Want your Opinion

OK readers (all seven of you) -- I'd like you to put on your thinking caps and ponder a theological question with me.

There is a difference of opinion in Christian circles about the way God communicates with His people. I'll do my best to briefly describe position A and position B.

Position A
God communicates with Christians today in a variety of ways that involve the receipt of a specific prompting from God. This might be best described as an "inner voice" God. For example, God might tell you through some clear but somewhat unexplanable nudge that you should take Friday off to play golf. Or, in a more serious vain, God would respond to your prayer of "Who should I marry" by telling you "It's her, what are you waiting for?" Some holding position A might believe that they literally hear the audible voice of God speaking to them. Most would more likely say that they simply "feel" God communicating with them -- leading them in a particular direction. So, in this position, God is very active, and is advising His children regularly.

Position B
God communicates with Christians today by the same method He has used for 1,950 years -- solely through the Bible. The Word of God has been recorded by the authors of the Old Testament and New Testament. In it, God provides commands and principles for living a Godly life. When we accept Christ as Savior, we are regenerated (given new life) and become capable of responding to God's commands through the grace given us. Those holding position B would say that God does not directly speak to us in audible or inaudable voices. Instead, as a Spirit-filled Christian, our own reasoning and understanding of God's Word is sufficient to help us make good moral decision. In the marriage example, someone supporting position B would say that God does not care who you marry -- as long as the selection of your mate follows the principles that God has laid out in the Bible. Furthermore, that God would not communicate anything on the subject to you, beyond what can be reasoned when reading the Bible.

The Problem with Position A ...
How do you know when God is speaking, or when it is your own reasoning? And, if you conclude that it is God speaking, then you must conclude that God is providing millions of specific (and private) commands to people today. Failure to follow one of these commands would be sin. Failure to even know that God is speaking would also be sin. Also, if God does communicate this way, what are specific Scriptures that guide us about how to receive and interpret God's voice?

The Problem with Position B ...
What is the purpose of prayer? When Jesus says that we should "ask and it will be given to you," doesn't that indicate that God is in the business of responding to our requests? How many times have Christians prayed for the safe travel of a friend, or the healing of a family member. Are these prayers in vain because God doesn't operate in that way? And when we pray for wisdom to do this or that, we would have to conclude that, outside of what God has already revealed through the Bible, that no further wisdom is attainable from God. In other words, we make every decision by ourself.

If you need more clarification of the issue, ask. Otherwise, I look forward to receiving your thoughts. I know that most of you readers are thinking Christians, so I truly hope you will reply.