God Doesn't Whisper

by Jim Osman

It is woven into the fabric of modern evangelicalism. The subject of numerous books, conferences, and sermons every year, it’s promoted as essential for a vibrant relationship with Christ, and a measure of the maturity of your faith. What is it? Hearing God speak personally, outside of Scripture.But is God trying to speak to you through signs, impressions, and subtle promptings? Is He whispering to you in a still, small voice, hoping to grab your attention? Does Scripture promise that every Christian will receive personal, private revelations from the Lord?In God Doesn’t Whisper, Pastor Jim Osman examines the assumptions, practices, and proof texts of those who promote a theology of hearing the voice of God. Dig into the texts often cited in defense of trying to hear God speak outside of His written Word. Scripture is clear: God doesn’t whisper.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Christianity, Religion, Christian Non Fiction

319 pages, Paperback

Published August 17, 2020

Reviews

[Yibbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to get the negative out of the way first...
Three stars doesn’t in any way reflect my support for the author’s main point. It would have been five stars, but, it tends, especially in the early chapters, to get extraordinarily repetitive. As is started out as a series of articles, I can understand why it happened, but I still found myself getting annoyed by how many times it repeated the same arguments in a single chapter. By the end, though, you will understand what he is trying to say and context and sufficiency will be seared into your memory.
I would still recommend it highly. It teaches us how to base our lives not on shifting feelings and guesses but on the unshifting written Word of God. Osman’s careful exposition of various passages commonly used to support the idea of hearing from God is various ways is both interesting and freeing. I found it interesting as he shows us what each passage is really saying, or rather, what the author’s original message is to us. It was freeing because a correct understanding of any Scripture, and these passages especially, frees us from uncertainty and self-focus.
If you are wondering how to know God’s will for your life, read it. If you are confused about the importance of dreams, read it. If you are unsure how to hear from God, read it. You will grow in your appreciation of Scripture and the joy of the Lord.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sat, dumbfounded at what I was hearing, as the graduation speaker wrapped up his speech, his exhortation, his encouragement, to the graduating class of a Bible college where I served as an Adjunct Instructor. In essense, the climactic point of the man's speech contradicted one of the main things I had taught over and over in a number of my classes. I had given the prior 19 years to driving home the critical doctrine of the Absolute Sufficiency of Scripture. And yet, this speaker's mysticism was a subtle, or maybe not so subtle attack on the idea of sufficiency. I was stunned. I knew the drift of the school, much like much of Christianity, was towards this but never did I imagine that the main speaker would fly in from out of state and push such a mysticism. As a side note, I knew my days were numbered on the teaching staff at this point. This bothered me for months on end. And thus began the perpetual questioning, "Why do we feel we need to go outside of Scripture to have intimacy with God? In what way is what God has written and preserved for thousands of years somehow insufficient for our lives? Does God speak to us outside of His Word? What is the biblical basis for making such a statement as what this man made as he brought his speech to a close?" These were just a few questions that I pondered in the days and months following that saddening evening. I knew that all around me are professing believers who have never considered that perhaps God's communication to us is wrapped up in the 66 books of the Bible and He doesn't speak outside of the pages of that amazing book. So, when Jim Osman's book title came across the computer screen, I knew, I must read this book. So should you. But let me warn you: You may see a sacred cow get slaughtered.

Osman begins the book by telling his story of the turmoil of being at a Bible college, wanting to know God's will for his life, hoping that, like other students, somehow he could hear the voice of God making it clear what God wanted him to do. He wanted to hear a voice, perhaps a still small voice; Or maybe some miraculous sign (an offer from someone to pay all of his tuition), something to let him know if he should return to school. Nothing is more frustrating when others supposedly have heard from God and yet, there you are, the person who equally loves Jesus, having submitted your life to Him, and yet no message from God arrives telling you what His will is for your life. Such was the delimma that the author found himself in. Parenthetically, I could fully relate. I remember all too fondly during my last semester in Bible college sitting around with friends, listening as they explained that God had led them to, go to seminary, go to the mission field, or take a pasorate position somewhere. Then there'd be the normal question, "Blake, how about you? What does God want you to do after we graduate?" I always offered the profound answer of, "I have no idea. I'm headed back to Montana." I didn't wrestle with the issue perhaps, to the degree that the author of this book did, but I know others that did. They questioned their walk with God. One even questioned his salvation because he wasn't hearing from God about God's will for his life. Osman's story lays the ground work for the reader to consider whether God speaks to His people outside of His Word. He writes to refute something that he once held to in his own personal beliefs. He focuses the reader on what is called, the "hearing the voice of God" movement, (HVG, from now on in this review, as this is what the author does throughout when referring to the hearing the voice of God movement). Osman goes after a sacred cow within the conservative evangelical church, and as such, he won't win a popularity contest. What he writes needs to be said. What he writes is really a call to the church to not only believe in the sufficiency of Scripture, but to truly practice what the church says it believes. Osman is rightly concerned, deeply concerned about the HVG's view of God, their view of God's Word, and what the church as a whole truly believes. What he writes about has to be stated. It has to be heard.

Osman begins his book with three sections talking about the faulty assumptions upon which the HVG movement is built: 1. "I need to hear from God outside of Scripture"; 2. "I should expect to hear from God outside of Scripture"; and 3. "I must learn to hear from God outside Scripture." Osman rightly, takes issue with each of these statements. Fundamentally, behind the HVG movement is a subtle attack on the Inspired, Inerrant, Authoritative, All-Sufficient Word of God. Osman takes issue with the ideas promoted within the HVG movement, ideas such as "listening for a still small voice, watching for supernatural signs, and being led by feelings and impression...", for behind these methods there are "several beliefs---unbiblical beliefs--- regarding the nature of God, the nature of Scripture, and the nature of our relationship to both." The author examines each of the faulty assumptions and shows how each of them cannot be supported by Scripture, and actually promote an inadequate and wrong theology of God and of His Word.

