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John Schroeder at Blogotional (who I really enjoy reading) provides a middle-of-the-road approach for the question of prophesy. In it he states that:

Thus my middle ground proposal is this. The gift of prophecy and office of prophet continues today, it is seen in the pulpit. Special revelation does not exist today. I don’t rule it out it’s possibility, but nothing has yet to reach the sufficient proof level, and in fact, probably nothing can absent long historical perspective. Impressions may be validly guided by the Holy Spirit, but do not rise to the level of prophecy and can never be associated with the phrase (or it’s synonyms) “Thus sayeth the Lord.”

I can understand why he wants to be peacemaker here, but it seems to me that his position is simply self-contradictory.

First, where does this leave personal revelation? In fact, personal testimonies are rife with discussions of personal revelations that change individual lives. By the scriptural test of “by their fruits you shall know them,” these startling interactions with the Spirit show very good fruit.

Second, while Mr. Schroeder has not seen any special revelations that he accepts, in fact these very revelations are driving the profound revival that is going on in the third world, as described in “The Next Christendom.” Does he really claim that they are *all* false?

Third, there is a long tradition of mystical practice in Christianity that depends upon and validates direct revelation, and in which, again, the fruit are quite certain and quite good. The position described above would mean that the entire mystical tradition of Eastern Orthodoxy, for instance, is a lie.

As I stated in my previous post on the subject, I think that people are drwing an artificial line. At what point does Spirit-quided insight end and Spirit-guided “special revelation” begin? The hearing of voices? The seeing of visions? The changing of a perspective? The transformation of a life?

The problem is that I think we are mixing biochemistry and spirituality here. The seeing of visions and hearing of voices is a physiologic mainifestation of an altered state of consciousness. It means little by itself. What is important is how one interprets it and integrates it into daily life. It is simply another form of prayer, no greater or less than any other. When I was a young man, I trained myself to have visions. It’s easy to do if one has the discipline. The most sure-fire way is to train yourself to have a sleep disorder (parasomnia), in which one extends the period between sleeping and waking, resulting in so-called “lucid dreams,” or hallucinatory sleep paralysis. This is part of a number of parasomnias. As described in one site on “night terrors:”

Sleep paralysis is the experience of waking up (usually from a dream) and feeling paralyzed, except for being able to breathe and move the eyes. Hypnogogic hallucinations and sleep paralysis may occur together. These conditions are common in people with narcolepsy but can also effect others, particularly people who are sleep-deprived. Although a pretty terrifying event, these events are not physically harmful. There are two major types of sleep paralysis: common (typical) also known as CSP and hallucinatory (hypnagogic) sleep paralysis known as HSP…

Different cultures throughout time have interpreted HSPs as different spirits or events.

* Ancestral ghosts – Southeast Asians
* Hag – Irish and Scottish
* Cats – Chinese
* Spectral foxes – Japanese
* Djinn – Arabs
* Guilt – Romans and the Egyptians
* Witchcraft – Mexicans
* Vampires – Europeans
* Demons – Medieval Europe

HSPs are usually a vision of a small creature that sits on the victims chest. The creature then either compresses the chest or attempts to strangulate the victim. Almost all attacks have been reported by people sleeping on their backs.

For a more medical approach see this article.

What these articles do not point out is that the “terror” aspect has mostly to do with being vaguely aware of paralysis and lack of conscious control of breathing — which can lead to panic — and can be dealt with, resulting in more benign hallucinations. One discussion of this kind of discipline can be seen here. Straight Dope gives a slightly more cynical view.

In my personal experience, my lucid dreams were primarily illusional rather than hallucinatory — reinterpreting stimuli. For instance, I was able for awhile (though not now) to dream while my eyes were open. During that time, stimuli from the real world would be viewed by my inner world. A shadow would become a floating object, a fluttering curtain would become the wing of a great bird or dragon. As I would wake up completely, the illusion would fade. But there have been vivid full scale visions as well. All quite easily explained in terms of neurologic conditioning.

It’s very useful, frankly. I have used such things to help memorize things when in college (a variant on the bizarre imagery mnemonic technique). A classic example of such insight is given by F.A. Keule, the discoverer of the structure of benzene, who describes a related technique of using dreams to work on a problem:

“Again the atoms were juggling before my eyes…my mind’s eye, sharpened by repeated sights of a similar kind., could now distinguish larger structures of different forms and in long chains, many of them close together; everything was moving in a snake-like and twisting manner. Suddenly…one of the snakes got hold of its own tail and the whole structure was mockingly twisting in front of my eyes. As if struck by lightning, I awoke…Let us learn to dream, gentlemen, and then we may perhaps find the truth.”

Let’s take that experience and add prayer. Let’s say that, were I in a normal state of consciousness, I would pray and that prayer would provide insight that would guide my life, and let’s say that I interpreted that insight as coming from the voice of the Spirit. I doubt that even the most rigid cessationist would have a problem with that.

Now, let’s say that I am in a state of lucid dreaming. I pray and I see a vision of a celestial being floating above me *talking* and giving me the *same* insight that I would have gotten from “regular” prayer, and let’s say I interpret that insight as being the voice of the Spirit. A charismatic would have no problem with that, except perhaps he or she might believe that my method of achieving an altered state of consciousness was contrived (as opposed to ecstatic singing, swaying, dancing, etc. in a congregation – ahem). A cessationist, I assume, would state that this somehow doesn’t count or something — yet it has everything one needs for a special dispensation — the voice of the Spirit, a spiritual result from prayer, etc.

Sure, sometimes it’s God, and sometimes it’s gas. As far as I can see, we were given one rule for determining whether or not a “prophesy” is true. By the results of that prophesy. And, I think, we can add a little common sense and consistency with what we already know is true. It’s pretty easy, as far as I can see, to tell the difference, actually. Here’s a quick quiz. See if you can catch the false visions:

A preacher says God told him to tell you to give him all your money so he can bet it in Vegas to pay for a new church.

A preacher says God told him to tell you that there is too much strife in the church today and that we should all pray together for unity

A preacher says God told her that all the young women should go out and prostitute themselves with young men in order to lure them to the church.

A preacher says God told her that her congregation has a special calling from God to help the victims of Katrina, and she will be taking up a special offering to send to Mississippi.

A preacher says that he is the real Son of God, and that all of the women in the church should leave their husbands and have sex with him instead.

I have seen or read about all of the above.

I think the problem is not whether or not God provides direction — in however a dramatic fashion He chooses. I think the problem is that *we* as observers evaluating the claims of others simply can’t take it at face value. But God is a pretty smart diety, and He has provided some simple rules for figuring out what is what. A little prayer and a little common sense go a long way, in everyday life — and in distinguising the voice of the Spirit from the effects of bad Sushi.