It’s not that unusual for church leaders to warn their people away from Rebecca Davis’s dangerous teachings about untwisting Scriptures. But I heard not long ago that a pastor went scouring my website looking for heresy.
He found it.
He found it on my Beliefs Behind the Blog page, my statement of faith. There he saw that I believe that the Lord can speak to His people through dreams and visions.
Here’s the full paragraph, about the topic of “God’s revelation”:
God’s revelation: I believe that God reveals Himself and His ways to His people by a variety of means—through creation, through dreams and visions, through miracles, through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit in the heart, and perhaps others—but the most reliable message from God that we have been given, and the message against which all other messages and revelations should be measured, is the Holy Scriptures, that is, the Bible, with the understanding that the New Covenant is superior to the Old (Psalm 19:1; Acts 2:17; Acts 10:11; John 9; Galatians 3:5; 1 Corinthians 12:6,10-11,22; John 16:13; Hebrews 8).
Yes, here I am, former independent Baptist, guilty as charged. I believe God can speak to His people through dreams and visions.
If you’ll notice, that phrase in that paragraph is hyperlinked. It will lead you to my old Hidden Heroes Missionary Stories website, where you can read sample chapters from my books of true missionary stories, published by Christian Focus Publications in Scotland.
That particular story is one of my favorites–the Lord spoke in a dream to a man to go to a particular hut in the middle of nowhere and preach the gospel.
I love this true story not just because of the dream, but because it reminds me that our Lord delights to do work in what feels like “small” ways just as much as He does in the large ways.
That’s the writing I was doing before my Untwisting Scriptures work.
I’ve heard from a number of parents who have appreciated my missionary books, and not one of them has expressed any concern about the fact that people have had dreams and visions from God. (They show up quite a bit in my books of true missionary stories, in fact.)
I hope you read it. And I doubt you’ll think it’s heresy.
Accusations like these are part of the package of what we face in the work we do.
Yes, we want to be open to correction where we’re wrong.
But we also want to be unafraid when we proclaim the great works of God to the world, as we continue to look to Him to do those mighty works.
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Go here to download your free Guide, How to Enjoy the Bible Again (when you’re ready) After Spiritual Abuse (without feeling guilty or getting triggered out of your mind). You’ll receive access to both print and audio versions of the Guide (audio read by me). I’m praying it will be helpful.
Dreams and visions are in scripture too. Joseph had dreams as did Joseph, Jesus earthly father and others. Peter had a vision from God and others too. Individuals need to look at scripture before rushing to judgment.
Yes of course. But those who don’t believe God still sends dreams and visions will acknowledge that. They would claim that after the Bible was completed, dreams and visions ceased.
He sends dreams and visions to Muslims and to people in many ways today. Just because someone isn’t aware of it doesn’t mean God doesn’t work that way anymore. Beliefs can be false as well. Truth is what matters
Yes, I wrote about those dreams and visions on Muslim countries in one of my other missionary books, Living Water in the Desert, True Stories of God at Work in Iran. https://amzn.to/3Udafny
I was rather animated initially when hearing of the Muslim’s dreams… I did see that some of these people ended up in Rome; however, I know the enemy will quickly try to draw a new believer into a bad church or cult so I can’t use this observation as a benchmark… But be aware of this, for the enemy is working hard to validate itself (by us naively reading the Church Father’s writings, which are spurious) and draw people into Rome.
Proof that the supernatural signs ceased is conspicuous in the Bible by its absence.
Some people sure like misusing the word heresy. You said can, not will. And you mentioned comparing any possible communication to scripture. That’s not the same as the people who claim God told them to tell you something and they’re really just telling what they think while falsely attributing it to God. Heard people in Muslim countries sometimes have dreams about the gospel.
I love all the dreams and visions that have been reported from Muslim countries! I wrote about some of them in one of my other missionary books, Living Water in the Desert, True Stories of God at Work in Iran. https://amzn.to/3Udafny
Idk why some people act like secondary doctrines are as important as primary doctrines. And why some people are so arrogant about their opinions. If one side of a secondary doctrine issue is more arrogant, I take that as a hint the other side might be right. And if there is good evidence that sign gifts still happen in se areas then that may well be the case. I don’t take sides on the cessation/continuation debate. God will do what He wills. I do think it’s ridiculous for someone to put you in the same boat as the word faith guys that treat God like a genie.
Yes, God will do what He will, and we bow before Him. The fact is, though, that there needs to be a way to distinguish “This dream was from God” or not. With cessationists, no dream is ever from God.