In Part 3 of this book, Osman takes nine chapters and examines nine commonly used phrases from those within the HVG movement. Those nine topics are: 1. I heard the still small voice (I see this one used quite often); 2. The verse jumped off the page (in my earlier years of ministry I probably used this one myself...to my shame); 3. God gave me a sign; 4. God opened the door (this is one of the most popular ones. Who hasn't heard or used the open door or closed door analogy?); 5. I put out a fleece; 6. I had a peace about it (this can be a tricky one, but is widely used as well); 7. I felt led; 8. I had a dream; and 9. I saw a man in white. Each of these ideas have been widely promoted within the non-charismatic evangelical church and that is why the Evangelical church needs to read these chapters. This is NOT a "charismatic-vs-non charismatic issue."

In each chapter in this section, Osman evaluates the teaching and teachers that popularize and promote the specific statement being examined. In evaluating the various teachings, Osman does a masterful job of showing how verse after verse, which are used to fabricate support for the various points, are verses that are taken out of context, thus they merely become a proof-text, yet we know, proof-texting and taking verses out of context is never a good way to use Scripture. Over and over, the issue comes down to a view of God, God's Word, and one's hermeneutic (Hermeneutics is the art and science of Bible interpretation) used to arrive at using said verse to support the point being promoted within the HVG movement. What intrigued me was that, in 30 years of ministry, I have heard many times, the use of these nine statements that are used by someone wanting to know God's will for his/her life. In fact, much to my shame, over the years I've seen myself use one or two of them. I remember using the open door/closed door concept to try to determine if I should do something in life. I remember thinking that since I had a peace about a particular decision I had made, that obviously, God was telling me to do it. I mean, I felt led by God to do what I was going to do. After reading Gary Gilley's book, "Is That You Lord," I began to realize how I had bought into some of the unbiblical teaching/beliefs on God's will. Like Gilley, but much more extensively, Osman does a masterful job in exposing the unbiblical line of thought under each of these beliefs that flow out of the HVG movement.

The author ends his book in section four by taking a look at how the apostles made decisions; how to make decisions with HVG, answering questions that people have about the author's view of HVG (this is excellent), examining the bad fruit of HVG theology (this section is so very helpful), and then ends with a final appeal.

I agreed with what the author presents throughout this book. It was gracious, yet on-point. Jim's humor and his own personal struggle with this issue of hearing from God make the hard truths of this book, much more palatable to one who truly wants to be a nobleminded Berean (Acts 17:11). His writing is specific and lets Scripture, rightly interpreted, be the final authority. It addresses an issue that is absolutely critical for the Christian to figure out. It provides hope, great examples, and much fodder for discussion. I imagine the author will get much pushback from what he has written in this book, but he shouldn't. Those who love God's Word and want, more than anything, to handle His word accurately, will find that this book will resonate with them.

I did not find any notable weaknesses with this writing, except that the author has terrible tastes in pro-football teams. He really needs to turn from the error of his ways and embrace the Dallas Cowboys. All joking aside, there were really no weaknesses that I found within the pages of the book. I think the one chapter on "I Saw a Man in White," perhaps will be the one that the author will receive the most pushback towards, but, as for weakness, I think his points in this chapter were spot on.

I like how Osman ends the book in his final appeal when he says, "...Our experience proves nothing. It might agree with truth. It might contradict truth. It does not determine truth. God's Word does."

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books on the concept of hearing God's voice apart from Scripture, most of which support it in one form or another. This title is the most Biblical one I've read by far. The author's basic premise is that God speaks through Scripture, period. God has spoken and is still speaking, through Scripture. He takes the popular HGV (Hearing God's Voice) theology and dissects it, examining various aspects in light of Scripture. Again and again, he demonstrates that it has no genuine Biblical support. He is extremely thorough, covering just about every angle of HGV theology that has been promoted. He names names of prominent Christian teachers who are HGV-oriented, but to his credit he doesn't bash them. There are no personal attacks here -- his arguments are all directed to the unbiblical, irrational nature of what is being advocated. As a cessationist, he even graciously cites one author who is a continuationist, but who agrees with him in his opposition to HGV theology. At the end of the book, he responds to common objections that are raised. I commend the author on a job well done here, and on having the courage to write it. HGV theology is extremely popular in evangelical churches today, both Charismatic and non-Charismatic. To take such a bold stand will no doubt bring the author under fire. Personally, I've been leaning this direction for some time now, and this book just solidifies my convictions. The way to hear God's voice is to prayerfully read and study the Scriptures, period. God's word is sufficient. I highly recommend this title.

[Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 star for me. I really struggled with this book. Right from the beginning his tone and anger comes across loud and strong. It was quite off putting. I understand he’s very passionate about this topic but I think the strong bias coloured everything and some of his views about what the other preachers were saying and thought were a reach. While some of his thoughts were helpful and certainly had me thinking, I had no idea what he did believe and ascribe to apart from just reading the bible as a book of knowledge, it didn’t even seem to be alive and could speak into our hearts. I was so confused. He did try and explain this right at the end of the book but that still left me confused. I totally understand and agree that people are looking for experiences and getting rid of the bible which is very dangerous. I just think Osman has swung way too far to the other side.

