N.B. Reformed theologians do not believe God is revealing new revelation in our age, but I am not talking about a new doctrine or message per se, but something that can be confirmed by other believers and the Scripture and does not conflict with any known doctrine, et cetera Also note well that having an experience with God in the Word or hearing a voice doesn't make one a better Christian and he can brag about it. Blessed are those who have not [heard] and have believed (cf. John 20:29).
I don't want to dishearten any soul that believes God is speaking to their heart in a sermon. "Faith comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of God" (Rom 10:17). God honors His Word and it will bear fruit.
One of the leading theologians of the twentieth century, Karl Barth, said that the Bible becomes the Word of God when one has an existential experience with it. Mormons believe they get a burning in the bosom to verify that the Book of Mormon is inspired. I have had experiences reading John Grisham novels and this doesn't prove anything divine per se. I also recall that Aurelius Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, heard the voice of God through a child--or what he thought so to be.
Many a believer claims to have heard a word from the Lord in some notion. The Quakers listened to their "inner light" and got quite mystical. If you get a hunch or premonition or thought from somewhere outside your head be sure to test it by Scripture--the devil put evil thoughts into Peter's mind and Jesus said, "Get behind me Satan!" Francis Schaeffer wrote on the subject, "He is there and He is not silent." God is alive and well in His communication to us and hasn't retired dreams or visions speaking of which will be more numerous in the latter days. We don't want to become mystics who rely on feelings or secretive thoughts that others aren't confirming.
God speaks to us sometimes audibly but there will be no doubt it is Him! God can speak through the air vent if He desires but His primary methodology is through the Word; so learn to seek God's word to you in the Holy Writ itself because this is better than relying on sporadic or infrequent messages from heaven. God never contradicts Himself and all words from the Lord must be tested by the standard of Scripture.
Normally God isn't going to tell you something that He isn't telling others because by the same token "no Scripture is of any private interpretation" and this goes for instructions from God that involve others. To sum it up, we may be hearing from God--I don't want to discourage the seeker of God's will--but it also may be the pizza, if you know what I mean. I believe Christians may hear from God, but it is not normative and God's SOP (standard operating procedure) is to illuminate the Word and confirm it. Soli Deo Gloria!
I don't want to dishearten any soul that believes God is speaking to their heart in a sermon. "Faith comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of God" (Rom 10:17). God honors His Word and it will bear fruit.
One of the leading theologians of the twentieth century, Karl Barth, said that the Bible becomes the Word of God when one has an existential experience with it. Mormons believe they get a burning in the bosom to verify that the Book of Mormon is inspired. I have had experiences reading John Grisham novels and this doesn't prove anything divine per se. I also recall that Aurelius Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, heard the voice of God through a child--or what he thought so to be.
Many a believer claims to have heard a word from the Lord in some notion. The Quakers listened to their "inner light" and got quite mystical. If you get a hunch or premonition or thought from somewhere outside your head be sure to test it by Scripture--the devil put evil thoughts into Peter's mind and Jesus said, "Get behind me Satan!" Francis Schaeffer wrote on the subject, "He is there and He is not silent." God is alive and well in His communication to us and hasn't retired dreams or visions speaking of which will be more numerous in the latter days. We don't want to become mystics who rely on feelings or secretive thoughts that others aren't confirming.
God speaks to us sometimes audibly but there will be no doubt it is Him! God can speak through the air vent if He desires but His primary methodology is through the Word; so learn to seek God's word to you in the Holy Writ itself because this is better than relying on sporadic or infrequent messages from heaven. God never contradicts Himself and all words from the Lord must be tested by the standard of Scripture.
Normally God isn't going to tell you something that He isn't telling others because by the same token "no Scripture is of any private interpretation" and this goes for instructions from God that involve others. To sum it up, we may be hearing from God--I don't want to discourage the seeker of God's will--but it also may be the pizza, if you know what I mean. I believe Christians may hear from God, but it is not normative and God's SOP (standard operating procedure) is to illuminate the Word and confirm it. Soli Deo Gloria!
I am hesitant about the test of new revelation is legit if it doesn't conflict with what we believe the Bible teaches. Many topics are not covered by the Bible. E.g, who were the Nephalim and the giants before Noah's flood? Are we to accept a vision offering new info when the info in the Bible is too little to be contradicted? Is the universe of what is not covered by the Bible fair game to all sorts of new revelation? I hear this "as long as it does not contradict" standard a lot and it doesn't comfort me. I believe the Bible is fully capable of advising us on life and doctrine, so why do I need to heed what may be not even real?
ReplyDeleteAlso, please amplify your statement about God speaking audibly.
ReplyDeleteJoan of Arc claimed God spoke to her and they burned her at the stake. I do not necessarily believe the voice is audible to the outer ear but to the inner ear and no one else can hear it. The Bible is fully capable of advising us and is fully sufficient, but God reserves the right to do as He pleases and speak if He wills, but it is not new revelation or doctrine.
ReplyDelete