The way some sincere people would have it, believers today should approach God as we would a loved one who has died and gone away to an unreachable realm. We should then cling on to the memories of what the loved one had said and done. Then, out of reverence, we might try to give these words new meaning by "applying" them into new situations.
Well, such people are sincerely wrong as God is no dead relative. He's alive and He speaks in exact details that may not be found in His Word although it will never contradict His Word. To be sure, "dead relative" theologians warn us that to expect a fresh word from heaven is to believe in a sly and well-camouflaged half-truth (as all deceptions invariably are).
SOMEONE FORGOT TO INFORM ANANIAS!
In actual fact, 'dead relative' theology and its genre has no Biblical precedence. Adam heard a direct word from God. So did Moses, Samuel and the Old Testament prophets - whether major and minor. The practise did not seem to die down in the New Testament. Paul heard God afresh as did an itinerant prophet known as Agabus. Apparently, apostles and prophets weren't the only ones in on the act. Someone obviously forgot to tell a disciple called Ananias (Acts 9:10-16) not to entertain any visions with directive words from God. Of course, the Apostle Peter does exhort us to speak as oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11) and Isaiah 50:4 clearly accepts the possibility of God's people being used to hear God and speak for Him.
No, sir and ma'am, hearing God is not orthodox belief. Then again, Jesus wasn't quite orthodox in comparison to the theologians of His day.
IF YOU ARE PROUDLY ORTHODOX, READ ON!
Recall the story of the scribes whom Herod consulted when he discovered the purpose of the trip made by the Magi. From the written word (Micah 5:2) they knew the birth place of the Messiah but yet why were they not moved to go to Bethelem of Ephratah and greet the Lord?
When spiritual pride and prejudice grip us, to be orthodox is to risk missing the hour of our visitation. Dead relatives don't speak but the Living God does.
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