False Prophets

 
 The word of the Lord came to me:   
Mortal, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying; 
say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: 
“Hear the word of the Lord!”  
Thus says the Lord God, 
Alas for the senseless prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!...
 ...Because, in truth, because they have misled my people, 
saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace; 
and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear whitewash on it. 
 Say to those who smear whitewash on it that it shall fall.

Ezekiel 13:1-3, 10

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 

Matthew 24: 11-12]

 "The biblical tradition reveals that whenever the prophetic gift is lacking in any group or religion, such a group will very soon be self-serving, self-perpetuating, and self-promoting. Without prophetic criticism, all sense of mission and message is lost."

 Richard Rohr

Those of us in communities of faith often use the terms "prophet" or "prophetic" to describe the ones who point us to greater truths which often run contrary to the zeitgeist or prevailing mood of an era. We think of the prophets of Hebrew scripture and could include John the Baptizer and Jesus from the New Testament. These voices often unsettled religious complacency and conventions to the point that they were punished, silenced, even murdered. 

There are also false prophets in the bible, those whose vision has given way to convenience in the service of power. As you can see above, the cautions against them are stern and unvarnished, including the warnings of Jesus in Matthew and other gospels. 
 

Earlier this week a group of 100 evangelical pastors and leaders visited the White House for a dinner hosted by Donald and Melania Trump. Afterward many of them gushed about the experience, praising the fancy-schmancy menu. Ironically, one of the attendees was Eric Metaxas, who wrote a book about Christian dissident Dietrich Bonhoeffer. During World War II Bonhoeffer left Germany for the United States but returned, speaking against the Nazi regime. He was executed shortly before the end of the war, but his books, including The Cost of Discipleship are his faithful legacy. Metaxas was among those mugging for selfies with the president. 

 

It is a stunning development that so many in the American evangelical world have abandoned their moral and ethical values to cozy up to a modern-day "emperor," a man whose ways of personal and public life are antithetical to the witness of Jesus, the Christ. Trump told those in attendance that they should get out the Republican vote for the upcoming mid-terms, claiming that if Democrats win violence will ensue.

Are these leaders false prophets? One pundit commented that he doubted that there would be a Nathan amongst those gathered for the dinner. He was referring to the biblical prophet Nathan, who challenged King David for his moral failings, even though the result might have been death. 

I hope the food was wonderful. Personally, I'm struggling with indigestion.