suprised by the voice of God_jack deere: my attempt at a biblically critique.

SURPRISED BY REVELATION



An Honest Introduction



On occasion I had to set down Jack Deere’s book, “Surprised by the Voice of God” because of a deep frustration welling within my heart. I also had to stop listening to the lectures by Professor Kreider for the same overwhelming frustration emerged. It wasn’t necessarily either of these works in and of themselves, but how they intertwined and contradicted each other. Points within Deere’s book struck a resounding chord in my heart, as did Kreider’s lectures. But these two men represent different viewpoints of the revelation of scripture, a vitally important part of the Christian faith. Two well trained and intelligent men, with a deep passion for truth, were in disagreement over their understanding of the Bible and I was left unsure of who, and what, to believe. I felt like I was being tossed about like a ship in a storm and unsure of where or how to ground myself. Sometimes frustrations like this can lead, and leave, me to a paralyzed state. Previously when I found myself in this type of situation I put my uneasiness to rest as I identified the positive found within the differing viewpoints. But this time a paper was assigned to examine Deere’s book in light of revelation and other corollaries of scripture. How was I to complete this assignment with integrity? I could simply regurgitate what I had learned from class. Isn’t this often how students get through school? Determine what the teacher looks for and simply include those thoughts within any given assignment? But that would not help me figure out how to end the continuous cycle of frustration of my heart, paralysis of the mind, and then sugar-coating snippets of truth. This leaves me, to put in mildly, a push-over and ungrounded in truth. One cannot base their opinions upon what merely makes them feel good or ‘sits right on their heart.’ Major trouble comes when this is your basis for developing a belief system or grid for determining the way to live out a personal faith. What sounds good and pleasing is accepted, but sounds challenging is rejected. Deere’s book cannot be set up against the teachings and doctrinal statements of a seminary, but they must align with what the scriptures teach us. This is the basis for critiquing a work. We must not accept any teaching as truth without deep scrutiny of scriptures to determine its validity. It is dangerous to accept any teaching, either within the walls of a seminary, or a former professor. This paper attempts to examine Deere’s claims in light of scripture and what we understand as the revelation of scripture. It is not an attempt to state the validity of Deere’s claims.





Presentation is everything. Jack Deere’s book, “Surprised by the Voice of God” is not an exception. Something within Deere’s book tugs at the heart of many Christians in America today. They sense something is missing, a distance exists between them and God, and perhaps this is what prompts them to pick up a book with a title which implies the voice of God has been heard. Deere includes many scripture references which seemingly validate his view and experience. What he states tugs on people’s emotions, which prompts people to believe whatever he has to say. Are people so hungry to be close to God they would believe Deere even without the inclusion of scripture to back up his claim? Deere leads people to question if they are the close-minded, and conservative, and Bible beaters so often belittled in Deere’s writing. The reader begins to think all which previously believed might not just be close-minded and limited, but wrong. Throughout the book references are made to the more traditional, conservative, and orthodox Christian which the reader definitely doesn’t want to identify themselves because of the many negative connotations given to these groups.
“Many conservative churchgoers are appalled anyone would ever read the Bible like [miracles still occur]. They are certain every miracle in the Bible took place just as it’s recorded. Yet when it comes to applying the Bible to today’s experience, many conservatives are filled with the same kind of unbelief as the liberals. For many orthodox Christians, the Bible is a book of abstract truths about God rather than a guide into the supernatural realm of God’s power.” (Deere, 26)




This is one example of the overall attitude Deere extends towards the average church attendee. The average person who picks up this book will be drawn into Deere’s teachings through the captivating emotional attraction. The inclusion of scripture is just icing on the already appealing cake. Many who pick up a book with such a title already desire to hear from God which will cause slow their critical thinking skills. Also, Deere’s incessant jabs at the close-mindedness of traditional church goers cause the reader to want to place themselves in Deere’s camp of believing God speaks today through prophecies and dreams. No one wants to limit God! And that’s what Deere makes the reader feel if they disagree with his view. “But our hearts will never burn with passion until he becomes our teacher and enters into the interpretive process with us” is a statement Deere makes on page 264. While not an explicit statement what is implicitly implied is if your heart does not burn with passion perhaps you are doing something wrong and do not hear from God. “Also, the more we love God, the better we will hear his voice” is another statement on page 215 which causes the reader to think they must not love God enough if they don’t hear his voice. All of this to show the way in which Deere presents his point is just as important as the content of what is presented. Deere’s position is made stronger by the emphasis upon feelings as much, or more so, than proof. But just because something tugs at the emotions of a spiritually hungry heart doesn’t make it biblically correct and true. We need to examine what Deere states and the basis for his statements.

