False Prophets
After hearing that some of her friends were hanging out over the weekend without her, your teenage daughter declares that everyone hates her. This, as you explain to her, isn’t true but she is insistent. Later, when you correct her poor treatment of her brother, she responds that your displeasure is yet another sign that everyone hates her.
A friend has been looking for a job for many weeks. He’s had a few bites but nothing has panned out so far. He is getting frustrated and discouraged and tells you that he is obviously a loser and that God doesn’t want him to have a job he likes. You do your best to encourage him but to no avail. Soon after, he applies for a position he’s clearly not qualified for and when he doesn’t get this job either, he reiterates his position that he will never find work because of his lowly status.
What’s going on in these two stories is what many refer to as self-fulfilling prophecy. Self-fulfilling prophecy is a particular type of sin that sets up a false narrative where whatever ultimately comes “true” is interpreted back into the narrative. How can we help someone who tends to be this kind of “false prophet”?
First, assuming we’re talking with someone of faith, we should remind them that it is indeed a sin to bear false witness (Exodus 20:16). Whatever the person is asserting might feel true, but that doesn’t actually make it true. Even though it’s self-created, self-fulfilling prophecy can have the experience of being something that happens to the person. When you’re able to show them they are actually sinning, this is actually good news: this means they can do something about it! Instead of multiplying sin by displaying anger, hopelessness, and even pride, they can seek the Lord in repentance. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 7 that worldly grief leads to death. Sometimes worldly grief expresses itself as self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead of grieving difficult circumstances, we might make up a false narrative that keeps us in perpetual sin. Godly grief, on the other hand, produces a repentance that leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Only then can we begin to talk about the true narrative that God is writing. That your teenager is not hated by everyone and ultimately is loved in Christ. Your friend can remember that God shapes us in our trials. Even, and maybe especially, when they are not expected or understandable. 1 Peter 4:12 speaks to this :
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
As you and I are tempted toward the sin of self-fulfilling prophecy, let us bear fruit in keeping with repentance, trusting our God who prophesies the truth that helps us rewrite our false narratives about who we are and how life on this side of heaven goes.