How do spiritual gifts get corrupted? (Mic 3:5-8)
Mic 3:5-8
Although I come from a non-charismatic background, I have friends who are involved in contexts where prophetic gifts are exercised. From them I heard of a woman who was a recognised ‘prophet’ in her church context. What she said came true and she had extraordinary spiritual insight that was tested and proved time and time again. However, she became worried of losing her ability and increasingly tried to bolster it with listening to gossip in the church to gain inside information on issues that she was consulted on. Eventually, the truth came out leading to this woman’s humiliation and the disillusionment of many.
As Micah’s indictment of various leaders continues, he moves from the magistrates who fail to give justice to the spiritual conscience of the nation, the prophets. Their task was to bring God’s Word and apply His teaching to the people’s lives, often a thankless job, since this involved admonishment and warning against sin amidst a people who simply did not want to hear such a message. However, these servants of God have corrupted their ministry and the Lord’s verdict on them is that they cause others to go astray (Mic 3:5). The Hebrew verb for going astray is used of the aimless wandering of Hagar in the wilderness (Gen 21:14), as well as the reeling of drunks, who stagger and lose their balance in their intoxication (Isa 28:7). God’s people are heading into disaster without a spiritual compass to set them right and are oblivious to the threat because their senses are numbed by false messages of security and peace.
Judging from v.5, we may think that these prophets make up their messages altogether, but their punishment (the loss of abilities to see visions and hear from God – Mic 3:6) suggests that they are genuine prophets who, at some point did seek and hear from the Lord. Yet, it is possible to corrupt one’s spiritual gift and these prophets have done just that in two ways. The reference to divination in v.6 highlights the way these servants of God mixed illegitimate means of seeking Him (Deut 18:10) with permitted avenues for inquiry.[1] They also adjusted God’s message according to the fee paid them. There was nothing wrong with getting paid (e.g. 1 Sam 9:7-8; 1 Kings 14:2-3; 2 Kings 8:8), but everything wrong with greed and making the financial benefits the primary consideration. It is conceivable, in fact, that the very people who seized the lands of others unjustly (Mic 2:2), then got their stamp of spiritual approval by giving these prophets a share of the spoil. However, God cannot be mocked. These seers ignored God’s message, and He would eventually stop revealing Himself to them. With their gift withdrawn, their prestige, status, and livelihood would go too.
In our churches, we often look up to gifted people as those close to God. Their preaching may seem so Spirit-filled, their pastoral words so wise and inspired, their worship leading brings a sense of God’s presence, their hospitality and warmth are like the comfort of the Lord to lonely souls. Yet, we can make the mistake of assuming that such gifting is always coupled with godly character. It is a sad fact that sometimes those two do not go hand-in-hand or part ways somewhere. As in the case of these prophets in our passage, the cracks are invisible for a while but eventually they become evident to all. When we grieve the Holy Spirit by blatant sin or using His gifts for our advancement, financially, for status or for ministering to our pride, we are in danger of corrupting and losing what God has given us. In contrast, Micah’s attitude should be our example (Mic 3:8). In him, spiritual gifting (filled with power and the Spirit) is accompanied by an integrity of character. He is filled with justice (the word has the sense of making the right judgment or assessment) and with courage that enables him to obey God and speak the truth even when it is hard to hear. May we always remember that the source of our gifts and abilities is the Lord and use them faithfully for His glory.
Although the quote in the photo from Colossians is addressed to slaves who serve their human masters, the principle is equally appropriate for serving the church with our various gifts and it is the best summary of the attitude required that is implicit about service throughout Scripture.
[1] Bruce K. Waltke, “Micah,” in The Minor Prophets, ed. T.E. McComiskey (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993), 2:664. Divination involved such practices as shaking arrows, consulting household gods (teraphim), and looking at the liver (Ezek 21:21).
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