The Discernment of Prophecy

The Prophet (1912) by Emil Nolde

THE DISCERNMENT OF PROPHECY

He was driving out a demon [that was] mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” (Luke 11:14)

Let us not forget that the devil also works miracles, that is, he exercises scientifically inexplicable power and control over the natural world. Extraordinary, scientifically inexplicable events is no necessary evidence of the work of God. Not surprisingly, Jesus’ opponents claimed, “By the power of Beelzebul he drives out demons” because they understood the foregoing principle.

I might advance three criteria, not exclusive, to evaluate the messages of those who claim to be prophets sent by God.

Truth - God’s message is truth. God is himself truth. Is the message true? Is it sound? Does it inspire with the power of its veracity? Is it logically consistent and whole and therefore persuasive? Is it consistent with relevant empirical evidence? Is it disputable, not necessarily false? Is it merely pious opinion? Does the message contain untruths?

Goodness - The work of God bears good fruits. Does the message condemn sin and inspire repentance and conversion? Does the message inspire and advance virtue? Is the message immoral in any aspect?

Integrity - Is the message consistent with the declarations and principles which we know and hold to be true? For example, does it contradict the Magisterium? If it diverges from the status quo, is it consistent with and supported by what we know and believe to be true and good? Let us remember that ecclesia semper reformanda est, meaning, what is steadfastly held by the Church in the past is not always necessarily maintained for the present or future because it may be the subject of reforming change.

Saint John the Baptist is a quintessential example of a prophet who spoke the Word of God, yet he did not work any miracles. If we apply the above criteria to his message, we readily find that he fulfilled them preeminently. Truth, goodness, integrity—they are practically his second names. One of the great saints of the Church, he accomplished a revolution in the Jewish religion as Elijah, the herald of the Messiah. We could look to him as our guide, patron, and intercessor in our desire to cooperate with the work of God in the world.