The Nature of Prophecy ...continued

Examples of Prophecy and their problems

By William Kay (used with permission)

ANSWER 8

8. Your church is considering a building project. A visitor comes and stands up one morning and says that he saw through the Spirit a large building thronged with people. He does not know what this means.

At first sight we have a marvellous confirmation that the church building project is to go ahead. Further reflection should lead you to ask two relevant questions: (a) Did the visitor know that the church is considering a building project and (b) what is the track record of your visitor? Is he always having visions and are any of them valuable?

If the answer to (a) is yes and (b) is negative, you should treat the visitors comments as of no greater worth that you would general encouragement to build. There is nothing specially supernatural in your visitors remarks despite his attempt to give them added significance.