PROPHETIC SCRIBAL MINISTRY
Prophetic Writing Challenges
In this session, we will discuss one of the major challenges prophetic teachers face.
INTRODUCTION
Many teachers who walk through this program will ultimately teach primarily on "prophetic writing." As such, I strongly recommend investing in the following books: Writing & the Prophetic, Spiritually Critiquing Literary Works, Literary Evangelism: Beyond the Open Mic, Jumpstart Your Prophetic Writing Flow, 40 Signs of a Prophetic Scribe & Signs of a Scribal Prophet.
We also have to have one of those TOUGH DISCUSSIONS - and this is one of them. You see, there is an entire group of Christian writers - of the evangelical faith - who oppose discussions on the prophetic or writing in the Spirit as we have discussed it in this course. The belief is based on an extremely popular doctrine called "cessationism."
Cessationism is the belief that certain revelatory gifts ceased to exist after the death of the last foundational apostle. In other words, this belief system makes absolutely no room for the gifts of apostles, prophets, speaking in tongues, certain healings, certain miracles, signs and wonders or even prophecy. Continuanism, which is what we embrace, is the theological belief that all revelatory and spiritual gifts continued from the time of Christ until now.
Why is this important?
It's important because our "theological views" surrounding The Scribal Anointing® is largely rejected by many Christian writers because of this. Spirit-filled to us as "prophetic people" MAY NOT MEAN the same thing as being "spiritual or spirit-led" for them. As such, our courses, lessons and approaches to prophetic writing move into places of "heresy and strange doctrine" for them.
It is important that we are aware of this a we move forward with teaching and facing the challenges that moving in the prophetic brings.
This is why we make strong distinctions between PROPHETIC WRITING and CHRISTIAN WRITING in the The School of the Scribe. It's not that one is better than the other, but it is because our theological views are frowned upon by vast majority of the Christian community that counts what we do as "heresy."
We don't often know this, however, because prophetic people tend to "saturate" within their own community. The truth is, however, that we make up less than 5-percent of the global Christian population within our charismatic belief system.
As such, the ministry of the scribe overall reaches a small niche of believers.... and we are still on our pioneering horizons. It is critical that potential teachers understand this when moving forward. Opposition will come.
FACING TRUTH
When building your lesson, be mindful of your audience. A couple of years ago, I taught at a writing festival in New Orleans among a Catholic/Evangelical community. As such, I could not use the Christian ease and all the spirit-filled language like "prophetic, prophetic writing, God speaks, etc." in my teachings.
I didn't compromise, but I employed the powerful concept of layering or scaffolding the teaching to meet those in attendance exactly where they were. As such, I taught in "concepts" and used this phrase quite a bit: "This is the pattern we see in scripture" and/or "this is what the Lord revealed to my heart."
We must always be in a position to shift and move as we teach or impart into the lives of others certain environments.
If you have ever attended a main-stream Christian Writing Conference, then you already know that focus is significantly different from what you have studied in this course. This difference, however, isn't wrong or in error -- it is simply different! It doesn't mean people are less connected with the Lord -- it simply means their approach is different!
Not everyone who writes needs "The Scribal Anointing." Generally, the need for this teaching arises when believers start having supernatural experiences "outside" of what they understand within the confines of their existing belief system. The Lord uses the teachings to help them move out of those "tight religious places" into the spirit-filled life and beyond.
Many Christian writer's conferences will focus on simply writing a good book that holds to foundational principles of the faith, literary standards and sales. The prophetic writer is focused on the message of the Lord - what they hear, see, experience and believe the Lord wants them to release. As a result, you may find that while you can be a contributing member or participant in Christian conferences overall, the door may be closed to opening up what you have learned here in this course.
So as you move forward, consider the importance of creating a space or community where "prophetic writers" can find safe haven. When I started out 20 years ago, there was no place for me... no where that I could find and be understood. My only option was to join main stream Christian writing groups -- fitting in where I could.
I write this, not to discourage you, but to encourage you with practical advice along the journey. We are grateful for the contributions of every member of the faith in whatever capacity they come. I am also grateful for teachers who begin filling needs in this area as well... especially from a Christian conference perspective.