Monthly Archives: January 2024

The beginning of a new year heralds a sense of hope, renewal, and anticipation for many individuals across the globe. Alongside personal resolutions and aspirations, a significant number of people turn to pastors for guidance and insight into what the future may hold. This practice has given rise to the tradition of pastors making New Year prophetic predictions, wherein they claim to foresee events that will unfold in the new year. However, a critical examination of this phenomenon reveals inherent fallacies and raises questions about the credibility and legitimacy of such predictions. Ecclesiates 8:7 says: “Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come?” (NIV).

A Closed Canon

Pastors claim to receive their New Year prophecies directly from God, suggesting that God communicates with them beyond the Scriptures. If that is the case, then these communications they receive from God should be included in the canon, potentially expanding the Bible beyond its current 66 books. This assertion that one can hear God’s voice outside written Scripture introduces a theological dilemma as it challenges the Biblical truth of a closed canon.

“Closed canon” refers to the apostles’ teaching that the Bible is complete and finalized, with no further writings or revelations to be added. In other words, the closed canon concept asserts that the set of authoritative books in the Bible is fixed and closed to any additional contributions. The Bible is complete and sufficient for guiding the faith and practices of believers. Paul writes: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV). The entire body of Scripture is God-inspired and plays a unique, distinctive, and only role in providing guidance and instruction for believers.

The apostles of old emphasized the completeness and authority of the Scriptures, considering them the inspired and inerrant Word of God. When individuals claim to receive revelations outside of the established Biblical canon, it prompts theological scrutiny and challenges the foundational principles of the apostles’ doctrine. This tension between personal revelations and the established Biblical foundation reveals one of the many flaws of the Charismatic Church movement.

Since these New Year prophecies are purported to be from God, the implication is that they hold the same level of authority and inspiration as the Biblical texts. This leads to a broader theological discourse on the nature of God’s communication and the boundaries of the sacred canon.

In accordance with Hebrews 1:1–2, God’s communication with humanity has undergone a transformative shift. While in ancient times God communicated through prophets, dreams, and visions, the present era witnesses a different mode of divine expression. In these latter days, God has chosen to communicate exclusively through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Old Testament directs us to Christ, while the four Gospels capture His life and ministry on earth. The remainder of the New Testament elaborates on Christ’s teachings. The entire Bible, therefore, is the exclusive medium through which God communicates with us.

This implies that anyone purporting that God has given them a word, such as a New Year’s prophecy, through a dream, a vision, or what Charismatics like referring to as God’s “still small voice” is being deceptive. Pastors who claim to receive specific messages from God outside the confines of recognized biblical texts are engaging in fraudulent activities. God has expressly commanded: “You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you” – Deuteronomy 4:2 (ESV).  

Hence, if you desire to receive a New Year message from God, read your Bible. Attempting to hear from God outside the pages of Scripture is like trying to find WiFi in a cave! You might as well expect to have deep philosophical conversations with bats and make life decisions based on interactions with cave crickets.

Fundamental Problems with New Year Prophecies

1. The Appeal of Prophetic Predictions:

Prophetic predictions have been an integral part of religious traditions throughout history. The allure of foretelling the future appeals to the human desire for certainty and control in an uncertain world. Pastors, as spiritual leaders, often find themselves in a position of influence, with congregants seeking reassurance and guidance in the face of life’s uncertainties. The prospect of receiving personalized insights and divine foresight is an enticing proposition for many believers.

The core of the prohibition is a divine call to trust in God’s plan. Throughout Scripture, believers are encouraged to place their trust in God’s wisdom and benevolence. This trust is not passive but involves an active and conscious surrender of one’s desires for control and certainty. Embracing the unknown with faith is a testament to one’s dependence on God’s ability to navigate the intricate tapestry of existence.

2. The Tool of Ambiguity:

One of the primary fallacies associated with New Year’s prophetic predictions is the illusion of certainty. Human existence is inherently unpredictable, shaped by a myriad of factors beyond our control. Predicting specific events with absolute certainty is an impossibility for mortal men, as that goes against the very nature of life’s complexity. Pastors, despite their spiritual authority, cannot escape the limitations of human understanding and the unpredictability of the future.

To beat this problem, pastors keep their New Year predictions as vague as possible. Consider Pastor Isaac Oyedepo’s 2024 prophecy, where he declared the year to be one of “the Holy Ghost and Fire.”

By adopting a level of ambiguity in their prophetic utterances, pastors create a wide spectrum of possible interpretations, allowing congregants to selectively attribute meaning to the predictions. This intentional vagueness serves a dual purpose: it provides a sense of inclusivity by allowing diverse audiences to find relevance in the prophecies, and it conveniently shields pastors from the scrutiny of verifiable accuracy. Congregants, in turn, often find comfort in the perceived wisdom of the pastor, as the vagueness of the predictions creates an illusion of flexibility that can adapt to the specifics of individual experiences.

3. Selective Memories:

It is a well-known fact that churchgoers have very poor critical thinking skills. The nature of charismatic teachings that emphasize adherence to false beliefs and authoritative figures dubbed “men of God” discourages questioning and critical examination. Additionally, the prosperity gospel’s heretical emphasis on faith as a creative force creates an environment where accepting doctrines without rigorous scrutiny is more valued than challenging them.

The success of prophetic predictions relies on the selective memory of believers. Pastors deliver vague and generalized prophecies that allow for multiple interpretations. In retrospect, congregants may selectively remember instances where a prediction seemingly came true while overlooking those that did not. This selective memory reinforces the perception of prophetic accuracy, even when the predictions lack specificity.

4. Manipulation and Control:

The practice of making New Year’s prophetic predictions can be seen as a tool for manipulating and controlling congregations. When pastors claim to have exclusive access to God’s insight, they create a power dynamic that fosters dependency on their guidance. This dependence leads to unquestioning obedience and guaranteed financial support as believers seek to align themselves with the prophesied outcomes.

Take, for instance, the prophetic message for 2024 uttered by Pastor David Aigbona, the founder and general overseer of David Aigbona Evangelistic Ministries. The cleric said that 2024 will be a year of “worldwide famine, but there will be provision for true Christians as God will prioritise those who are actively involved in the growth of His Kingdom and reward born-agains’ faithfulness.” This prophecy serves the purpose of binding congregants to the pastor’s ministry, compelling them to make sacrifices and contribute their resources to ensure its growth. This connection is rooted in the belief that fulfilling the prophecy will lead to God’s blessings and favour. The prophet Micah wrote: “Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry ‘peace’ when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths…” – Micah 3:5 (ESV).

5. Vain Hopes:

In contrast to Biblical prophets who unflinchingly pointed out sin and forewarned of impending consequences, pastors tailor their New Year predictions to accentuate positive aspects and deliver a message of hope. While ancient prophets, driven by a sense of divine duty, fearlessly addressed moral shortcomings and called for repentance, modern predictions from pastors focus more on the promise of material blessings and prosperity. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” – Jeremiah 23:16–17 (ESV).

Conclusion:

While the tradition of New Year’s prophetic predictions by pastors may offer a sense of comfort and guidance to believers, a critical examination reveals inherent fallacies and ethical concerns. The pursuit of certainty in an uncertain world is a deeply human inclination, but human limitations in predicting are an unescapable reality. Congregants should approach prophetic predictions with a discerning and critical mindset. Ultimately, only a thoughtful and balanced knowledge of the Bible provides a genuine and enduring source of guidance for navigating the uncertainties of the future.