Should we ‘teach’ children to prophesy?

[lakshmi (Lakshmi Mehta)]

Hi @alison , Thanks for asking this question. As you know my introduction to Christ was in a charismatic church and I very much believe spiritual gifts including the supernatural gifts are for today but I am not comfortable with the way prophecies are practised in many churches. The reason is that a lot of the prophecies are too general, unverifiable and even false. False prophecies may be a reflection of the passions of our old self - to be something independent of God.

I agree with all of these points made thus far -

@lindsay

If we prompt everyone to practice prophesying, especially kids, it would be dangerous, because the prompting wouldn’t be from the Spirit. What will inevitably happen is that they will start to think that any thought that comes into their minds is a word from God.

@kiko

I don’t think it can be forced out or taught, as you said it’s not on demand…

@Carson

I also hope that children would sense that the adults around them have gained a grounding in God, wisdom in life, and maturity in obeying God, that their own (more immature) sense of what God is up to is often refined by the humble listening of the adults in their lives.

@Carson

Another angle, as others have noted, spiritual gifts are… gifts.

What I want to add is a few thoughts on instructions regarding prophecy in scripture -

Whether we are talking about children or adults, I dont think scripture ever warrants that prophecy by itself can ever be taught but scripture has directions for how to steward and use the gift. When Paul has instructions about prophecy in 1 Cor. 14, all he is teaching is how to practice the gift in an orderly way, for the giver and the recipients. For example - prophets have control on what they say, can use gift taking turns, prophetic words must build up people, hearers are to weigh in on whats shared. In I Thess 5: 20-21 we are told not to despise prophecy and 1 Timothy 4:14, Timothy is encouraged not to neglect his gift received by prophecy. So in this sense I think we can teach the guardrails for practising the gift of prophecy.

The practice of teaching anyone to try giving prophecies is always wrong for reasons others have already covered. God must be the master of when and how He chooses to reveal His heart. I think the dangers of teaching prophecy as such become many fold greater in kids than adults. Kids are impressionable, immature and lack self-control. Its unwise to place the burden of prophecy on kids. A few wrong prophecies and it will change their perception of God forever for worse.

Some of these churches that are open to prophesying also believe that apostles and prophets are leadership positions in a church. If kids were prophets, these churches would need to explain the contradiction with qualifications for leadership in other parts of scripture which is limited to adults. Kids first need to be taught to honor their parents. I think encouraging kids to prophesy can tempt kids to reverse this God ordained order.

I am not saying God can never use a kid for His purposes through prophecy, but teaching a ‘gift’ as a technique would be dangerous.