A non-Christian friend recently asked me why God doesn’t speak to us today. The person was genuinely seeking an answer to what appeared, in his determination, to be a major reason to reject the truth found in the Bible. Why was it that God’s voice was so clear to the people of the Old Testament yet so vague today? Why were there angels walking around then but not now? Why did Christ walk the earth in the pages of the New Testament and not now? Certainly, my friend asked, if the Bible were real, God would still be doing these things.
The problem with this question is that it assumes the answer. When a person asks why God doesn’t communicate with us today they are assuming that He doesn’t. This is a huge assumption on the part of the skeptic.
From the Christian’s perspective, it is not unreasonable to believe that God is still communicating with us today. The Bible teaches that God demonstrates immutability (he does not change); He is as consistent today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow (see Malachi 3:6). If this quality of God is assumed then it stands to reason that if He wanted to communicate with people thousands of years ago, He still wants to today. The Bible also teaches that God is omnipotent – or all powerful (see Genesis Chapter 1 or Job 42:2). Basically, it is in God’s power to do anything. These qualities of God present us with the following reasoning:
If God wants to communicate with us
and God has the power to do anything
it stands to reason that God must communicate with us.
This line of reasoning jives perfectly with the practical knowledge that millions of people around the world claim to have heard from God; Christians and non-Christians alike claim to have heard from God in some way or another. It is an idea so pervasive that Christians often use words like “God told me …” or “God led me …” to describe a communication they have received from God. It is colloquialisms such as this that often make the non-Christian uncomfortable and their concern is often warranted – let’s face it, a person can use the excuse “God told me” to justify anything, right?
The beauty of Christianity is that it has built in checks and balances to protect us from using God’s voice to justify whatever we want. In John 10:27 Christ says that His sheep will know His voice. If Christ is God than He possesses the same immutability as God, His voice today is consistent with the voice we read in the pages of Scripture. Christ will never tell us something today that He wouldn’t have told His followers in the pages of Scripture. God will never lead us to do something that doesn’t align with the teachings of Scripture. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to put everything to the test to see if it is good, for the Christian who is in possession of God’s complete revelation (in the form of Scripture), this means comparing the voices we hear to Scripture. If the two conflict, we are not hearing God’s voice.
In a world with so many abusers, hucksters, and misguided people; the Bible stands as our litmus test for God’s Word. Religions that deny the Bible lack that litmus test and are thus open to arbitrary abuse and false teaching.
The nature of God’s revelation and communications with us is one that has progressed over time. In the pages of Scripture it was often necessary for God to communicate in dramatic fashion because the receivers of His Word were not in possession of the completed Bible. These dramatic miracles of God may not be necessary quite as often now. The complete revelation found in the Bible means that the method by which God communicates may have changed over time; however, He still has the desire and the ability to do so.
What does this mean to the Christian? It emphasizes how important it is to study Scripture. The Christian should be engaged in personal Bible study and seeking out a Bible teaching church that can connect them with teachers and preachers that know God’s Word. Without this study the Christian may miss out on hearing from God.
For the non-Christian, ask yourself how you would recognize God’s voice if you did hear it. What standard do you have by which to recognize God in your life?
Are you navigating the waters of life without a boat?
Excellent article! I love the emphasis on the written Word of God. If you don’t mind, I would like to leave the following link (How To Know The Voice of God) for your readers.
http://www.relijournal.com/Christianity/How-to-Know-the-Voice-of-God.283203
God speaks to every true disciple every day. It might not be an “audible” voice. More so for me it is — hard to describe– an inward impulse (can’t think of any other word) that might at times translate into words in my mind.
And, I have seen at least two angels. Have a story on that too. See the Peace In Providence series I started. I was around 4 when that event occurred.
An “inward impulse” is an apt way to describe it I think. I look forward to checking out your link, thanks Pete!