It may be my age, but when I was young there was no such thing as “disinformation.” We called it a lie.
The term we use today is a broad stroke of ambiguousness. I suppose that in all, it relies upon subjectivism, meaning an opinion leading away from conventional wisdom or fact. The whole subject boggles my mind. However, this “disinformation” thought has been around for centuries. Jeremiah addressed the most egregious matter when he called out the prophets of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 23:16 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:25-26 I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?
Perhaps one of the greatest offenses happens when self-proclaimed prophets or prophetesses speak things which do not come from God. They relay visions, dreams, or give “words” from their own minds. These are nothing more than control tactics borne from pride and self-will. While real visions and dreams exist, the opposite is also true. The information given does not come from God and it dilutes real authority and the operation of the body of Christ.
Jeremiah wrote, “among the prophets of Jerusalem…” meaning “among the people who should know better.” They knew the ways of the Lord and how the Word functioned among the people. They were familiar with God’s order of revelation and knew how to deliver the false word. They prophesied things which did not come to pass; things which were not of God.
Short of false christs comes people who subvert the anointing overseer. I’ve heard these voices most of my life. Faces change, but the “disinformation” persists. They seek position all the while thwarting any spiritual authority in their own life. I write of these things because we can not afford to be weak-minded or unaware. Do not believe a person who is self-promoted. Be aware to the voice which has no covering. The prophetic word, preached word, and spiritual gifts are here, but so too is the false, and self-serving word.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole