“Pure and holy ways”, that’s what polygamist, Warren Jeffs, says about his lifestyle.  In 2008 the authorities raided their compound in Eldorado, TX.  This was amidst allegations of young girls being forced into polygamist marriages, many to men who were much older.  More than 400 children were taken from the compound, but were eventually returned to their families.  Still Jeffs and 11 other men were charged with sexual assault and bigamy.  Seven of them have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms of between 6 to 75 years.

    Jeffs could face life in prison if he’s convicted of of sexually assaulting two underage girls.  Last week he fired his lawyers and decided to defend himself.  He believes himself to be a modern day prophet and that he speaks for God.  On Friday he demanded to read a message from God, ” I, the Lord God of heaven, call upon the court to cease this open prosecution against my pure and holy ways.   If the trial continues, I will send a scourge upon the counties of prosecutorial zeal to make them humbled by sickness and death.”

     Wow!  That sounds like a threat to me, but  it doesn’t sound much like the God I serve.  One true test of the validity of a prophectic word is does it line up with God’s written word.  Although polygamy was accepted in the old testament, it wasn’t in the new testament.  In      I Timothy 3:2 states, ” A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober…..”  This is when listing the qualifications for and elder or bishop in the church, so it must be important to God.  This is mentioned three times in I Timothy and again in Titus 1:6.

     Children have always held a special place in God’s heart.  They have such innocence and open faith in God.  I cannot see my God approving of sexual and emotional abuse.  These children are unfortunate to be trapped in this perverted world of abuse and polygamy, but God does not count it as pure and holy behavior.

     There is a vast difference between a false prophet who speaks to promote his own agenda and a true prophet of God who speaks the truth.  I believe there are prophets of God still being used today, but they will comfort and encourage us.  They may even chastise or correct us, but I have never known them to threaten us or speak in violation of God’s written word.