Mario Murillo publicly rebuked two “prophets” who have been widely embraced in prophetic circles and given large platforms to prophesy.
This past summer, Mario first called out Kat Kerr for her pronouncement of “mountains of jello” and other oddities in heaven…
But more specific were words she had given that didn’t line up with scripture. Most specifically that souls get a second chance after they die. That specifically goes against scripture. (Heb 9:27)
Prophet or false prophet?
Once Mario’s question regarding Kat’s validity went public, almost immediately people began to take sides. Those that stood with Mario and those that stood with Kat and/or Elijah Streams who had Kat on as a weekly guest. What happened next seemed to reveal just who was at fault.
Kat publicly stated she forgave Mario and held no offense. It caused an even greater stir. I mean that’s the correct approach, right? But while Kat said she didn’t take offense, many believers did launching out against Mario while Kerr was painted as the “victim.”
Like many I prayed as the battle continued to grow and go viral on social media. It’s important we realize the greatest danger is when we then take up an offense over issues like this.
The Bible warns, “Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own” (Prov 26:17).
What should be our response in situations such as this? Should we rush to someone’s aid or stand back?
How do we know what to do?
Years ago my husband and I went through an intense public attack. We were only in our mid-twenties but had been appointed as city leaders in an organization. An older couple took offense that we had been made the leaders instead of them.
They launched a stealth campaign to undermine us at every turn. Out of their offense, they resigned from the organization “because God told them to” but still wanted the benefits of being in an organization.
They went from house to house spreading rumors about us not only to the team, but also to the people to whom we were all there to minister to.
However, every time the couple had a financial or material need, they came running back for help. And every time we helped.
All the while they were still working to criticize and undermine our leadership with the team. We later learned they had sent multiple critical letters to the home organization with accusations against us.
This continued for FIVE years. Why? Because no one held this couple accountable for the accusations they made. No one required proof or better yet, required them to come talk to us with a mediator present.
SEE ALSO: Five Types of People–Which are You?
Churches have done a huge disservice to their congregation in how little Matthew 18 is taught which tells us in verses 15-17:
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.
But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.“
Kevin and I went to the offended couple personally 2-3 times in an effort to bring resolution to the issue and their feeling of offense. At least twice it resulted in tears and repentance from them for what they had stirred up.
Sadly the reprieve would only last 3-4 days before their offense returned and accusations resumed. The scripture, if you sweep a house clean but don’t refill it, the evil spirit will return bringing seven others and the latter state will be worse than the former (Luke 11:24-25) was especially true in their case.
Their short-lived tears and apology always resulted in even greater attacks soon after.
And after five years of this pattern, we grew weary.
Finally, someone from the home organization came to investigate. It was obvious, at least initially, they believed the accusations and had come to set us straight. However, after conducting numerous interviews with us and the team, they saw the attacks for what they were—jealous lies.
In an effort to heal and stem the damage done to our leadership, the home organization conducted individual meetings with everyone on our team. They denounced the lies and attacks that had been spread. I’ll never forget the response from one couple who had believed the lies and as a result treated us cruelly.
“How could we have known?” the wife insisted when confronted with the truth. Rather than offer an apology she doubled down and refused to accept responsibility for her part in spreading the gossip and creating further challenges for us.
But her question is valid and takes us back to the issue at hand.
How can we know? What should we believe?
SEE ALSO: When the Spirit of Suspicion is Released
What Mario brought into the light regarding the two prophetic voices was to take what they said and hold it to the light of the Word of God. He was simply holding them accountable. That is a biblical response.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1 NKJV). Also, “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said” (I Cor 14:29).
A prophetic word should be judged by the Word of God.
Does it agree? Or is it a “new word” separate from the Bible? Because the Bible must always be our standard and plumb line.
Prophet or false prophet?
Mario clearly outlines the areas from both individuals which do not line up with the Word of God and provides scripture and verse. Has his stand been popular? Initially he was the one attacked as people rallied around Kat Kerr out of “relationship” feeling the need to defend her.
While there are times in which we SHOULD run to defend someone who is being maliciously attacked, this was not that. Kerr and Bullock were not being attacked. The words they had prophesied publicly were being held up to the light of the Word for error.
SEE ALSO: What Happens When Prophet Attacks Prophet?
The danger for the Body of Christ right now is that we don’t take on someone else’s quarrel or offense. Instead, it is our opportunity to pray for all involved. We pray for truth. We pray for wisdom.
When we defend someone out of “relationship” thinking we know them and trust them we need to be cautious.
It is easy to miss red flags when we simply support someone because we love them or appreciate their ministry. But it can also be very dangerous when we take offense.
Offense will always blind us to the truth. Worse when we take on someone else’s offense, as this couple had against us, it will always destroy relationships and unity.
“He that passes by, and meddles with strife not belonging to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears” (Prov 26:17).
We cannot afford to allow strife to grow by taking sides in arguments just because we like someone or “trust them,” but where facts are unknown. It will never turn out well.
Even now in the Body of Christ I watch people take sides in this debate of Prophet/False Prophet narrative. My question is are we called to take sides or called to pray? Let’s be careful not to take a dog by the ears, but let the Word of God shine the light into every situation.
More coming on this debate.
