Charismatic's Overemphasis of Prophecy?
I recenly visited my sister's church in California. She has been attending this
church since the 1980's when she was delivered from drugs. I am as most
of you should know by now UPC. Her church is a non denominational church
in Southern California. They believe in speaking in tongues and other gifts
of the Spirit. We would call them a charismatic church. (By the way this
church is in the Colton/Loma Linda area of the Inland Empire. It is called
Inland Christian Center. If anyone knows
anything of this church, let me know)
Over the years, I have always noticed that my sister is always referring to
this prophecy or that prophecy. They seem to place much, much emphasis
on the gift of prophecy operating in the church.
Well, at the service that I visited, there was a good spirit of worship taking
place and it seemed that some hearts were being touched by God's presence.
I began to feel the Lord and to worship. The pastor walked over to someone
on the front row and began to prophecy. After he finished another individual
prophecied over this same person. Then they began to pray for other
people and utter prophecies over them as well. After the service was over,
I believe there were close to 10 or 12 prophecies that had taken place. Not
general prophecies to the church body, but prophecies spoken over individuals while the laying on of hands was taking place.
I am just curious for some of you that may be more familiar with the
charismatic movement than I, is it common for there to be such an emphasis
on prophecying in most or many charismatic churches or is this just something
that is unique to my sister's church.
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