[Ayden Tilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very easy to read, understand, and follow. Jim Osman does an amazing job of clearly outlining the beliefs of the Hearing the Voice of God group, including the Scriptures they cite, and then showing the context of the Scripture, and why the theology is inaccurate and heretical.
Something I found going through this was to see how easy i can see it being to fall into these beliefs. It sEEms that the Scripture lines up and it sEEms that God could still be speaking to me today, but then Osman shows us what the Bible actually teaches, and in some cases, dOesn’t teach, and you realize the fallacies.
He ends with showing how we can actually make decisions in a godly and correct manner and how we can trust Him to guide our steps in our lives.
Scripture is sufficient. God doesn’t whisper. ✌🏻

[Mark Dunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author talks too much ,and endlessly repeats himself. For some reason after making an argument we can all agree with, Scripture is sufficient, he goes a rant about Calvinism. It's sad that ,for some people, Calvinism is the gospel?

[Todd Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! This book needs more than 5 stars! This may be the most needful book written in recent years. I honestly cannot think of a book written by a man that would change the modern pulpit and the lives of churches members if they would just read it. The reason this book is so powerful is that it points to Scripture alone as our guide. This book points to THE book as our source for truth. Perhaps the biggest problem in churches today can be boiled down to a rejection of the sufficiency of Scripture. This is no longer only the case in Charismatic circles. Many "conservatives" don't even realize they are rejecting that ever important truth as well.

People today want to believe God is speaking through everything from a random thought to a bubble gum wrapper. But Osman makes the case Biblically that God has given us a far more sure Word—something we can trust at all times. God has given us the Bible—His "breathed out" Word.

Read this book. Share this book. It's worth the price and the time.

[Stephanie Whitebread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Good solid information. However, I feel there was a lot of repetition in what was written. The same information could have fit in half the pages.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important book but could have been shorter

[Josh G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to be clear: I am not a cessationist, so I don’t follow Osman to every conclusion. But I believe the substance of this book is a thorough, biblical, and detailed refutation of the widespread belief that Christians should expect to feel/hear the voice of God through subjective impressions, hunches, signs, intuitions, circumstances, and more.

Osman builds upon the works of Gary Friessen (Decision Making and the Will of God) and Greg Koukl (Stand to Reason lectures and articles) to specifically engage some of the proponents of the hearing the voice of God (HVG) doctrine (eg. Willard, Blackaby, Morris, Shrier, etc).

I really appreciate how Osman actually engaged with the arguments of the HVG view — he didn’t just say “Dallas Willard teaches…” and provide no citation. Instead, Osman provides substantial documentation and responds with exegetical clarity and pastoral concern. Along the way he addresses the most common biblical proof texts (eg. 1 Kings 19; John 10; Colossians 3:16), answers common questions, and demonstrates both the supremacy and sufficiency of Scripture in receiving revelation from God.

Additionally, Osman shows how the voice of the Lord in the Bible is demonstrated by a few common elements. I would summarize it like this:

1. It was External: it is not an inner voice, impression, or intuition. Rather, it is truly an audible voice—a verbal statement or declaration that is physically heard with physical ears. It is not a metaphor for “deep inner feelings” or “a powerful sense” of something.

2. It was Obvious: biblical characters didn’t need to wonder if God was speaking to them. It was clear, unmistakable, and overt. God was not "trying" to speak; He was speaking and their response indicates how obvious this was.

3. It was Unexpected: the biblical characters did not have a practice or a discipline of hearing Gods specific, inner voice to them. Rather, when God spoke or the Holy Spirit intervened for the purpose of guidance, He did so (seemingly) out of nowhere. The voice of God, in other words, was not the result of “tuning into Gods frequency.” It was the divine intervention of Yahweh for a specific redemptive purpose.

4. It was Unusual: I’m certainly open to God intervening to give me a specific word of guidance for my life—either directly or through a prophetic word. But we must ask how normative such activities were—even in the Bible. The book of Acts is commonly mentioned as the clear proof for the notion that hearing Gods voice is just simply “the normal Christian life.” Osman helpfully shows that during the 30 year span the book of Acts covers, there are only 14 examples of divine speaking—and some of these aren’t very clear. Even with this high number, that amounts to about 1x every other year — even at the dawn of the Messianic age in which the Spirit is poured out on all of Gods people. By contrast, there are over 70 examples in Acts of the apostles making decisions based upon common sense, sound judgment, or biblical discernment. Koukl covers this in detail here: https://www.str.org/w/divine-directio...

Certainly, God can speak to us outside these means. But how does He do this? Is there scriptural warrant for such frequency of speaking? If this is such an essential, vital, or even important experience for the Christian, then can we point to a place in scripture that makes this clear? Osman demonstrates how such is not the case and that the proof texts for such a position are exegetically fallacious. Koukl provides a helpful balance here: https://www.str.org/w/acts-and-the-vo...

"God sometimes does give specialized instructions, so I’m not saying that God can’t do that and I’m not putting God in a box. He does sometimes give specialized instructions. He did in Biblical times and He does in the present. But when we read in the Bible especially in the New Testament, which is what our discussion is about today when He has done it, such specialized instructions are clear first of all. They are not mumbled. They are not whispered. They are not nudged. And they are, almost without exception in the New Testament, a sovereign intrusion by God into the circumstances rather than something that is first sought by a Christian."

