Self-Proclaimed Prophets

[elijah23]

If someone wants to be a prophet and decides one day to call himself a prophet, is he a prophet?

It would seem to me a prophet would be too humble to make such a statement about himself. He would simply set a good example for others and in time be recognized as a prophet. When someone calls himself a prophet, it seems to me he is committing the sin of pride.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

He would simply set a good example for others and in time be recognized as a prophet.

I actually have thought about this before and agree wholeheartedly.

If you have to tell the people you fellowship with how you are spiritually gifted so they'll know...you probably ain't gifted that way. One of the ways you know your spiritual gift is by how others recognize it in you and confirm it to you...without you fishing for it, that is.

But even then it is the fruit of the Spirit that ultimately tells us who is representing God in their gift, and who is not. Even if someone was saying the right things, but had no fruit of their own, you should have nothing to do with them. It seems few people in the church have the courage to do this (until it's too late), and instead rely on talent and giftedness to discern leadership and ignore the people they really are.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

...but let me add, if a person really is a prophet (or whatever) and they say so, they certainly wouldn't be lying.

 

[Sinthesis]

There is no longer any need for old testament style prophets.
Ironically, Zechariah chapter 13 prophesies how Christians are to regard modern day self-proclaimed 'prophets'.