InterVarsity Press

Conversations: What About People Who Say God Talks to Them?

Carey:

I have lived most of my life as a "Christian," but I decided to give my life to God a few weeks ago. I felt the Holy Spirit and have been addicted to praying ever since.

I have heard of people saying that God talks to them, and I'm curious if this is in visions (which I have after praying from time to time) or if he is audibly speaking to them? Can you help me understand this?

Ruth:

You raise a very interesting question, one I deal with in my book published by InterVarsity Press: God Talk: Cautions for Those Who Hear the Voice of God.

People have claimed to hear God's voice in their prayer time through the centuries of the Christian era. But it is interesting that there is little or none of this mentioned in the Bible. Yes, God speaks, but most often in very singular ways such as in the Garden to Adam and Eve and to Saul on the road to Damascus. Or, God speaks in the midst of warfare or to tell Abraham to sacrifice his son.

In church history, the voice of God was claimed in the initiation of the Crusades and for many other battles, etc. But today when people say that God converses with them routinely and tells them mundane things about whether to take the detour or what store to shop at, they should realize there is no biblical precedent. That doesn't mean it cannot happen, but in biblical times I don't know of any incident when God is routinely talking with a regular bloke like me about mundane matters.

I hope this gives you something to think about.

Shalom.