Osman makes a really good observation about 2/3 of the way through the book: The HVG system doesn't require the Bible. In other words, if you replaced the Bible with a news article you would still find the same phenomena—intuitions, confirmations, words leaping off the page, etc. Why? Because this method of divine guidance undermines and practically denies both the necessity and sufficiency of Scripture. Something else is needed (eg. additional guidance, specific direction)—something not taught in Scripture (as Osman shows), but read into the text at various places. Osman briefly shows how much of what we read into our "confirmations" can really be attributed to psychological factors like the Baader-Meinhof effect. This was a great observation.

In fact, I would really like to have seen a whole chapter on psychological factors that contribute to alleged experiences of hearing the voice of God (eg. the various types of confirmation bias). I think such an exploration could provide valuable insight into why people earnestly believe they’ve had an encounter with God, but in fact they’re likely experiencing what is common across human experience — both secular and religious. In my experience, sometimes the default reason for holding out promise for God to speak outside of Scripture (or outside of Biblically modeled means) is because of the nagging question, “How else do you explain that?!” Such an exploration could potentially provide needed language, categories, and an interpretive matrix for consideration.

There are times when I think Osman painted with too broad a brush. For example, I completely disagree with the conclusions he draws in his chapter on Muslim conversions. I think he makes a sharp either/or distinction (eg. Dreams and visions vs. proclamation of the gospel) that is most often a both/and in which someone first encounters Jesus in a dream and then is lead to hear, respond to, and believe in the gospel.

These knocks aside, this book provides a helpful and needed antidote to an unbiblical and perplexing mysticism that is permeating the modern church. Osman concludes with a more biblical alternative — a summary of Gary Friesen’s Wisdom Model. This approach is remarkably simple, liberating, and can be clearly demonstrated from a sound exegesis of Scripture — none of which can be said for the HVG approach.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agree!

While written in an easy to understand fashion, this book is incredibly helpful and full of Scriptural reasoning answering all arguments on God's communication with people. This is useful for supporting theological positions and allowing the Bible to guide and define and regulate our life. Sola Scriptura.

[Thomas Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given the mysticism across the evangelical landscape, this book provides a thoroughly biblical approach contrasting modern notions of “hearing the voice of God.” Osman interprets each topic (revolving around personal direct revelation, such as hearing a still, small voice) in its biblical context. I don’t agree with every word, but I highly recommend this book.

[Wesley Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done, well exposited. This challenged some of the ways we commonly think about God speaking and I can’t recommend it enough.

[Steve Croft · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Which passage teaches that we must learn to listen for Gods voice? Where does it say, his voice is difficult to hear, challenging to discern and waiting to be heard? You won't find it, yet without any biblical precedent, whether by explicit teaching or example, HGV teachers suggest Gods voice is so easily eclipsed by the noise of our daily lives, and so quietly whispered in the recesses of our daily minds, that we are in danger of missing it."

"We need one example in scripture of someone who didnt hear God because he hadnt learned how to hear his voice, there isnt a single example in all of scripture of someone learning this discipline, or needing to do so."

Ok, a lot to unpack here. Firstly, I agree with the primary message of this book, and its something Ive been thinking about for a while. Basically, Osman sets out to prove that God doesnt speak to us in the methods generally taught in pentecostal theology. These are thoughts, feelings, leadings, still small voice, signs, opened doors, having 'peace' about a decision, verses 'jumping off a page' for us..etc

God speaks to us via scripture, and thats it, end of story. Osman provides a comprehensive biblical study showing that any verses used by hgv (hearing Gods voice) teachers to teach these methods are completely taken out of context. He argues that if God wants you to hear something, you'll hear it. For the most part, I agree. However I have some issues.

- Firstly, this book lacked some humility. It felt like a personal crusade against Dallas Willard and others. I would guess his name was mentioned over 50 times. I dont think there was any need to personally attack any other man of God.

- I dont believe that just because the bible doesnt say something that you can put God in a box and say 'He does not do this!'. I think he should approach it with more humility and say 'The bible does not teach that God does XYZ, so we shouldnt expect it, but he might, he works in mysterious ways!'

- Osman is a big proponent on the sufficiency of scripture, but I think he takes it too far, in fact maybe even contradicts his own views. For example, he says dreams and visions arent taught in scripture as a way for the gospel to proceed, so all these reports of Muslims having them must be tricks of the devil, or fake. However he is also a hardcore cessationist, which is not very defensible via scripture alone.

These were the things I liked and agreed with:

"The goal of reading scripture, is to discern the original authors intended meaning... Scripture cannot have a meaning to us, that it never had to the original audience."

"Once you believe messages from God come from thoughts, outward signs and thematic circumstances, there is nothing that will stop you from trying to discern a message behind a floating beer can"

"It's the path of least resistance thats considered the 'open door' in HGV theology" 

2 Corinthians 2:12-13 
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

"Scripture never directs us to determine Gods will for us via our feelings, never"

"I would never suggest that the spirit of God does not lead us, ofcourse he does. But this leading is not whispers and voices. He leads the Sons of God to mortify sin and live in holiness. He does this for all believers, because all believers have the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8, being led by the spirit and living according to the spirit are synonymous"

"We dont see the apostles or other Christians in the NT waiting to hear from God before making important decisions. They didnt listen for voices, read signs, wait for promptings, examine their feelings, watch for themes, wait for a peace or seek confirmations before acting... They lived in obedience to the revealed moral will of God in the word and applied wisdom before making a decision."

"The spirit regenerates, fills, sanctifies, convicts, comforts, gifts, encourages, enables  and strengthens us. He guides our prayers, gives us holy desires, testifies with our spirit that we are children of God and leads us into holy living. He illumines the word of God, empowers believers for service and produces fruit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is very active in the lives of Gods people, none of these are the voice of God, none of these involve speaking"

[Lewis Kiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

It doesn’t seem like enough to say, every Christian should read this book… Instead, I almost wanna insist it be mandatory for every confessing Christian to read this, and early in their life.

