My neighbor was having a garage sale last Saturday and it happened to work out well for me. While doing yardwork I noticed the flow of traffic and realized I could easily walk my old grill over for them to sell. Perfect! “I can take a break from this incinerating heat AND make some money on the side!” As I approached my neighbor, I noticed that a well-dressed lady wearing a large hat and even larger purse was very excited about something and was sharing with everyone present. As her Jesus-fish-bracelet dangled with every hand gesture, I heard, “The other day God told me what it will take for this heat to go away! He said, if people would just repent, I’ll take the heat away. Mmmm Hmmm- that’s what He said.” I wanted to listen… and laugh. I wanted to discern… and dismiss. I just stood there and observed…. Thinking, “okay lady…:”
· So, exactly how many people have to repent before the heat ends?
· Could there really be evil people or other beings (aliens!) living on the sun? Is that why it’s so hot there?
· Why does the mid-west need to repent so much? What about New York City, San Francisco, or Las Vegas? Or other places all over the world?
· Didn’t people need to “repent” before this heat wave started?
· Will it remain 14 trillion degrees here perpetually until people repent? No winter?
· What else to God “tell” you?
· By the way, could you please ask Him when my house is going to sell?
We’ve all met them. You know. Someone who says “God told them…” Then they continue to express whatever amazing divine message has been transmitted to them. Honestly, it’s a little awkward for me. Because I DO believe God is real. And I DO believe God speaks. But don’t people use “God told me” to excuse things we all know God would never endorse? And what about competing claims about what God has “said?” Like the girl I know that God “told” was going to marry a certain guy… only it didn’t appear God had “told” him the same thing! What about things that seem possible? After all, many people claim to have “experienced” God. This experience got me to thinking… because “how God speaks” is more than a topic for joking sarcasm- it’s serious. Eternally serious. Here are some things to consider:
· God speaks through his creation and our conscience (also called “general revelation”). The grandness of the cosmos. The universality of moral law. These are things generally revealed to all people about God. Romans 1:19-21 and Psalm 19:1-6 speak to the existence and glory of God as revealed in His creation.
· God also speaks through His Word (called “special revelation”). While general revelation speaks to the God who “is,” special revelation speaks to the God who “saves.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 explains that God’s Word is inspired and is useful. 2 Peter 1:16-21 explains that God has spoken through His Word, as recorded by Spirit-empowered authors. In fact, this text reveals that human experience and “interpretation” must be compared to his objective, written Word. I find it amazing that the last half of Psalm 19 also points to special revelation through God’s Word. Obviously much more could be written here (and has elsewhere) about the reliability of the Bible, but my intent is not to go nuts writing a book- this is a blog.
· Ultimately God has spoken to us in the person of Jesus Christ, His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2, John 1:1-14). If we want to know what God is like, what He thinks, feels, believes, does, and claims, we need to look no further than Jesus.
So, I’m suspicious of anyone who claims to have a unique, special “word” from God. If the truth claim is already revealed in nature, or is confirmed in the Bible either generally or specifically, there is no need for a uniquely special “word.” If the truth-claim is not supported by His creation, His Word, or Jesus, then I simply dismiss it as a voice competing against God’s, or about something that’s just not that important.
(Sigh) Oh, well. I guess I’ll have to wait on the aliens question…