Throughout his book Deere asserts that God will speak to Christ followers who believe God still speaks today. Deere states on page 270, “Unbelief can stop our ears from hearing the voice of God and limit our experience of his power.” Scattered throughout the book are Deere’s personal experiences of those who believe in God’s power and hear the voice of God. These personal experiences depict divine revelation, which include specific details concerning the lives of people, past and future, and also how one should live their life (343-51). Deere stresses how hearing God’s voice should not be the exception in the church today but the norm. The supernatural events we read about in Acts did not end but continued throughout all generations. God longs to work in our lives in the same way if we just believed. A lack of belief, the conservative (literal) interpretation of the Bible, and the development of theological grids have all combined to create an inability for many to discern the supernatural phenomenon described.




On page 324 Deere states: “If others are to help us, what we need from them is true spiritual discernment, not reasonable advice.” This is a dangerous statement as it seems to lay a breeding ground for dissention within the church as it gives leeway to question opinions offered by others. We live and grow and work out our faith within the context of community, and it seems dangerous to belittle the significance of other’s wisdom. Deere does not define or explain how to determine if an opinion is ‘true spiritual discernment’ or simply ‘reasonable advice.’ Even if he expounded on how to determine the difference between these two, he has yet to unveil how reasonable advice is not sufficient to stop for personal reflection. Deere points to John 10:3-4 as a passage to show how we are to learn to recognize the voice of God. His basic point seems to center around how we determine if and when it’s God’s voice and not be swayed by others opinions. These statements are made as Deere explains how one can determine if the voice speaking is the Lord or not. Within these few lines the importance of community is diminished. Deere stresses how the individual understands and discerns God’s voice while the opinions and advice of the community is not as important. Even if the ‘reasonable advice’ is given from the basis of scripture, perhaps it is not spiritually discerned. This is dangerous in light of scripture being authoritative over the lives of Believers. Deere seemingly allows biblical advice to be thrown out if one thinks they have a deeper spiritual insight about a particular subject. Reasonable advice is often derived from scripture as exemplified in the book of Proverbs.



Deere explains how prophetic words today will never contradict what the Bible has already revealed, but only our interpretation. “He may contradict our interpretations of the Bible, just as he did Peter’s interpretations of the Levitical food laws (Acts 10), but he will never contradict the actual teaching of the Bible” (Deere, 323). Deere uses Peter’s supernatural vision described in Acts 10. Within this vision Peter saw the heavens open and a sheet with four-footed animals was lowered for Peter’s observation. The voice told Peter to kill and eat, to which Peter responded that he would not eat that which was unclean. This same vision occurred three times, and ultimately revealed God’s blessings extend to all peoples, not just Jews. Peter states later in chapter 10: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right” (John 10:34-35). Peter had not misinterpreted the Scriptures as Deere previously asserts. The food laws were one way in which Jews remained distinguishable from Gentiles. Daniel is an example of an Israelite who refused to defile himself by eating unclean food when captured by the Babylonians. The vision was given to usher in a new understanding that the two have now become one. Gentiles and Jews were now included together in God’s blessings. No distinction was to be made. This wasn’t simply a different interpretation of the scripture, but an entire shift in understanding.
Is this Deere’s understanding? That Peter’s vision in Acts 10 was ushering in a new understanding or covenant? Or is Deere stating the way food laws laid out in Leviticus were interpreted wrongly for generations? “But the Revelation in the Bible expresses God’s rule for all people, everywhere, at all times” (Deere, 279), within this text Deere is attempting to solidify his assertions in the uniqueness of the Bible’s authority. This statement however leads us to assume Deere believes the laws given in Leviticus still apply to people today, which is obviously not Deere’s belief. But this is not what he says. Deere is attempting to overemphasize his understanding of the authority of the scriptures, while also stating God’s voice is heard today but with a different authority. Returning to the original vision given to Peter in Acts 10 which seemingly contradicted previously teachings, what caused this revelation to be included in the Bible? On page 280 Deere states: “Private revelation had to first pass through the age of unique authority of the Bible. Nothing that contradicted the Scripture could be recognized as valid revelation.” Peter’s vision in Acts 10, and subsequent understanding that gentiles and Jews were now included together in God’s blessings, could have been viewed as against scripture. This teaching did not align with God’s emphasis on his chosen people of Israel found throughout the Old Testament.
Deere is attempting to show how prophecy and revelation today must align with the unique authority of the scripture. But this argument seems to fall apart as it was not followed in the gathering of the writings which made up the New Testament. Why are prophecies today not gathered and bound together in a book? Where is the line drawn? Deere states that prophecies must align with previous teachings in scripture, but why then were some of the writings gathered and included in the canon and others were not?