Like many others, I was taught that we should pray to seek for internal impressions or special promptings from God… Which inevitably leads to disappointment and frustration.

I am just beginning to see the freedom there is in a proper understanding of how God does and doesn’t speak to us.

I am incredibly indebted to the author for his work in writing this book. There are a couple places in the book where it is somewhat tedious to read as the author exegetes passages in detail. However, these sections are both needed and helpful as they are so often mishandled by the HVG crowd.

A proper understanding of what the author proves beyond any argument, would have put a delightful end to some of the silliness, that too many have endured at Baptist business meetings.

Read the book. Enjoy your freedom in Christ. And stop walking on pseudo-spiritual egg shells.

[Tom Findysz · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 The Evangelical church is fraught with sayings and words which are so out of place. It is good to step back from the "Christian-ese" sometimes to evaluate the truthfulness of what it is we are saying.

What do you mean when you say, "I felt God telling me in my spirit..."? How ought we to view Scripture and its authority? Does God still give revelation today? Does He give personal revelations?

This book gave me much freedom. I have lived a life full of the fear of doing the wrong thing, often finding myself in analysis paralysis. This book has walked me through the Scriptures to understand how God speaks to His people today, and knowing that God has granted to us all things pertaining to life and godliness gives me the confidence to act-- to act based upon the wisdom of the Word.

I'm very thankful to Jim Osman for writing this book. Thank you for helping your brothers and sisters. Peace.

[Rachel Hillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many in the Christian culture who promote a relationship with Christ as looking different than what the Word says it is. It can be very confusing because doesn't every Christ-follower want the closest possible relationship with their Savior that they can have?! We have to examine the Scripture's daily to see if what many popular Bible teachers claim is actually True or if it's just the truth that they've created in their own minds and then taught as Truth from God's Word. This book explains the issue clearly and then call's us KNOW Christ by reading His Word! Good stuff!

[Lone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thorough book from Osman. Coming out of NAR and WOF this book is a great help on the way. His knowledge of Scripture and his honest and clear view of false teachers that claim God is speaking to us in signs and nudges is refreshingly helpful.

[Sarah Anne Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Osman deserves a solid four-star rating for his expertly crafted defense of Scripture as God's sole method of communication with His children.

However, I withhold a fifth star because I feel a small portion of his argument is guilty of overcorrection and veers almost too far to the other extreme.

Osman's book critiques a viewpoint to which he refers as Hearing the Voice of God (HVG) theology. Rather than a heretical mentality embraced only by a few fringe circles, it is a popular but nonetheless dangerous philosophy that has pervaded the larger Evangelical sphere. Those who ascribe to HVG theology claim that God uses extra-biblical modes of communication (circumstances such as open and closed doors, dreams and visions, signs, hunches and impressions, etc.) - to guide our decisions on matters not addressed in Scripture. HVG advocates insist that God's "still, small voice" through these various methods direct us to make the right choices (which job offer to accept, which person to marry, etc.) and confirm His specific will for our lives.

At the risk of being occasionally repetitive, Osman delivers a phenomenally thorough explanation of the HVG system. He identifies and defines several key words and phrases its adherence use, as well as examines the various Bible passages upon which they rely to support their position (which, through careful exegesis, are revealed to be taken severely out of context) - the most notable of which being John 10:27. Osman devotes one chapter to each mode of communication from God (according to HVG advocates, that is) and explains how these methods of obtaining direction from God not only lack biblical support, but also have faulty circular logic and contradict themselves in order to "work." For instance, HVG advocates insist that the ability to "hear" God's voice determines our solid standing with the Lord (if you can't hear it, then you're not close with God and might not even be saved), but also that the ability to hear God's voice requires practice and "tuning into His frequency." So...which IS it, folks?

I agree with Osman on the vast majority (probably 90%) of his points. I particularly concur with his position that HVG theology vastly underestimates God by reducing Him to a being who *tries* to get our attention and whose success depends on our ability to receive and interpret these vague messages, as well as dismisses the security we have in Christ and His unchanging Word. In short, examining HVG theology reveals a system that grossly misrepresents the truth about Who God is and who we are in Him.

Some reviewers here feel Osman's tone is too abrasive, but I never sensed that. In fact, I noted a warm, sympathetic undercurrent beneath the fierce torrent of support for his position (which I received as passion for the truth). At one point early in the book, he even outright addresses some people's assumption that he desires to destroy their intimate relationship with God. He responds by asserting the exact opposite: that he desires nothing more that to restore people's intimacy with God by exposing the truth (because it's impossible to enjoy a genuinely close relationship with someone if that connection is based on lies).

I particularly appreciate the transparency by which Osman opens his book. He describes an experience from his past during Bible College in which he tried to discern whether to return for a second year or pursue an accountant career. He prayed about this decision fervently, asking the Lord to reveal via a sign how he ought to choose. His despair intensified as his classmates allegedly received clear, divine direction on various personal decisions in their lives, while he continued to receive no indication from God which choice He willed him to make. Terrified of disobeying his Lord, he suffered tremendous doubt about the faith in which he was once so confidently secure - all because he never heard the "still, small voice."