I agree completely. My take on it is that Scripture is freely available here in the West, so dreams aren’t that important in the great scheme of things. But in Muslim countries, where Scripture is hard to come by, it appears that God is indeed using dreams in a powerful way to reach Muslims. But even here in the West, dreams have their place. Corrie ten Boom wrote about God sending her a dream before her arrest, as a reassurance that He was still in charge and the arrest was part of His plan. Surely no one would accuse Corrie of heresy.
I hope not, anyway!
I do grew up independent Baptist, and lived 36 years of a marriage in spiritual abuse. I followed patriarchy so hard, knowing that my marriage would get healed and we would be on focus on the family expounding on God’s great abilities. Instead, I found resources like yours, Patrick Doyle, Leslie Vernick, and Natalie Hoffman. I found out the truth. My marriage dissolved when I stopped submitting the way I had been taught. I encourage you, Rebecca, to continue on, no matter the accusations you are tolerating. I have a new life at 65 years old married for only three years to the most godly non-abusive man that ever was. I have a huge testimony to tell and I tell it often even to complete strangers how God delivered me. Keep the faith, remain strong in Jesus, and continue to speak out as you have been. Your writings are beyond remarkable. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Jeanette, and God bless you!
My story is similar in ways to yours! Was married 25 years and been free for 25 years.
I’m so happy for you! So, so happy!
Dreams
In Job 33, the young man, Elihu confronts Job. He’s not rebuked by God as the other three friends of Job are. My assessment of him is that he’s a godly, balanced instrument from God sent to correct Job (I’d recommend Christopher Ash’s commentary).
Job is complaining that God is silent, and Elihu adds that the Lord often speaks in two additional ways,
33:14, “For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.”
And the two ways he mentions are:
(1) dreams, 33:15-18
(2) pain, 33:19-28
The preface to this section, 33:1-4 and the conclusion, 33:29-33 tie the discussion together.
These secondary means of revelation – the witness of God in general revelation, his use of dreams and pain, are in a far lesser category than Scripture, but they are means, nonetheless whereby God seeks to get the attention of people. But not all dreams, and not all affliction and pain.
Yet God is God, and without doubt He has spoken occasionally to various people through their dreams and through their pain.
Now, those who disregard Elihu as simply a fourth version of the bad counselors, his words won’t be taken with Scriptural authority. But as I’ve studied the book of Job, I find Elihu to be prophet that can be likened to John the Baptist, as Elihu comes to make ready a way for the Lord to speak.
Elihu: Job 32-37
The Lord: Job 38-41, part of 42
Those who don’t believe the Lord speaks through dreams and visions acknowledge that He did so in Scripture. They just say that He doesn’t do that now. It’s part of cessationist theology.
But how can cessationiam be true since God said of Himself that He is the same yesterday, today & forever?!?! He speaks today as He has always spoken…whether theologians like it or not!!! sometimes methinks He does that just to poke the bear
He Himself is the same, but He works differently at different times. I do believe that (especially when it comes to the New Covenant vs the Old Covenant). But I do not believe that He quit doing the mighty work of speaking to people through dreams and visions!
I was always taught (by staunch cessationists) that God answers prayers: yes, no, maybe. How do cessationists propose that God tells you the answer?!?!
In my life, the Holy Spirit has spoken to me (not in an audible voice) and I have had dreams telling me the answers to my prayer and fasting. I had such peace knowing that God told me “not now” and I know that God is the Author of Peace. Satan would NEVER in a billion years tell me that my prayers that a loved one would experience salvation will come true.
The cessationists argument that the gift of prophecy passed away in 100 AD is not based upon interpretation of Scripture with Scripture. It should be patently obvious that prophecy will pass away when Christ returns. We won’t need any of these gifts when we live in complete unity and harmony with God and the curse is lifted. When we walk through the New Garden of Eden in the cool of the day, we shall speak face-to-face with God! The gift of prophecy will pass at the same time as the gift of teaching (being a pastor) passes away!
On the other hand, lots of people are pretending to hear from God because of peer pressure or a desire to control others in non-cessationist churches. Deuteronomy 18:15-22 says to put to death anyone whose prophecies do not come true. I’m not at all advocating for a death penalty for falsely prophesying, but I am arguing for expulsion from the church for such a sin. And Cessationist pastors love to make commands stating that they have this authority from God and it’s sin to disobey them, with horribly out-of-context prooftexts to go with their orders …. Both groups claim to receive “wisdom directly from God” when it’s no such thing.
Both groups need your untwisting of mangled Scriptures!
Amen, thank you Christina!
Loved the statement: Interpret scripture with scripture. That’s why we need Rebecca’s work of clarity ” untwisting of mangled scriptures”
Thank you, Jean!
I would guess these same men who would say your statement on dreams and visions was heresy would also say they “were called by God to be pastors.” So what is a calling if it is not a vision of being able to see yourself sometime in the future standing in a pulpit preaching?
