I once heard that Buddhists believe there are reincarnated people in the critters and roaches that are scurrying about their villages. I always wondered how that would affect playtime for an 8 year old. When I was 8, we were putting bugs in cages, and launching search and destroy missions for pesky little creatures like roaches. If the Buddhist children can’t step on bugs, how do they play outside? Are there specialty shoes? What about roller skates? What about Pogo Sticks? I can only imagine that the parents take precautions to keep their kids from stepping on some unfortunate soul who’s been trapped in a bug’s body.  Instead of telling the kids to look both ways before crossing the street, they may tell them to watch both feet before stepping. Who knows? You certainly don’t want to squash your future descendants. That would be bad Karma, and that critter could be you in your next lifetime. So, just be careful.

Obviously, I didn’t grow up Buddhist. I grew up in charismatic circles, and we didn’t teach reincarnation. What I did learn, though, was that God was in just about everything: God was in that situation, that deal, that issue, that problem, that solution, that person, that service. There were also these phrases: “God confirmed. God revealed. God said. God showed. God told. God said. God demonstrated. God prevented. God cautioned. God prompted. God instructed.” You get the idea. God was everywhere, telling everybody everything. It was confusing at times, but I learned early to walk with caution in the Church-world.  You don’t want to step on something that people claim might be God, even if it was some crittery thing running around, that you really wanted to squash right into Glory. It’s far better to be safe than squash a God-thing. I must admit, it made me a bit neurotic at times. Especially when there were disputes as to what things God was actually in, and what He wasn’t in. Which “critters” did God actually dwell inside of? Which ideas? Which movements? Which gifts? Which teachings? Which denomination? Which church? 

In my naivety, I thought that Christians would tread more carefully around things that might - just might - “be God”, but they didn’t. Have you ever seen a Christian boldly proclaiming that he heard from the Lord, while someone else – at the same time – heard it directly from the Lord that this person was, instead, delusional – full of pride, ignorance, and after his own interests? Maybe you’ve done it yourself. I have, sorry to admit. Have you ever seen the Godfather?  Sometimes people really do go to the mattresses in the name of righteousness. Both sides hurt the other though words and attitudes. And both sides cry foul and appeal to God. The other side is obviously in the wrong. Anyone, with any spiritual sense, could see that. 

Here is the million dollar question: Who actually heard from God? Both? Neither? Are the Father and Son disagreeing these days and giving contradictory messages? What’s the real deal? The one certainty is this: great harm has been done to the body of Christ in the name of hearing from God. 

I’d like to discuss this elusive, mysterious concept of the “voice of God.” What is it? How do we know we’ve heard from God? Some claim regular, specific, almost verbal direction from the Lord. Is it trustworthy? Especially considering our chronic leanings toward self preservation and self-interest. 

Consider for a moment, the game of baseball. Now, I played baseball as a child, and I enjoyed it a lot. It was as if a whole new world opened up to me. Big playgrounds. Hot dogs with too much chile. Fresh cut grass. Beer-belly coaches. And the intoxicating idea of beating the stuffing out of another team. It was always an exhilarating experience for me; and I saw a lot of cool things. One thing that I never saw though: I never saw a team or coach yell at the umpire for making a call that went their way. Never. Not once. Have you? It’s amazing how all the knowledge of tactics, strategy, and rules serve only one purpose: Our Team. “Hey, he was safe! He was safe by a mile! What were you thinking, ump! What game are you watching! Get some glasses!” Sound familiar? Of course the very same boy would have been OUT if he was on the other team. The funny thing is, the coaches really believe they are right both times! They will see two different things, depending on which team they’re on. Judgment is tainted by desire to win. Amazing. And scary. Such is the power of self-interest, and the desire to win. It’s a chronic disease that plagues us, and I believe it taints our “hearing from God” more than we would like to think. 

We must ask ourselves why “God’s voice” mostly comes in the form of self promoting, ego-building directives, despite the spiritual garb that we clothe it in. 

Let me offer a question for you to ponder. Have you ever stopped to think that the Father’s voice asked Jesus to give up His position in heaven, His ministry, His reputation, His rights as God (right to be worshipped, adored, etc.), His Just Cause (He was doing the Father’s work, seeking and saving the lost), and even His life? How is it that God’s voice has changed to help us keep our kingdoms in tack, further our ministry (“His ministry” - just convenient semantics), protect ourselves, save our reputations, and our lives?

Are we hearing the same voice that Jesus heard? Or is it possible that we’re really just hearing from ourselves? 

Let me quickly add that I DO believe in the voice of God – real, current, specific – and that it is for today. But it has also been greatly abused. And I believe this is due to some foundational beliefs that are shaky. More specifically, I suspect that our understanding of hearing from God is incomplete and needs to be revised.