Spiritual maturity and the passing of time revealed to Osman that we can confidently claim our Christian liberty and freedom in the Lord to choose whichever option we desire, as long as it does not contradict the moral revelation provided in Scripture, and we can make all of life's decisions (both big and small) without fear of disappointing or disobeying God. We can do this because our free will to choose and God's sovereignty are much more closely connected than people realize. Osman explains this relationship a bit further in the book. I think his decision to share this vulnerable memory reinforces his desire to put our own anxieties to rest. Being relatable in this way and sharing how HVG theology harmed him personally accomplishes some sway that mere facts and rhetoric cannot.

Near the book's end, Osman presents the Wisdom Model as a biblical, God-honoring alternative to the Traditional Model (touted by HVG practitioners). He describes how using the Wisdom Model can assist our decision making. After we ensure all the choices available to us do not contradict Scripture, we then use common sense to consider other factors (which job offer would utilize the most of our abilities and interests, which spouse candidate do we find most attractive and compatible, etc.).

Despite agreeing with the bulk of Osman's argument, I cannot dismiss the significant concerns I have with certain elements of his position. For example, the topic of prayer was either somewhat misrepresented or not explored much at all in the context of his topic. He did affirm the importance of prayer and Scripture's command to pray, but he *seemed to imply* that, because we shouldn't expect God to direct us to one particular choice, we shouldn't pray for His guidance in navigating those decisions. If I'm correct that he feels this way, that particular viewpoint would be quite outlandish and contradict the very Scripture he claims to revere. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17), and that the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13). Like Osman, I don't think God guides through signs and similar methods, but it's biblical to claim that God guides through discernment and wisdom, which logically connects to the assumption that it is good to pray for that discernment.

I'm totally on board with the Wisdom Model but would explain it differently than Osman and in a way that prioritizes prayer in the decision-making process. My view is that praying without ceasing naturally leads to confiding to God what is important to us, which includes decisions. Through prayer, we surrender to the Lord everything on our hearts. Through this surrender, He helps us clear our minds so that we can better identify and sift through all the various factors of our decision, open our eyes to information we may have previously disregarded, and cleanse us of questionable motives. In this way, and through a prayerful application of the Wisdom model, I think God *does* direct us to specific decisions, just not in the ways of HVG theology.

Osman also fails to discuss how God answering prayer can be received as Him leading in a certain direction. It's a biblical fact that God does answer prayer, so why wouldn't Osman consider those answers as the guidance of God? (Because, according to Osman, it's not enough to say that God doesn't speak or whisper - we also can't say God led us a particular way, which I find just plain outlandish and frustratingly rigid!)

Another eye-roll moment that occurred for me was when Osman claimed that the Holy Spirit's roles of convicting, comforting, teaching, etc. should not be considered "God's voice." Now, had he clarified that he was only arguing against God speaking audibly to us, then I'd agree. But he clarified that he also aims to argue against the "voice of God" as a metaphor for God guidance; in this case, I think the actions of the Holy Spirit TOTALLY qualify as guidance, and that here Osman is just reaching to snuff out anything that might invite a slightly more nuanced rebuttal to his position. When I say "God's led me," I am, in fact, referring to Him actively and sovereignly working in my life through answers to prayer, the discernment He gives, and role of the Spirit. What in the world's so unbiblical about that?!

While I think Osman's message is sorely needed in today's subjective, wishy-washy spiritual culture, I'm also deeply concerned that his argument sometimes left me approaching prayer and my relationship with Christ fearfully and self consciously. I've noticed that when theologians who are so passionate about the truth and approach supporting the truth with too much rigidity, they tend to (albeit unintentionally) threaten the childlike, innocent reception of God to which Christ calls us in the gospels. Like Osman, I affirm the existence of absolute biblical truth and seek it with my whole heart! But if we don't have any belief or behavior that requires correction, someone who dulls our enthusiasm in the name of orthodoxy is, in my view, a bit off balance.

[Christopher Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of harm is done to the Church and to the name of our Lord as a result of people claiming they heard a "word from the Lord." Cessationists and non-cessationists alike have fallen into the trap that God has "spoken to them" extra-scripturally, or "told them" to do something, or "led them" to do something. But are these voices the voice of God? If God is still speaking aside from his Son and His Word, does the Bible teach us this is true? If this is so how would one discern truth from error?

From Charles Stanley, to Beth More and Henry Blackaby, believers across the evangelical spectrum claim to be hearing words from God and getting inside direction. But what does the Bible really say about all of this? In "God Doesn't Whisper" Pastor Jim Osman (Foreword by John MacArthur) makes a compelling case that much of the modern vernacular regarding God's "speaking" and "leading" are simply unbiblical and, therefore, dangerous to the Church and the Gospel.

Osman uncovers how advocates of Hearing the Voice of God (HVG) completely misuse the following concepts: "the still small voice" "the verse jumped off the page" "God gave me a sign" "God opened or closed a door" "God gave me peace" "I felt led" "I saw a Man in White" and many more. Osman deconstructs this bad theology and the exegetes the passages on which these concepts are tenuously premised. In doing so, Osman demonstrates how HVG theology is thoroughly unbiblical.

Osman also addresses how a Christian is able to make good decisions assuming one will not "hear" the voice of God. This section of the book is pure Gold and is worth the price of the book alone.

Osman was a brave man to take on this topic. Turn on so-called Christian television and you will find a literal infomercial for HVG theology. But as Osman explains, HVG theology undermines the necessity, sufficiency and the reliability of Scripture. Faithful Christians would do well to carefully study this book and the Scripture passages on which this book is premised. Then, one should go forth to "contend for the one for all delivered to the Saints faith." Happy reading!

[John Eldreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Hunches Nixed!

