Using the bible as an oracle

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christianwoman90

Guest
#1
#1
...of some sort...Is it right?You know, praying, asking God for direction,
guidance,
saying amen
And then,
opening the bible somewhere random and reading a random versicle from a random page.

Or, picking a random versicle from one of those random little wood boxes, they sell in churches or christian stores.

Or, clicking f5 in a random versicle site.

Or clicking on a random christian site and accessing the "Today's versicle" page.

I always end up doing one of those after praying asking for guidance.
 
Angela53510

Angela53510

Senior Member
#2
Jan 24, 2011
11,783
2,948
113
#2
This is absolutely NOT the way to read, study or use the Bible. I had a pastor once, and he said to be consistent, to read the Bible daily, and God will speak to you from exactly where you are reading.

After 37 years of reading the Bible through yearly, it is absolutely true! We need to be disciples, which means to use discipline in our approach to Bible study. This oracle approach is more like cutting open a liver of an animal sacrificed at Delphi, and deciding it means time to go to war. (And that is where the oracle was - at Delphi! Not a Christian thing to do at all!)


My favourite example of the open and point method of hearing from God, is about a man who did this. Here was his first verse.

" And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself." Matt 27:5

And here was the second verse:

"And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:37
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#3
Mar 13, 2014
41,325
16,307
113
69
Tennessee
#3
If you really want guidance you need to spend time immersed in the Word of God and not just picking out a random verse here and there. Just reading a single verse would not probably not be very helpful because you would not have any context related to the verse.
 
followjesus

followjesus

Banned
#4
Jun 1, 2016
5,032
121
0
#4
christianwoman90 said:
...of some sort...Is it right?You know, praying, asking God for direction,
guidance,
saying amen
And then,
opening the bible somewhere random and reading a random versicle from a random page.

Or, picking a random versicle from one of those random little wood boxes, they sell in churches or christian stores.

Or, clicking f5 in a random versicle site.

Or clicking on a random christian site and accessing the "Today's versicle" page.

I always end up doing one of those after praying asking for guidance.
Click to expand...

praying beforehand is essential, and on my own experience, dedicating ourselves, even if its only a 30 minute time frame each day does amazing things for us and our lives, by changing our minds and hearts we find freedom through Faith in the Word of God and its principles, they are true and sure and will never change. cant say its right or wrong what you have said, thats between you and the good Lord :) i know daily prayer and daily word changed my life, and even still changes it for the better each day.

God bless you
 
Marano

Marano

Senior Member
#5
Dec 7, 2011
398
32
28
29
#5
Angela53510 said:
This is absolutely NOT the way to read, study or use the Bible. I had a pastor once, and he said to be consistent, to read the Bible daily, and God will speak to you from exactly where you are reading.

After 37 years of reading the Bible through yearly, it is absolutely true! We need to be disciples, which means to use discipline in our approach to Bible study. This oracle approach is more like cutting open a liver of an animal sacrificed at Delphi, and deciding it means time to go to war. (And that is where the oracle was - at Delphi! Not a Christian thing to do at all!)


My favourite example of the open and point method of hearing from God, is about a man who did this. Here was his first verse.

"And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself." Matt 27:5

And here was the second verse:

"And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10:37
Click to expand...
That's something if that really happened to a man haha.
 
Yonah

Yonah

Senior Member
#6
Oct 31, 2014
1,074
103
48
#6
I simply ask for guidance in prayer, although The Almighty has spoken to me through the scriptures in this way, it by no means is the only way, in fact in most instances He guides me by simply directing my path through circumstances and situations, and yes even people, the word is alive, so it is good seek guidance from it....however each must be able to see and hear when he does direct out paths. prov. 3:5-6 is one of my favorite text and it is indeed difficult at time to actually implement it in my daily walk, but by His grace and strength I'm learning to.
 
G

GaryA

Guest
#7
#7
christianwoman90 said:
...of some sort...Is it right?You know, praying, asking God for direction,
guidance,
saying amen
And then,
opening the bible somewhere random and reading a random versicle from a random page.

Or, picking a random versicle from one of those random little wood boxes, they sell in churches or christian stores.

Or, clicking f5 in a random versicle site.

Or clicking on a random christian site and accessing the "Today's versicle" page.

I always end up doing one of those after praying asking for guidance.
Click to expand...
There are three good reasons I can think of at this moment why this is a very bad idea:

1) In effect, it "demands" an immediate answer from God.

2) It has a "gambling" component to it -- which is not a good method to use when seeking an answer from God.

3) It opens a door for you to 'perceive' an answer from some 'evil' entity rather than the Holy Spirit.

I would recommend not utilizing such a method in requesting an answer from God...

Instead -- read your Bible - pray - make your request(s) - and, wait for an answer to be given in God's time...
 
notbythesword

notbythesword

Senior Member
#8
Apr 28, 2015
305
5
0
#8
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come”…John 16:13

Jesus was addressing His disciples in that verse, but it showed the power of the Spirit. You can also see in Acts 2:17 where it reads “And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.”

So I definitely believe that the power of the Holy Spirit can give one foreknowledge. However, the Holy Spirit being anointed on someone is ordained by God, as well as to what degree. For instance, Samson was given incredible strength through the Spirit. Not all who receive the Spirit will have that gift though.

So in a sense, if you are randomly opening a Bible and reading whatever verse is there (as if it were an oracle) you are essentially declaring that God has given you this gift. Remember that it is not us who declare to God what gifts we receive from the Spirit, but Him who will decide for us.

If it were me, I would only do that if I felt guided to first. Just my opinion though.
 
Blain

Blain

The Word Weaver
#9
Aug 28, 2012
19,215
2,551
113
#9
I don't really know what an oracle is but relying on random scripture and playing Russian roulette with sites is not only very ineffective but is not how God operates. We cannot rely on chance to receive something from him we receive by soaking in his word soaking in his presence we keep our thoughts on heavenly things and we are in constant communion with him.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#10
#10
christianwoman90 said:
...of some sort...Is it right?You know, praying, asking God for direction,
guidance,
saying amen
And then,
opening the bible somewhere random and reading a random versicle from a random page.

Or, picking a random versicle from one of those random little wood boxes, they sell in churches or christian stores.

Or, clicking f5 in a random versicle site.

Or clicking on a random christian site and accessing the "Today's versicle" page.

I always end up doing one of those after praying asking for guidance.
Click to expand...
What do you need guidance about?

A job? It's in there.

Marriage? It's in there.

How to follow the Lord closer? It's in there. (That's all that is in there.)

Should you buy the red shirt or the blue shirt? Not in there, so make up your own mind.

All important guidance we need from God is in his book. It's not a big secret on how to find it. Look! The more you know it, the more you can find real guidance from him.
 
P

psalm6819

Guest
#11
#11
Depleted said:
What do you need guidance about?

A job? It's in there.

Marriage? It's in there.

How to follow the Lord closer? It's in there. (That's all that is in there.)

Should you buy the red shirt or the blue shirt? Not in there, so make up your own mind.

All important guidance we need from God is in his book. It's not a big secret on how to find it. Look! The more you know it, the more you can find real guidance from him.
Click to expand...
Wait...wouldn't that require exercising free will and making a choice??????
 
C

christianwoman90

Guest
#13
#13
tourist said:
If you really want guidance you need to spend time immersed in the Word of God and not just picking out a random verse here and there. Just reading a single verse would not probably not be very helpful because you would not have any context related to the verse.
Click to expand...
It usually has. Not always though.
 
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