Reader Mail: 'Is this my fault?'

I received a question from a reader who has been troubled by a popular NAR teaching. I share her question here, along with my reply, because I know other readers may be struggling with the same question.Here's her question.

I attended a prophetic activation workshop. After about 15 minutes we were sent out to prophesy to each other. I could not do it and felt like a failure. That is still affecting me. Is this my fault? Every one else seemed to be doing fine.

Here's my reply.

No, it's not your fault. Leaders in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) teach that supernatural powers, such as prophesying, can be "activated" in any person who desires them. In other words, you can learn to prophesy. The way you learn to prophesy is by attending training sessions at "prophetic activation workshops." Or you could enroll in one of the "supernatural schools of ministry"--popularized by Bethel Church in Redding, California--that have popped up in churches throughout the United States. At these schools, people are taught to engage in exercises that are supposed to "activate" a prophetic gift in themselves--exercises that involve such practices as speaking in tongues, journaling, and visualization techniques.The problem with this teaching is that it cannot be supported in Scripture. The apostle Paul taught that the miraculous gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are gifts. They're not powers that can be activated. And they're distributed by the Holy Spirit as he alone decides (1 Corinthians 12:11). They cannot be acquired by individuals at will. Furthermore, Paul makes it very clear that not all can have each of these gifts. He does this by asking a set of rhetorical questions: ^"Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"  (1 Corinthians 12:29-30). The intended answer is no.NAR teaching on the activation of supernatural powers has more in common with New Age teachings than biblical Christianity. New Agers believe that everyone is born with supernatural abilities they can "activate" by engaging in various New Age exercises--exercises that share striking similarities with activation exercises being promoted in the NAR. This concept of activating the gifts is foreign to the New Testament. You definitely should not feel like a failure for being unable to prophesy on demand.

My reply included material excerpted from my co-authored book A New Apostolic Reformation?: A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement. See this book to learn more about NAR teaching on activating supernatural powers, including responses to common NAR defenses of this teaching. Or, for a beginner's introduction to NAR teachings, see my other co-authored book God's Super-Apostles.