In the classic book Animal Farm, George Orwell makes an astonishing statement:
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
Consider for a moment the phrase, “I know what’s best for you.” This phrase can take on several meanings in English depending upon where the spoken emphasis is placed. All of them are bad and horrible if you are the listener.
I Know – the emphasis here implies that your the one with the inside track and the listener does not know.
What’s Best – Your incapable of deciding for yourself what is actually in your best interest. Your too compromised to see the truth. Therefore you could not possibly choose the best option.
For You – Don’t bother trying to be like me, you’re not capable. I may have the freedom to behave and choose a certain way. But you do not.
How it’s used in the prophetic church movement emphasize that God has placed the speaker in a special position to hear his voice more clearly than you and therefore has permission from God to direct your life and make decisions on your behalf. But is that what the Holy Spirit has said?
Notice what the Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to write when talking about spiritual gifts and callings . . .
- 1 Corinthians 13:12 NASB – 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
Notice how the apostle Paul includes himself when it comes to knowing God. We all see through the mirror dimly. There are no exceptions! We all only know in part. One does not know or see more clearly than anyone one else. (The present writer included, you need to search out God for yourself to see if what I am saying is true – Acts 17.11)
Jesus said directly to his Disciples . . .
- John 10:27 NASB – 27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
Notice he does not say only some of my sheep hear my voice or some hear better than others. The verbiage and context clearly imply all his sheep here is voice.
The unspoken theology is that God has placed certain people to have authority with clearer insight over the decisions that you need to make in your life than what you could yourself.
The reality is that no one sees God more clearly than others. Moses may have spoken with God face to face, but he gave that same opportunity to all the people on Mt. Sinai, only they chose not too!
- Exodus 20:18-19 NASB – 18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw [it,] they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.”
God had come down to his people and his people pulled back.
But in these last days God has spoke to all of us directly with both the Son and Holy Spirit.
- Hebrews 1:2 NASB – 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
- John 16:13 NASB – 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
If the God of all the universe has reached down to man directly to us then why do we still pull back and fall for the false notion that only others know what’s best for us? The God of all the universe wants to speak directly to us. So then the only question that really remains unanswered is, “Will you let him or will you too pull back?“
Unspoken Theology 