Biblomancy (John made up the word) is using the Bible for fortune telling. People ask a question, open the Bible, and blindly select a verse expecting an answer to their question. This is a misuse of the Bible since God is not a slot machine that responds when you insert a quarter and pull his arm. Why do people do this, other than it's easier than rooting around in a sheep's entrails? It probably stems from not understanding what is meant when the Bible is used to "hear God's word."
"Hearing God's word" is Christian-speak/slang for getting a message from the Lord. He communicates with us many different ways, ranging from actually speaking to us (check your Bible- that's usually a significant emotional event), to angelic messenger (another significant emotional event) to dreams to your conscience to hearing Him "speak" through others....you get the idea. Prayerful reading of the Bible is how most Christians most intimately encounter the personality and will of the living God- don't ask me how the Holy Spirit does it, He just does.
You can see how that prayerful ability to open the Bible and know the omnipotent, omnipresent God, Lord of all that is, seen and unseen, could easily be corrupted into a cheap magic trick. Biblomancy deprives the reader from "hearing God's word" because the reader has gone to the Bible entirely focused on him or her self. It can also be a form of idolatry in which a book made of paper is assumed to be an agent of Godly power. The Bible is there for communication with God, but on His terms.
More on this topic later...
Lastly, because I can't get the song out of my head, here it is: A Message From The Lord by Veggie Tales.
BTW- The person filming the clip smacked her little brother because he was interupting her. Listen for his "ow!"
This has got me thinking about all the ways God Communicates to us. This not by any means a full list please add if your inclined.
ReplyDeleteDirectly speaking to us. Of all the voices how do you know his voice. It says his sheep will know his voice. It bears the markings of the Holy Spirit. It is not Anxious, When you hear it will give you a peace even if what it is asking you to do will bring hardship or inconvenience.
You may hear it from an unexpected source. A family member. An over heard conversation or during the course of a sermon. Don't discount God using familiar sources to communicate with you often without their knowledge of how they are being used.
Doors opening and closing in your life. When a plane approaches an airport from a distance all the lights from the city look confused as the airport comes into view blue lights start to appear. eventually they line up and a runway is made clear. Often this is how events, discernment and the presentation and denial of events play out to show us Gods Purpose in our lives.
Dale said he knew God was his savior without ever receiving a clear message. King David said I was glad when they said unto me let us go to the house of the Lord. If you are attracted to the things, places and the people of God and your heart is Glad, that is God talking to you and letting you know you are one of his. Blessed are those who have not felt his hands or touched the wounds in his side and yet believe. If every where you look you can plainly see his works his signature, his design you are truly communicating directly with his spirit. This has a lot of power an sustainable energy since you can see heaven here on earth.
It says that you should pray unceasingly. Well you cant just sit in a corner all day head bowed now can you. How can we pray unceasingly? I submit that prayer is not just words or meditations it is a state of heart always open to the prompting of the holy spirit. That this openness is much like a walkie talkie turned on and awaiting a signal. Often we do not recognize when God is taking to us because we are not turned on and listening or watching or discerning the things going on around us.
Answered and unanswered prayer: I find every time I ask for something that builds the kingdom that prayer is always answered, sometimes the answer is NO as I cannot see all the works in progress I have to trust No answers even when they don't make sense at the time. Sometimes even years later I see clearly why the answer was no.
Fruits of the spirit.
Can you sleep at night? Do you have a clear conscious? Do you feel blessed? Are you at peace even when in tribulation? Are you filled with Joy? These fruits of the spirit are as audible as any voice. It is a hug from God that says you are one of his own and you will not be snatched from his hand.
Holding on.
Some times we do not feel God because we are holding on tightly to something. That something is absorbing all of our attention and we just can't let go or even admit that it might be a distraction. Some times we have to take a leap of faith and let go of things we think are so important so that the Lord can take us and use us to his purpose. Else we are chained to that object and sit idle.
I feel my conscience will actually ask me questions sometimes. I guess you could call it a still small voice. If I'm being lazy or putting something off my conscience will sometimes ask "what are you waiting around for?" or if I did something I knew was wrong my conscience might ask "what were you thinking." or "what did that accomplish?" I know that in the Bible God often uses questions with obvious answers as prompts of the spirit. I think these little questions are the Spirit using my conscience to point out the inconsistencies in my life. They hold up a mirror to thing I might have otherwise ignored.
ReplyDeleteFirst a confession: Liz... I thought I made up "Bibliomancy", but it turns out I did not. --- It is the use of books in divination. The method of employing sacred books (especially specific words and verses) for 'magical medicine', for removing negative entities, or for divination is widespread in many religions of the world. ---
ReplyDeleteIn my personal experience, I find that GOD Speaks to me ALL the time. I Do Not Listen All the time... but GOD most definitely Speaks in my Circumstance, in my Attitude, in my Understanding. I often find HIM Speaking (though Not in Audible Voices) in Circumstances where I am upset with Someone or Something else... some supposed Injustice done me. Many times its almost as if GOD is saying, " Now you know how I feel, when you do that. " Selah
John, can you hear me laughing out loud at your response?
ReplyDeleteWhitney, I dig God using the Socratic Method- His ways are infinite, and He uses whatever means reach us. Makes you wonder if the burning bush was because Moses was super holy or if he saw a burning bush because that was the only way God was going to get through. God performed massive miracles for the Israelites because the miracles witnessed to their rebellious hearts- knuckleheads- otherwise they did not continue to believe. (Exodus and Numbers and Joshua) "Ooo...mana and quail, pillar of fire, shaking mountain, split sea and river, etc., etc., etc., how about we worship a golden calf?" OK, I got off topic but I am leaving it there anyway because I like it.
" If you spend your time doing the DO's... you won't have time to do the Don'ts." : Mike Warnke
DeleteI do believe there is infinite power in scripture, but not necessarily from randomness. When Christ is tempted in the desert he is prepared with the word of God to refute the questions proposed by Satan. Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Applying lex parsimoniae (i.e. Occam's razor) it appears simpler and more effective to memorize and meditate on God's word than to try to gain understanding by randomness. I am sure I cannot rule out the value of the later, but by Christ's example I can clearly demonstrate the value of the former.
ReplyDeleteI Believe there IS Power in Words. Words Express and Unformed Concept... and Intention of the Will. I am just a man, and my words carry Power... How Much More the Very Word of GOD? When the Enemy challenges The Logos (though Unimaginably Intelligent) he is doomed to Lose; but not because Jesus Quoted Scripture... but, because HE IS Scripture. Before there was, I AM. If Jesus IS GOD (and I say that He IS!) then All Time / Space, etc... etc... etc... Exists Within *HIM, Because of H*IM and is KNOWN by HIM* Every Moment, Every World, Every Thought and Intention... Every Day and Every Word, I totally agree, Memorizing Scripture is akin to Sharpening Your Sword... but its Best to Remember the Victory has Already been Won.
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