I re-read the article from this site "Does God Speak Today Apart from the Bible?" by R. Fowler White. I'm wondering if you can give me any more insight, specifically from Scripture if possible, on this issue. I'm specifically wondering about the issue of those who say they have heard something from God - this is either in words that maybe someone will then write down in their journal or one who will say they just know it was Jesus or God speaking to them about something that they needed to hear or go do.
I know there was a recent thread somewhere and the question was rightly asked of how does one really know the things he/she thinks they hear is from God. And I agree that that's a good question. But I'm trying to "combat" the idea of someone saying it's ok to "hear" something from God as long as it squares with Scripture. I had recently gotten into a discussion with someone about this issue. I was trying to make the case that the Bible alone is sufficient; but it wasn't getting through to the other person (and maybe it just won't). THe person argued back at me that I'm putting God in a box and also said that God can do anything He wants to communicate with us. Are there any other articles here or threads or books on this issue - that God doesn't have to speak to us today and that the Bible is sufficient?
Thanks for asking that question, janean. The same thing came up in my Thursday night study last week. We are studying Knowing God by JI Packer and were discussing the chapter called "Thy Word is Truth." There are several in my study who believe that God speaks to them "in their heads" and guides and directs them personally. My position, and I believe that of Scripture, is that God has spoken in His Word and all that we need for instruction, correction, reproof, etc in contained in the Scriptures.
Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love and the future to God's providence." - St. Augustine Hiraeth
Psalm 19:1-3 says, 1The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
Psalm 29:3-8 says, 3The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. 4The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 6He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. 8The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
And is God's Word (as contained in the Bible) sufficient?
2Timothy 3:16-17 says, 16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
And . . . . for those who believe that God provides them with "special revelation" outside of scripture, tell them that Revelation 22:18-19 says,
18I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
Scripture is sufficient, according to 2 Tim 3:16-17, to deal with all issues requiring us to do the right thing. We interpret ordinary facts through Scripture; this is how we judge and make decisions.
Get wisdom and understanding of God's Word, and seek no other source of authority for guidance. Any other source is a challenge to the sufficiency of Scripture, be it intuition, feelings, claims of prophecy or even a profound belief (since there are strong delusions that could endlessly deceive even the elect, were it possible).
On this note, I must declare a temptation some Reformed people may be vulnerable to, namely, the misreading of providences. Those who trust so much in the fact that all things work together for good to them that love God, and who have seen providential mercies in the past, are prone, I suspect, to reading things into providences and thereby claiming as promises things the Lord never promised. Just because certain prayers for a certain outcome seem to be being answered, it does not follow that the desired outcome will ensue. My life has almost been ruined with this error... Be warned!
flunky1 said: On this note, I must declare a temptation some Reformed people may be vulnerable to, namely, the misreading of providences. Those who trust so much in the fact that all things work together for good to them that love God, and who have seen providential mercies in the past, are prone, I suspect, to reading things into providences and thereby claiming as promises things the Lord never promised. Just because certain prayers for a certain outcome seem to be being answered, it does not follow that the desired outcome will ensue. My life has almost been ruined with this error... Be warned!
Thanks for the reply, flunky1. I'm not sure that what you describe is something that us reformed folks are particularly vulnerable to. Based on my admitedly limited experience, I see it ALL over Christendom. Fortunately, God intends all our experiences for the good -- even if it may seem "bad" from our very limited perspective.
Isaiah 45:7 I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Psalm 18:18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.
