Ez 2:25

"And whether they heed or resist -- for they are a rebellious house -- they shall know that a prophet has been among them."

That's...I'm trying really hard to get my head around that.

I guess I assumed the problem when people don't listen to prophets is their ability to deny that, well, that they are prophets.  That challenging the base credibility of someone claiming a direct line to God is the first order of business when you don't like what they're saying.  I mean, it's not all that hard to do, attacking the credibility of someone like that.

But do we know?  Do we always know, when a prophet has been among us?

Can we sense the people who speak with a direct line to God or as close as we come?

I can't really wrap my head around knowing someone is from God and not listening to them.  I see that it's true.  I see that it must happen all the time...but again, I always assumed that that was because people were challenging the premise -- that that prophet is from God.

Heaven knows that's what I have to do when I don't like what I'm hearing from a spiritual authority.  I go find other authorities and declare them the prophets.  I'm not saying I always get it right or my way is better.

But to say, "Yes, that's God's will" and then toss the person out?

By and large my sins are sins of thoughtlessness.  Which is worse in some ways because at least I'd be thinking of other people if I actively wished them harm.  Because you can attack those lines of thought.

And now I'm hearing a friend in my head who recently asked for the link to this blog.  So if you come up with any clever systems to make me more aware of other people, by all means let me know.

It's not that I'm any better than the people who know they have met a prophet and still rebel.  After all, I'm the one who's more likely to run that prophet out of town in a swell of self-righteous frenzy.