Anointing the next Prime Minister
I have been contacted by some of our CDP members to give my opinion of the “political” prophecies of a Victorian pastor.
Recently I was disturbed to see that he was honouring a disgraced Assemblies of God pastor who had been stood down by his denomination over reported pedophile offences committed in Australia and New Zealand over many years. The minister concerned was rebuked by his denomination and refused a licence to preach. This pastor associated this man with some other Christian leaders including Rev Fred Nile for special honour. We should not be honouring a convicted pedophile. I felt this was a lapse of judgment.
Then in his prayer letter of this week came the concern that caused some of our members to ask me for an opinion. In part, he wrote: “The Lord told me to spend some personal time with Prime Minister John Howard and to prophetically prepare Federal Treasurer Peter Costello as the future Prime Minister of Australia. (I don’t know the exact timing, but I was obedient to the voice of God) I thank the Lord that I just had a one to one meeting with Peter Costello on Thursday 9th August and John Howard on Friday 10th August. The Lord had given me a clear prophetic Word for both of them and I thank Him I was able to deliver His Word in addition to praying with both of these Federal Government Leaders. Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to share the details of these private encounters, but I will boldly declare that Prime Minister John Howard will be re-elected in the November election (if the Body of Christ unites in prayer and action) and pass the leadership onto Peter Costello sometime after.”
This taking of private prophetic belief into the political arena in the name of Christians, to anoint them as God’s chosen national leaders is extremely dangerous. These actions are dismissed by many as religious quackery. As many know, I have been privileged to work closely with John Howard for eleven years and count him as a friend. He is too polite to refuse such personal prophecy, and later references in the prayer letter about him giving the Pastor private information about the date of the election is absurd.
After years of speculation and newspaper comment and Mr. Howard’s own commentary that Mr. Costello is his most suitable successor, it does not take a prophetic word to say Mr. Howard will “pass the leadership onto Peter Costello sometime after.”
I have concern about this kind of speculation. The pastor compares himself with Samuel (“The Lord spoke clearly to me about how Prophet Samuel in the Word of God was sent to anoint David as the future King of Israel.” So he set out to anoint John Howard as Australia’s next Prime Minister. But his commentary was hedged by making it conditional upon Christians praying correctly. True prophets never give a “conditional” word of prophecy. He has covered his bases. If it doesn’t happen he will put the blame on Christians who didn’t pray or didn’t pray correctly. For him it’s a no lose scenario. This is not true biblical prophecy.
Many Christian become confused when they are authoritatively told one leader is God’s choice. What about the Queensland prophet who declares Kevin Rudd is God’s choice? What about the Sydney Christian prophet who declares Peter Costello will never be leader of the Liberal Party let alone Prime Minister? These are the voices of confusion not of God.
These days a significant number of churches I am invited to preach in have a time when ordinary members are invited to stand up and give a “word of prophecy” to those gathered there. Most of what is said is tediously banal at best. I have never heard anything that has ever been illuminating. And why do so many speak in fake 17th Century English as if God only speaks as the King James Version of 1611 was written?
At Wesley Mission, every Thursday after my lunch time service, a kindly old lady would give me a “prophecy” from the Lord for me from that week’s revelation from God to her. I accepted her comments as a “kindly, pious wish” for me. God never confirmed them from anyone else or from His Word. I am sure John Howard and Peter Costello did the same.
You can find more of my thinking on “How God speaks to us Today” on my website. In this article I commence: “Some people are very sure that God speaks to them. They are confident of God’s guidance, and often seek to stop others questioning their ideas by saying “God told me so.” To many this seems a dubious argument designed to silence opposition. It also seems an unfair argument that cannot be proved or disproved. It also smacks of spiritual arrogance that God speaks to one but not others, especially other Christians who are equally as dedicated and committed. I have heard many people claim God speaks to them personally and audibly. Mostly these people are deluded. The majority of patients coming to the psychiatrists I have been responsible for employing in Wesley Mission’s Mental Health Hospitals claim God speaks to them. In other Christian circles and in Christian books, I note some people seek to get their own way by using God speaking to them as almost a way of stopping any questioning of their ideas. So, how does God speak to us today?” Read the article.
I conclude that article saying “God speaks to us. We must hear. When we hear, we must obey. These are the ways God speaks to us today. Anyone who claims other communication with God should be looked upon with caution, and whatever they say should be tested against the truths of scripture and be confirmed by other Christians. If the claim says more than scripture it is extraneous and should be rejected. If it says less than scripture it is inadequate and should also be rejected. God does not give one off comments to solo Christians for them to silence others and to enforce their own opinions.”
I stand by that.
REV THE HON DR GORDON MOYES. A.C., M. L. C.