The argument Deere makes continues to fall apart when he discusses the actual definition of “God’s Voice” in chapter 9. Within this chapter Deere describes how the audible voice of God is only heard when a task is incredibly difficult. The audible voice only comes at a turning point in history, or where a task is to be preformed which is extraordinarily difficult. But, isn’t the book entitled, “Surprised by the Voice of God”? But here Deere is stating the only time the audible voice of God has been heard in history is at a definite turning point such as Moses (Num 12:6-8), Paul (Acts 9:1-9), and John (Revelation 1:10). Yet Deere goes on to state God still speaks in an audible voice. If this were to fit in with other historical moments God has chosen to spoke in an audible voice, shouldn’t these statements be made available to the public? However, those that have experienced the audible voice of God do not want to discuss their experience in public (Deere, 133).
Deere’s argument is inconsistent, and his main purpose become muddled as he attempts to find biblical support for his conclusion. At one point he asserts the unique authority of the Bible over all people at all times, and the next moment he states how the audible voice of God is heard at ‘turning points’ of history.
Throughout all Deere’s assertions an underlying feeling is gathered by the reader that scripture is not sufficient, but one must hear the voice of God if one is truly living in obedience and knows him. “God holds each one of us accountable to hear his voice for ourselves and to obey it” (Deer 185). If we do not hear his voice, then how can we obey it? Those that hear God’s voice are humble: “The birth of Jesus teaches us that the humble will be the first to hear the voice of God” (Deere, 40). The reader may wonder why they have never heard God’s voice, and Deere says it’s because they are not humble, and their life is marked with unbelief (Deere, 307-320). This point is made subtly by Deere, but nevertheless is woven throughout the book. This subtle push of Deere is not biblical, as it clearly states in II Timothy 3:16-17 scriptures are sufficient to equip the man of God for every good work.




When encountering new ideas it is important to keep a critical stance and guard what you hold to be true. Let the information flow through the theological web established from personal study, reflection and meditation on scripture. Let the bad fall away, but make sure the good is held onto. While it’s easy to reject a certain author or teaching because you do not agree with their stance, it doesn’t mean everything they say is false. (Satan is powerful because he is master of deception; he intertwines substantial truths with lies) One good thing to grab from Deere’s teaching is his warnings against Bible deists, which he himself claims to have once been. This is especially a strong warning towards those entering Biblical studies at a graduate level. “The key that unlocks the meaning of Scripture is not held by institutions of higher learning” (Deere, 262). We can study and have all the intelligence in the world, but still be far from God. Again, Satan and demons, are great examples as they know and believe God but do not obey him . “It is the heart that is the key to understanding God and his word” (Deere, 265). May our hearts be humbled as we continue this journey of knowing and understanding our creator. The Bible is God’s authoritative word and is useful for teaching, rebuking, and training in righteousness . The Bible never fails. To Deere’s own admission so called ‘prophets’ today have made mistakes. I would rather rest upon what has been proved useful for equipping the Believer for every good work, not upon some other’s words which may or may not be true.




BIBLIOGRAPHY

Deere, Jack. Surprised By The Voice Of God. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing
House, 1996.

Macarthur, John. The Macarthur Study Bible: NASB. La Habra: The Lockman Foundation, 2006.