Does God speak to us today? Let’s plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
So now, Newton says that since we have reasons why we should hear from God, let’s see what the Scripture says. Of course, having reasons why does not mean that it will happen. I can think of plenty of reasons why a lovely young lady should want to marry me. So far, I still remain divorced.
To make his point at the start, Newton’s first passage of Scripture is from Psalm 115:
Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.
Unfortunately, this proves too much in Newton’s case. He has looked at one part in verse 5 and tried to say that this is a statement about YHWH. It is not. It is about the idols. The Psalmist is saying that based on all the characteristics the idols have, they should be able to do what fits those characteristics. They can’t. That does not mean in itself that YHWH can.
However, while YHWH is certainly omnipotent, if Newton interprets this passage to be about YHWH, then he needs to be consistent. He needs to say YHWH has a mouth and can speak, eyes and can see, ears and can hear, a nose and can smell, hands and can feel, feet and can walk, and a throat that can make sound.
Which is actually materialistic concept of God that would be more akin to Mormonism. Yes. I know about the incarnation but God in His essence does not have a body.
The next passage is Hebrews 1:1-2.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
Yet once again, we have a problem, The text says God has spoken by His Son. First ,the soken is past tense. Second, it does not say God is speaking by a still small voice or dreams or internal nudges or feeling a peace or anything like that. That has to be added to the text. Newton even says about this text that God speaks to us through His Holy Spirit, but the Spirit is NOWHERE in the text. It is only the Son.
Next is John 16:13-15.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
This is said to the apostles. Does Newton give any warrant for applying it beyond them? None. It is just assumed.
The last is John 14:26 where the Holy Spirit will teach you all things. Newton adds we need to establish this fellowship by spending time in the presence of God. The problem is Jesus NEVER says anything like this. Not a single Biblical author says you need to learn to spend time in the presence of God to learn how to hear His voice. This doesn’t mean I am opposed to time in prayer and Bible study. Far from it. I am opposed to doing so for the wrong reasons.
So thus far, nothing I have seen establishes the claim and more argues against it.
Next time, we will look at what he says about the way God speaks.
In Christ,
Nick Peters
(And I affirm the virgin birth)