Fake prophecies are meaningless, but they aren’t harmless!
Please can we stop trying to prophesy over everyone?
Fake prophecies are meaningless, but they aren’t harmless!
I just read a very good article by Adam Grant (the link is at the bottom) that shows the complete fallacy of horoscopes. And I love his words: “horoscopes are meaningless, but they aren't harmless.”
Most Christians, of course, are (hopefully) not following horoscopes.
However, as I read this article I was struck by these paragraphs:
“… why is my horoscope so accurate?
That’s an illusory correlation. Many studies have shown that if you read a horoscope that you think is yours but has actually been randomly assigned to you, you’ll probably still think it resonates. That’s especially true if you’re into astrology: believers are significantly more likely than skeptics to buy into bogus horoscopes.
That’s the Barnum Effect (also known as the Forer Effect). Astrologers write horoscopes to be just specific enough that they feel personal, while still being vague enough to be open to interpretation. Fortune tellers and mediums use a similar trick.”
It occurred to me: this is exactly what happens with the vast majority of personal prophecies that are given today in Charismatic churches. Let’s substitute the words “personal prophecy” for “horoscope” in these paragraphs and we get the following:
“… why is my personal prophecy so accurate?
That’s an illusory correlation. Many studies have shown that if you receive a personal prophecy that you think is yours but has actually been randomly assigned to you, you’ll probably still think it resonates. That’s especially true if you’re into the supernatural: believers are significantly more likely than skeptics to buy into bogus personal prophecies.
That’s the Barnum Effect (also known as the Forer Effect). Prophets speak personal prophecies to be just specific enough that they feel personal, while still being vague enough to be open to interpretation. Fortune tellers and mediums use a similar trick.”
Wow! Please read that again. And then please stop taking this stuff so seriously. It’s just a show. It’s not real – the vast majority of times!
Personally, I’ve been a Charismatic Christian for more than 44 years. I believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
However, what is happening today on such a large scale is little more than prophetic vaudeville.
Dear friends, please can we stop trying to prophesy over everyone? It devalues the real gifting when that actually does occur, and it can give false direction and hope to those who are suffering. Moreover, those who have not experienced the wonderful blessing of the ministry of the Holy Spirit continue to be scared away as they see this parade of foolishness.
Fake prophecies are meaningless, but they aren’t harmless!
Here is the article about astrology:
Bonus: two great video tutorials on deep prophecy: