally’ this is exactly what Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses do to legitimize their false prophets, false teachers.

Other prophets will prophesy that if you criticize their prophetic gifting you will “miss God” or that “you are not to touch God’s anointed”. This premise is not only a twist of scripture, but it is very convenient to the false prophet... “Do not criticize me or you’ll miss God”. That is called playing the 'God Card'…in other words, don't question me because then you will be questioning God, and how could a Christian question God?

We need to be smarter than this, and use the discernment skills that God has given us.

We have the Bible… which is divine, (as opposed to being merely human in origin)... God has spoken, and these are His Words, and that the Bible is the only infallible repository of redemptive revelation. And If God has spoken to us divinely…what has God said? That of course is a question meant to focus our minds on learning to read the Bible for all its worth.  

We are called to rigorously test all things, especially if the prophets say we cannot question them, or they admit that they are not even close to being accurate.

“Internet Prophets?”

There are also ‘Internet Prophets’ out there, and they say you can partner with them for upwards of $1000 (no joke). But then say; “You are not buying a prophecy, you are honoring the Prophet. Then, as a valued Lifetime Partner, you are entitled to your (one-time) complimentary personal prophetic consultation”. 

The prophetic ministry doesn’t operate like a gumball machine. You can’t put in a quarter or ($1000)...send a text, e-mail, phone or Facebook message...and out comes a prophetic word. It just doesn’t work that way. The sad reality with the rise of the “Internet prophet” is that some actually have Google Ads promoting how you can get a personal prophecy (even every day). Others promise a prophetic word delivered to your e-mail inbox for the price of a tank of gas. Money in exchange for personal prophecy relegates the prophet to the domain of your local palm reader (who may even be more accurate than 20%).

They would be right in one respect, you are “not buying a prophecy for a $1000”, in reality you are buying into a money making scheme.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for sale, it really is that simple (no matter how they word their disclaimer). Check out Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8), and the story of Gehazi (2 Kings 5).

I know not every prophet is false, but these days there seems to be more false ones than true prophets-who truly understand the office of the Prophetic today. Jesus told us in Matthew 24:11 “Then MANY false prophets will rise up and deceive MANY”. ~emphasis added (view in its context is v3-14) …And this is literally being fulfilled in our time.

We would do well to believe what Jesus told us. And be diligent to test the prophets so we are not one of the MANY who are deceived.

So what is the function of the charisma (gift) of prophecy?

Some look at the charisma of prophecy more like fortune telling...like they cannot hear from God unless they get a 'word' from the ‘anointed’ man or women of ‘power for the hour’…to the point where they don't make a move unless the prophet says so... running to and fro to every prophetic meeting hoping to get 'a word' and sometimes they hold the prophets ‘word’ higher than the Word of God, in fact some may even read their prophetic word more than their Bible, and this can prove to be a pitfall (even if the prophecy is accurate).

In reality, the charisma of prophecy does not impart some previously undisclosed doctrinal truth, nor does it carry the authority of new revelation. Each new manifestation is to be rigorously tested (1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Thess. 5:20-21).

What then is its function of prophecy today? While it may occasionally impart non-doctrinal knowledge of local significance (e.g., Acts 11:27-28), it primarily applies the already-revealed truth of Scripture to the church’s present situation for purposes of “edification and exhortation and consolation” (1 Cor. 14:3). Like all of the other gifts, it is a means of ministry, not new revelation.

I hope this is helpful, and may the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth. ~John 16:13


2 Peter 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.