The Prophecy Problem: When Predictions Shape Your Pulpit

"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future." — Niels Bohr

Every pastor becomes a prophet, whether they realize it or not. Not in the sense of receiving divine revelations, but in the way they inevitably shape their congregation's expectations about what lies ahead. In Chapter 3 of The Game of Pulpits, Gary Comer explores this often-overlooked dimension of pastoral leadership: how our predictions—spoken and unspoken—become the foundation upon which our ministry strategies are built.

The Weight of Pastoral Predictions

Young pastors frequently underestimate the prophetic authority that comes with their position. When you stand before your congregation and speak about the future—whether optimistically about church growth or cautiously about cultural challenges—your words carry extraordinary weight. Comer argues that these predictions don't merely reflect your theology; they actively shape your church's reality by influencing how people prepare, invest, and hope.

Consider the pastor who consistently preaches about the church's decline in a secular age. While this might reflect legitimate concerns, such predictions can become self-fulfilling prophecies. The congregation, hearing repeatedly about an impending spiritual winter, may unconsciously withdraw its energy, resources, and evangelistic enthusiasm. Conversely, the pastor who speaks confidently about God's future work—while acknowledging present challenges—cultivates an atmosphere where faith and action flourish together.

This prophetic dimension of pastoral work traces back to the biblical prophets, who understood that their words about the future were never merely informational; they were intended to convey a deeper meaning. They were formational, designed to shape how God's people lived in the present. Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon exemplifies this perfectly: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce" (Jeremiah 29:5). His prediction of a seventy-year exile wasn't meant to discourage but to encourage long-term faithfulness and investment in their current context.

The Strategy-Shaping Power of Predictions

Comer reveals how pastoral predictions inevitably influence strategic decisions. If you believe your community is becoming increasingly post-Christian, you'll likely invest in apologetics training and cultural engagement. If you predict that young families will continue leaving your denomination, you might focus on children's ministry and contemporary worship styles. Neither approach is wrong, but Comer emphasizes that pastors must be intentional about the predictions driving their strategies.

The danger lies not in making predictions—that's inevitable—but in making them unconsciously or allowing fear-based predictions to dominate your vision. Augustine faced this challenge during the sack of Rome in 410 AD. While others predicted the end of civilization, Augustine chose to see God's eternal purposes transcending temporal upheavals. His City of God emerged from this prophetic stance, offering hope that sustained Christians through centuries of uncertainty.

For young pastors, this perspective proves liberating. You don't need to predict the future perfectly; you need to predict it hopefully and strategically. This means grounding your vision in God's character and promises while remaining flexible about methods and timelines.

Cultivating Prophetic Wisdom

Effective pastoral predictions strike a balance between honesty about challenges and confidence in God's faithfulness. They acknowledge real obstacles while maintaining that God's purposes will prevail. This isn't naive optimism but what Comer calls "resurrection realism"—the deep conviction that God specializes in bringing life from death, growth from apparent stagnation, and breakthrough from seeming impossibility.

The key is learning to distinguish between your role as a cultural analyst and your calling as a gospel herald. Cultural analysis helps you understand trends and prepare strategically. Gospel proclamation declares God's unchanging truth regardless of cultural shifts. Both are necessary, but prophecy happens when these two dimensions work together to cast a compelling vision for faithful discipleship in changing times.

How to Make This Work for You

1. Audit Your Prophetic Voice: Review your recent sermons and conversations with church leaders. What predictions are you consistently making? Are these predictions fostering hope and strategic action, or are they cultivating anxiety and withdrawal? Adjust your language to emphasize God's faithfulness alongside honest cultural assessment.

2. Practice Strategic Hopefulness: Before making major ministry decisions, ask yourself: "What future am I predicting, and how is that shaping this choice?" Ensure your strategies flow from biblical hope rather than cultural pessimism, even when addressing legitimate challenges in your community.

3. Create Vision-Casting Rhythms: Schedule quarterly times to articulate your hopes for your church's future, grounding these predictions in Scripture and God's character. Share these vision moments with your leadership team and congregation, helping them see how current faithfulness connects to future fruitfulness.