I highly recommend this book to every Christian who has encountered teachings conveying the idea that God speaks through impressions (“holy hunches”) in order to lead a Christian through life. The author thoroughly refutes the idea this is a biblical concept. It seems to me that if folks spent as much time seeking these impressions as studying what the Bible actually says they would be farther ahead. I attended several churches over the years that taught this approach and had not heard of it before and so was open to understanding more about it. I tried to practice it with no real success except to notice that it was basically human intuition packaged with “Christian labels”. Human intuition is a mechanism designed into every human to make fast decisions in low information (i.e. uncertain) situations and is mostly based on a person’s life experiences. So it ends up being a set of heuristics that use minimal information to make fast decisions. In fact cognitive psychologists have catalogued a number of the more common heuristics. In this regard I recommend the book “Gut Feelings” by Gerd Gigerenzer (although I don’t accept the evolutionary perspective). Intuition can be a valuable guide in the right situations but is hardly God speaking which is a mistake to claim as it gives undue authority to intuitions that can yield disastrous results as noted by the author of this book. In fact, I had a pastor tell me he got into the ministry because where Jesus said “Feed my sheep” in John 21:17, Jesus was speaking to him. He didn’t even mention the qualifications for an elder in 1 Tim 3:1-7 and Tit 1:5-9. I had another pastor claim for years he would not build a new church building unless they had saved the money to pay for it. But several years later he heard a still small voice say it was okay to go into debt and they built a new church and went millions of dollars in debt. Another person married his wife because they happened to be studying the same chapters of the Bible at the same time and God was telling them this was a sign to get married. In another case, a young lady went about telling her friends God had told her she was pregnant even though she was a virgin. I had a man tell me that God told him through the still small voice to go up strangers at the mall and whisper the gospel in their ear. I once innocently questioned a man who was an elder in the church why he wanted to be an elder. He told me that God had told him to seek being an elder while he was singing in the shower. When I expressed surprise at this, he said if he wasn’t born again he would punch me in the face. Etc. I was glad to have read this book as a clear presentation of the error involved in listening to “God whisper”.

[Some Christian Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a lot to think about when it comes to spiritual gifts. If I understood the author correctly, he isn’t saying that there are no spiritual gifts, but rather that the “miraculous” gifts (tongues, prophecy, healing, etc.) are no longer in use today (having served their intended purpose in the first century church and slowly phasing out).

This book focuses on the so-called ability for people to hear God speak to them personally today. He makes the case from Scripture that God spoke everything He had to say in Scripture, and that He is not speaking to us in “whispers,” or “still-small voices” in our minds.

For the most part I tend to agree with the author.

I believe the Bible covers every aspect of human life that needs to be addressed, and that we can find all answers pertaining to life and godliness therein.

I also believe that if God is still speaking to humans now, a) that would undermine the value of Scripture (why do people need to read it if they can just get a personal word from God whenever they want it?), b) how am I supposed to know if what Susie says God said to her, He actually said?, and c) If God is still speaking, is the canon of Scripture really closed?

The one section I struggled with the most was his chapter on stories of Muslims seeing a dream or vision of Jesus and having miraculous conversions as a result of them. I’ve read many of these stories, and found them to be compelling, credible, and extremely inspiring. So what am I to make of those who claim to have had these experiences? I’m not sure.

I haven’t totally made my mind up on this subject, and the next book I’ll be reading will be from an author making a case FOR the continuation of God still speaking to each of us individually. Once I see what kind of a case can be made FROM SCRIPTURE for this, then I might be able to form a better opinion on this subject.

(I subtracted a star because the author tended to be fairly repetitive)

[Pam Jenness · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a follower of Jesus, and are a reader (causal or avid), it’s likely that despite your best intentions that you have actually read some false teaching. When scripture gets twisted or taken out of context and misapplied the result is a dangerous theology that borders on, if not becomes, outright blasphemy. And sadly, such teaching is permeating the church today.

If you’re actively involved in the life of a church you will likely recognize many of the phrases that make up the chapter titles of this book: “I felt led”, “I heard the still small voice”, “God gave me a sign”, “I put out a fleece.” Maybe you’ve said these phrases yourself. Pastor Osman will teach you, from the sufficient Word of God, how this is false, erroneous and dangerous.

I have purged my bookshelves over the last 3-4 years of many such “Christian” books. As I learn more and more how to rightly study God’s Word for myself, and as I seek to be a more careful and thoughtful reader, I am grieved to discover how undiscerning I have been. Though I sometimes caught error, I often missed it, and worse, I pointed others to books that were promoting false doctrine. This troubles me. And prompts me to warn others. The enemy is subtle and cunning! And the enemy has infiltrated the Christian publishers and bookstores. This self-published book (promoted on A Word Fitly Spoken podcast, where I heard about it) deserves a much wider audience.

I gave it four stars rather than five because I feel some editing would be helpful. However, his strong points are soundly and biblically based. His exposition is solid. His chapter on biblical decision making is excellent guidance!

Consider this quote from page 279: “By my count, every book of the New Testament, except Philemon, contains a corrective of false teachers, false teaching, or false doctrines.” Wouldn’t we do well to recognize these things? This book will help.

[Steven Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book’s title “God Doesn’t Whisper” is a good summation of the content. This is primarily a negative focused book about what God doesn’t do (whisper) rather than the positive. The positive alternative would be to read “Decision-making and the Will of God” by Gary Friessen. I’d highly recommend reading that book before this one.

This book suffers from it’s emphasis on criticism at the near exclusion of positive instruction. It is repetitive and harsh in tone. Not to say there is not a need to address some of the casual ways and wrong methods in which people seek to “hear God’s voice” daily. There is. But in some cases I believe the author has over-corrected, such as in the case of Muslims coming to Christ via dreams, leading to needless negative assumptions about the authenticity of accounts and motives of those relating them.

