Prophets and Pronouncing Judgment

  It is the contention of some in the prophetic realm that the first call of a prophet is judgment and that if you do not have a stomach for judgment you cannot properly fill your office. I disagree.

 This may have been true of Old Testament prophets but judgment is not a primary function of New Testament era and modern day prophets. People in the Old Testament were bound by the law so that when anyone broke the law they immediately came under a curse and faced impending judgment because of the disobedience.

Often prophets were used to either pronounce judgment or warn of its close proximity if the offenders kept following their present course. But because the curse of the law has been broken at the cross New Testament and modern day prophets are not as likely to need to pronounce judgment. I would say it happens only in extreme cases with people or nations who have a continual unrepentant attitude to the point where God's patience has ran out and this is the last resort. God is merciful and more ready to reconcile and restore than He is to condemn, at least until the Day of Judgment arrives.

  I know that modern day prophets do see things from a judgmental standpoint, meaning that we see the resulting judgment that will come if repentance is not forthcoming but I don't think we are primarily called to Pronounce judgement, but rather repentance.

 I think we are to pronounce, proclaim, prophesy and teach a way out of the impending judgment calling for Repentance and seeking God for a way of delivery and a path to follow that will not lead us down a road, which leads to judgment.

 The greatest prophet that ever lived said in the Lords prayer. "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. He also said, "Follow the narrow road not the broad road." It's following the broad road that usually leads to a place of judgment. Yet mercy is always readily available.

Even Jonah, when he spoke to the people of Nineveh who were enemies of the Jews, spoke repentance. He was displeased when they did indeed repent but his job was completed resulting in a whole city and it's inhabitants being saved from destruction. God did not tell him to call for judgment but for repentance in order to avoid judgment.

Pronouncing unwarranted judgment by self-appointed administrators of justice can cause strife and division among people, families, churches and denominations, which is something that God never wants.

One of, if not the number one, negative personality traits that prophetic people must constantly fight is a judgmental attitude. We unwittingly call fire down on friends and foe alike by the unrestrained use of it. We often speak words that do not edify but place others in danger and open the doors for enemy attack when we allow our critical attitudes to speak out loud. This is weakness that is common too many but is much more prevalent in prophetic people.

We are not to call judgment on a whim or personal prejudice or feeling, we must be very certain of Gods will. There are far too many who are willing to call down judgment before calling for repentance.

Even the Lords disciples asked about calling fire down like Elijah did on his enemies. While under the Old Testament law Elijah was justified, it is not now, in our dispensation, the type action that God desires for us to take. The fact that Jesus rebuked them shows us the New Testament way is not to call down fire or judgment. Judgment is for God to declare.

Even when pronouncement of judgment by a prophet is inevitable He must have a sure word of direction from the Lord before he can know he is the one called to pronounce it. Most true prophets do not desire such an assignment and approach it with dread and even in some cases remorse for having to do so. I feel any other attitude is not a godly or prophetic attitude.