Growing in the Prophetic

I. What is the main idea or thesis of the author?

Mike Bickle is the pastor of Metro Christian Fellowship in Kansas City. The church is noted for two things; it is the home of a non-stop prayer meeting, and it is famous (or infamous, depending on one’s perspective) as the home of the Kansas City prophets. Bickle finds himself in an interesting situation; he is the head pastor of a church famous for prophetic manifestation. He himself, is not particularly prophetic, but sees himself as one gifted in leadership. This creates a tension, to administrate a church well, and deal with powerful prophetic ministry. Prophecy, by its very nature, creates tension, particularly in an institutional setting.

Prophets, by tendency, function outside of the normal. They are concerned with obedience to what they hear from God. They are often insecure that they won’t be listened to, that their message will be ignored and that they will be marginalized or rejected because of their message, and their often odd, prophetic behavior. Prophets, when immature, have a tendency to act out, to over speak, to draw attention to themselves, or try to interpret their own words, when they may not have been actually given the interpretation or application of their prophecy. Prophets may be highly gifted by God, without yet having the spiritual maturity to handle their giftedness. Their gift itself may not be well developed, refined or matured. All of this can create chaos in a church setting. How does one lead a church, administrate prophetic people, help them mature, hear from God, yet not despise prophetic utterance and not allow chaos to reign? The point of this book is really to answer this complex question.

II. What is my interpretation of the author’s thesis?

First, it would be helpful if the book had been given a different title. I would suggest that Administrating the Prophetic, rather than Growing in the Prophetic would have been a better title, since that is really the focus of the book. The fact that the book could have a better title, does not take away from the validity of the contents.

Bickle does a good job of showing how the prophetic ministry can create tension and chaos in a church. He does this through telling stories from his own experience, for example, the story of two immature prophets trying to outdo each other in a worship service. But, he also tells stories of clear, powerful, public prophecies which were used by God to advance his Kingdom, move people into ministry, and release God’s power. These are not stories of vague, King James English allusions that can be understood in a number of ways. These are tape recorded public prophecies that name names, times, dates and results. The results are incredible, and they were later fulfilled to the letter. This doesn’t happen once or twice, it is a regular occurrence at Metro. With the power, comes the tension and occasional chaos. When one reads of the difficulty of having prophetically gifted people it tends to make one avoid this ministry and seek the relative quite of non-prophetic ministry. Then, when one reads what God does through the prophetic, it makes one what to see this happen in one’s church.

The prophetic, particularly as expressed through growing but immature prophets, is a difficulty no matter what form the church takes. However, I think the form of the church heightens or lessens these problems. Because Bickle sees ministry through a hierarchical, institutional lens, with pastors having positional and institutional power, many of the problems Bickle relates are caused or at least compounded by church structure.

Imagine, for a moment, the story of the dueling prophets at Metro. In a large worship service, two immature prophets stand and prophecy alternately about greater and greater things. The members of the laity are confused. It this from God or is it carnal? Is this God speaking or men? Should someone step in and who is responsible? When should they do it and how? Imagine the same problem in a simple church. There is no laity. There are only 8-12 people involved. Anyone can speak or rebuke. In a mature church, loving rebuke part of what the church does. There is no confusion as to whose job it is to stop this kind of thing. Anyone can. And it can be done gently, not as a top down, perceived power play from clergy that end up wounding and compounding an immature prophet’s insecurity. Form does create or heighten problems.

III. What would a serious application of this book look like?

We would take prophecy seriously. We would take the life and health of the church even more seriously. We would not despise prophecy; we would encourage it and its developing maturity. We would lovingly foster it, and keep it with in its biblical parameters. With this in mind, I Corinthians 14:29-33 makes clear sense.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

Prophecy should not be stifled in any church. It is a gift from God. But it must be administrated wisely or it can do more damage than good.