As I read, I wondered what the author might think about Proverbs 1-8 and Wisdom crying aloud in the streets. I wondered how he might interact with those words. Surely it is not a whisper, but do the foolish hear? Surely all would be better off semantically to speak of hearing Wisdom’s cry than hearing God’s voice, but I wonder how much would change in practice. Certainly criticism against fleece throwing and signs would still hold, but I believe perhaps some of the critiques might be more muted by exploring how Wisdom still speaks today.

There’s much that the author said that needy to be said. I just wish it was said more graciously and less repeatedly.

[Carol Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much information in this book, my brain just can't absorb it all and I need to read it again! Mr. Osman does a very thorough job of exegeting the key passages used by those who believe that we can hear the voice of God in many ways in addition to the Bible. They say that we need to and can expect to hear from God outside of scripture. There are ways that we can learn to hear from God outside of scripture. We can hear the voice of God in many ways, including the "still small voice," the verses "jumping" off the page of the Bible, God giving a sign or opening a door. We might hear from Him by putting out a fleece, having a peace about a matter, feeling led or having a dream. Are these methods in the Bible? Yes, they are. Mr. Osman even gives the key passages that are used to support these ways to hear from God. But unlike the proponents of this theology, he does not simply quote the verse. He takes the reader to the context of the verses. He shows how the verses do not and cannot mean what the proponents of this theology say they do.

Mr. Osman doesn't just tell us negatively how we can't hear God speak, he also positively gives us instructions for making decisions today by using principles outlined in the Bible and applying them to our lives.

I love the quote from Justin Peters which Mr. Osman shares. "If you want to hear God speak, read the Bible. If you want to hear him speak audibly, read it out loud."

[danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening

Jim covered every question I could have ever asked as a follow-up. I'm eternally grateful for this book. I was saved from new age in 2019. I started attending a pentecostal church and read my Bible daily but was quickly swept away by the HVG principles. In time, I spent more of my time having this false two-way conversation with my imaginary Jesus than praying or properly studying my Bible. For the last 6 years, I have read countless books on how to discern God's voice. I believed it was bringing me closer to Jesus, I believed I was growing in maturity. After reading this book, I realized how wrong I was. Those books were essentially teaching me how to rely on my own understanding to discern "God's voice" through my own thoughts and random circumstances. Proverbs 3:5 has never been so clearly understood as it is to me now. At first, I was completely shook. Honestly, I had to read this in bits as my shock dissipated, and I could take another dose. This newfound knowledge may have saved my soul. Jim does an amazing job explaining biblical principles in depth. I'm actually feeling freedom and have a lot more time for prayer and study now that I'm not talking to myself all day. It's humbling. I'm so grateful. Thank you for writing this, thank you so much.

[David West · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. The author interacts with several other authors/teachers, most of whom I have never read. These other authors are cessationist, for the most part, and yet they teach about hearing the voice of God in dreams, impressions, visions, the "still small voice", putting out "fleeces", etc...

Osman exegetes the passages they use (when they use Scripture) and he shows how they take the verses out of context. His writing is easy to read and clear. No academic jargon, just plain talk, common sense, and Biblical truth.

I found a few points of disagreement, but only a few. Osman assumes Scripture is God's Word (so do I) but I wish a chapter had been dedicated to making the argument from Scripture. He mentions a few texts in this regard but doesn't exegete them. But, to be fair, the purpose of the book wasn't to make claims about the nature of Scripture. The purpose was to interact with those who teach various means of hearing God outside Scripture and to see if what they claim is Scriptural.

[Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book impressed me. I started off a bit skeptical and in fact was skeptical at the beginning of several chapters, but by the end, through sound biblical exegesis and good logical arguments, I was won over. The book does an excellent job at pointing out many of the flaws that mark the modern day teaching on hearing God's voice and returns the reader back to the only real sure thing we have which is God's word. Well worth the read and important for Christians as we are heading more and more into a time, where everyone claims to be hearing special revelation from God on a regular basis. The danger of this authoritative claim can not be underestimated. Every time someone says that "God told me" "God spoke to me" "God gave me a vision" we ought to be very careful and for those who say it with such ease need to be warned of the possible grave error they are making.

[Joshua Chipchase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful and fairly exhaustive resource addressing the massively popular but very unbiblical view of how to "hear" from God. Deals with all the major arguments and scriptures that charismatics and others use to support their incredibly subjective, unreliable, and unbiblical view of hearing from God. Then gives a positive case for hearing from God from the scripture and living your life based on the wisdom we find in the scripture.

May be better used as a reference tool then to read straight through, as the book was rather repetitive at times. It started a little weak, but the core of the book was solid and did a great job carefully exegeting misused passages of scripture. It is great for pastors as many of the issues and questions it answers are guaranteed to be brought up by people in your church.

[Riley Ormsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very compelling argument against "HVG" Theology (hearing the voice of God). The main takeaway is the title: God doesn't whisper. Today's day and age we are whacked from every side and in every manner by someone who is hearing directly from God in some form or fashion. Whether it be a direct "whisper" to your spirit, a sign that God gave you, a verse that jumped off the page, and many other ways... the fact of the matter is God speaks clearly, and the way that he speaks clearly is through his word. There is no precedence in Scripture for these private revelations, and God is probably not too happy when we claim "God told me ______" and it is not truly Him who is speaking. Good book... pushed me closer to the cessationist side than I may have been before.