“DUELING PROPHECIES”

Both sides admit the problem of “dueling prophecies.” Mark Graeser criticized the Board because “The Board Majority has devalued the prophetic input based on concerns about ‘dueling prophecies...’” (p. 9).  Lynn wrote, “...there are many prophetic words about his situation that have come in from various people during the past seven months, one group of which is obviously false, or at least off track, because they are pretty much the opposite of the words in the other group” (p. 3).

How do they deal with this problem of dueling prophecies?

The Graeser faction dismisses  opposition prophecies in two ways. First, they claim that the top tier of prophets are the most credible– and only Graeser supporters are in the top tier. Second, they claim that the great majority of prophecies sent in from CES supporters around the country back the Graesers. Mark Graeser wrote, “The Board Majority has submitted only two or three examples of prophetic material supporting their perspective, while there are over one hundred prophetic images from people all over our community, which do not support and even warn against the Board majority’s actions” (p. 9). So the Graeser clan claims both quantity and quality.

Lynn on the other hand believes they can make “a rational judgement” based on Jesus words that “by their fruits you shall know them.” He dismisses the Graeser prophecies because “the fruit in their lives has badly deteriorated in the past seven months.” Lynn states that several faithful STF staff members were adversely affected by the Graesers and that Karen Anne “exerted undue and harmful influence” (p. 3). This included “a lengthy litany of incidents... involve the Graesers desperately posturing and maneuvering, distorting the facts, manipulating people, name calling, attacking other persons involved, refusing to be accountable...” (p. 6).

From a Biblical perspective, quantity of prophecy means nothing. In fact, prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Elijah were vastly outnumbered by false prophets and false prophecies.

But bringing personal prophecy into the CES power struggle raises the stakes because opposing the other side means that they are opposing the Lord himself, who has put his stamp of approval on them via prophecy.