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In Reply to: a really great repost posted by porceleindoll on May 15, 2002 at 02:23:10:
Also of equal importance, in my opinion, is when Paul says, "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." (1.Cor.13) ・ These verses follow the "Body of Christ" chapter in which Paul is talking about prophecy. These verses state very clearly that prophecy is "in part" ・not complete. In the same chapter he also says "whether there be prophecies they shall fail." So Paul did not hold prophecy to be the infallible Word of God.
So, taking all of this into account, you guys can draw your own conclusions.
As far as my personal beliefs regarding prophecy and the way it is used in the Family:
1) I do not believe that when God bothers to speak to us, He only gives us half a message or uses a message to trick us. If God is our Father, and if God loves us so much that he gave His only Son to die for us, then I do not believe that God would say, "Yes I want you to do this and that" and then, when you do it and nothing works out, you ask Him about it again, He says, "I had to trick you in order to get you to do what I wanted". This is the explanation that is given repeatedly throughout the GNs for why certain prophecies don't come true, or why there are "seeming" contradictions (oops, they're not really contradictions, it just wasn't a full picture and we need to go back and ask again) in prophecy, etc. etc.
If that's the way God talks to us (in little bits and pieces depending on what questions we ask) then we can just chuck out the entire book of Revelation, upon which we are basing our Endtime beliefs. How do we know John got the full picture? He did say don't add or take away a word from this book, sure, but how do we know HE got it right. Maybe he only got half of it and didn't go back and ask again. Oooops. But hey, it sure made a lot of zealous missionaries out of a lot of people, so even though it wasn't a complete picture, God got a lot of serious mileage out of it and it fulfilled His purpose in giving the revelation. (Current Family members, please excuse the sarcasm. It's late, my eyes are burning and I should be getting some sleep while my baby is sleeping, but I'm getting carried away here・.)
For the Family members who are reading this and don't think that this is how these inconsistencies have been explained, I am open-minded and I don't have the time to scour through zillions of pages about prophecy. Go ahead and prove me wrong with hard text to back up your case.
2) I believe the Lord has given Family leadership prophecy as a toy, much like the He has given (or so Family leadership have said in prophecy) the other churches their little "toys" (i.e. getting slain in the spirit, speaking in tongues, holy laughter, etc.) to make them happy.
3) The Family leadership has used prophecy to bolster their position in the eyes of their flock. Without prophecy, there would be no King Peter, there would be no "Misty" (ie. No "Keys of the Kingdom" ・ which incidentally, Jesus in the Bible gave to Peter & Peter only, not all of His disciples, "Good boy, Peter, you got the answer to the question right. Here's your shiner prize!") & Maria's claim to "prophetess" status would be limited to Dad's writings about her carrying on after he was gone (i.e. no wine taster). What was the reply when Family members asked about the appropriateness of pictures for little Family children that depict Maria wearing a crown and robe? "Well, I am a queen. Jesus said so."
Mama has stated in the GNs (actually, it was "Jesus" ・which makes it all the more weighty) that those in her Home have the clearer channels and a greater anointing to hear from Him. I'm sure that's no big deal to anyone in the Family, but it did strike me as a little odd as basically it is saying, "everybody, you need to hear from the Lord on everything. But our word from the Lord is more important than your word from the Lord". ・Eh? What was that verse? "God is not a respecter of persons."
4) Dom, I liked your views on prophecy, I don't agree with them for my own life, but at least you stopped to think about it and to find the ballast for your own beliefs. Good for you.
You said, Even if I look at prophecy from an entirely flatlander (for lack of a better word) perspective, I would have to agree that taking some time to think and formulate our opinions is always a good thing.
Even if what we claim are prophecies are just our own thoughts, what's the harm in it?"
There is absolutely nothing wrong with formulating opinions ・that's a wonderful thing. It is however nearly diabolical if you are formulating opinions and then presenting these as Jesus himself speaking and claiming (repeatedly) that they are NOT anybody's personal opinions. (I realize your point, I'm just showing the flip side).
Look at it this way, for the past 5+ years that Mama has been at the head of the Family, her entire psyche in her pushes for the F
