In America we have mastered systematic Christianity. We have Christian schools for kids, Bible colleges, missions schools, seminaries, entry level ministry jobs, executive ministry jobs, Senior Pastors, Bishops, Apostles, etc etc etc. 

There are books to learn how to be a disciple, to study church history, to learn about theology, evangelism, apologetics, etc etc etc.

Ministry can be a lucrative career field for us. We can achieve great popularity and financial success through this career avenue, and it’s something to be proud of doing. This system works to produce a somewhat healthy community of common minded people. In addition, because we do these things in the name of God, we often hold on to them fiercely. If our beliefs differ from each other we find a scripture to vilify our neighbor. We classify someone challenging us, our beliefs, and thus our system as the work of the adversary, and persecution and thus consider those individuals to be opposing God and His Church.

But if you spend some time in the New Testament, with eyes wide open, you realize that Jesus went to great lengths to not systemize His Kingdom. When folks had ulterior motives he challenged them out of love for them. When people were in the temple selling animals for sacrifices, an honorable cause, He kicked them out and showed deep frustration. When the “rich young ruler” wanted to also be successful in God’s Kingdom, Jesus cut Him to the heart with His words and demanded more of him than he was willing to give. When the number of disciples grew too numerous, He decided it was a good time to talk about drinking His blood and eating His flesh. He rarely, if ever, performed miracles the same way twice. When the people tried to make Him king, He ran away. In other words, He would not be tamed to fit into a system. 

So too, there is a significant piece of God’s body that has a HARD time fitting into the system of the Americanized church–people with prophetic gifting. People with prophetic gift sets are hardwired to lean their heads on the bosom of Jesus and learn how He feels about situations. They live in close proximity to Him and are called to be a mouthpiece for Jesus. In other words these people have a hard time fitting into this church model. Many use the teachings of Jesus and the humility of Jesus to participate in the best way they know how and all too many find themselves living in the wilderness being beat up by the adversary’s tactics, disgruntled with this system, and thus unknowingly disgruntled with the Bride of our Lord. 

The problem is that very frequently Jesus’ way seems to not fit in with this system. 

So, the pastor who works so hard to help create a safe and predictable community finds it difficult to hear God through the prophetic person and the prophetic person concludes that the pastor is rejecting God. The pastor keeps a tough eye out for folks “like that”. And the prophetic person finds Old Testament references to justify not participating in the Body. Both are using God as an excuse to further fuel their angsty disposition, thus falling into the trap of the 4-fold ministry. 

If you are a prophetic person and are reading this I bet you heard some things that excited you here. I hope you also heard some challenges here. 

If you are a pastor I bet you feel a little offended and possibly curious…. that is if you made it this far. 

The adversary rejoices when we are divided. Especially in this situation. The purpose of the FIVE-fold ministry of the church is to work together to build. All parties working to challenge and encourage, prune and nourish, uphold and correct. No one part of God’s body has a self sufficient role. We all need each other and we need God’s voice and heart in a seat at the table, preferably coming from a person who is accepted and loved within the body. Prophetic people need the appropriate opportunities to share and release what God has placed in and through them.  

Pastor, how have you embraced the prophet? How can you further allow prophetic folks to help you? 

Prophet, how have you fallen prey to the adversary’s scheme to be excluded? How can you grow in God’s gift of humility to work your way back to His bride?

As someone who has been on both sides of this story, I am well qualified to say I am sorry. Please forgive me? And those who rejected you? Please forgive anyone who has been upset with you? Those who misunderstood you? I hope we can help make room for you. We need you to be okay with a partnership, an “us” if you will, not just a “you” and “me”. We have to share this common goal. Our Christ’s Body needs a unified us. 

(This post is dedicated to my many friends who feel trapped on the outside of the body. And those who lived and died and never fit in. We WILL make progress.)