Ha, good point!
Love the dream of the hut story! Bought your book . Light in the Darkness thank you for your faithfulness!
Yay, so glad you read it and loved it as much as I did!
If the pastor had taken the time, and truly be “Ephphatha” (be open), to allowing the Scriptures to interpret Scriptures he would find that Romans 12.1-13 talks about the various gifts and ways that God equips people (including nudgings through the Spirit as in the true story you share on your blog and which I have felt in providing ministry), he would realize that God’s Word is always living and on the move (Isaiah 55) not returning to Him empty. Sounds like he is acting like a pharisee looking to elevate himself instead of learning what God wants him to do. Sad and hilarious.
That’s a good way to put it.
There’s nothing heretical about dreams and visions. They make up a very large portion of the Bible.
It was bound to happen, Rebecca. By definition, ‘heresy’ is any beliefs outside a particular religious group’s belief system. So, by definition, the IFB group is heretical to you. Their beliefs are outside yours. Heresy is an ugly word to sling around, but this is the world in which we live. Unfortunately.
Jesus was seen as heretical by the religious leaders of the day. And He was God.
I do believe that the more in line we come to Jesus’ teachings and heart, the louder the religious leaders of our day will shout ‘heresy!’ in our faces.
Thank God we don’t face being burned at the stake for heresy in 2024…
Thank you so much, Amy. Beautiful words of wisdom, as usual!
I grew up in circles that believed dreams and visions ceased after the Bible was complete. When I read a true book about a Muslim lady who heard about God through dreams, I was intrigued and concluded that maybe God still spoke through dreams in countries that had heard little of the gospel but not in places like America or Europe, which had the written word. Since then, I’ve come to believe He wants to have a relationship with us “in real time” and can use dreams to speak to anybody, even me. Several years ago, I was struggling emotionally with the timing of the death of my father. I wanted to believe that God was good and in control, but I was upset that there were so many things I wished I had asked or told my dad about but had run out of time. I asked God for some insight that could give me peace; maybe He could give me a dream. Several nights later I dreamed I was sitting at a table on the edge of a party and Dad walked in. My mind raced. I sensed my time was short and I was trying to remember all the things I wanted to say or ask. I started with “Dad, I love you” and instantly he faded away. I did feel peace after that. I felt God was saying, “It’s OK. The important things were said before he died.”
Oh my goodness, Anita, this brings me to tears. This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.
You are welcome!
I forgot to add that I like how Rebecca said “The most reliable message from God that we have been given, and the message against which all other messages and revelations should be measured is the Bible”. God didn’t have to say yes to my request for a dream to comfort me because his word already said He is good and in control. However, His answer was a precious confirmation to me that He wants to have a personal relationship with us.
Yes, that is so beautiful.
Precious sister, i have been “accused” of having demons, of being mentally ill, and on and on, I am not surprised that you have been. Jesus was accused of having demons, being mentally ill, and heresy also. So… sister… we are both in very good company….Jesus stands on our side… He knows the absolute truth…about you, that is where I draw my peace from sister and I know you do also!!! I love testimonies and missionaries stories… and the stories of martyers, many who were tortured to death for simply what they believed and differance of beliefs with other Christians. The history of the Church is bloody amongst its own. Love you precious sister!!! And everthing you write that I have read. We know our battles are not with flesh and blood.
Amen, and thank you so much, Teresa.
It really is amusing to me how something like the word ‘heresy’ carries with it such fear for some people. The textbook definition of the word is along the lines of “opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted”. So many people, especially in the Independent Baptist circles have no real idea of what is ‘generally accepted’, because many of their beliefs are, in fact, outside of the realm of ‘generally accepted’.
For example, it is NOT ‘generally accepted’ that ‘the KJV Bible is the *only* truly inspired word of God’ (in fact, it is considered by many to NOT be the best translation);
it is not ‘generally accepted’ that women should not wear pants;
Of course, I’m speaking from the larger part of Christendom — something which, according to many denominations, is ‘outside the norm’ for Christianity.
The point is, there are an insane amount of denominations, many of which certainly hold views which are heretical to any other given denomination.
I cannot even take ‘heresy’ to be a serious charge anymore…it doesn’t carry the same scare factor as it used to when there was only one church controlling everything.
People who throw that term around are really just afraid to lose whatever control they have–whether real or perceived.
I do think that was the case with this pastor.
From Bible Gateway.Com
Acts 2:17
New American Standard Bible
17
‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all [a]mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
And your young men will see visions,
And your old men will [b]have dreams;
Some preachers love to talk about how we are in the last days but hmmm this verse does not apply? 😉
Love this, thank you!
If we are not opposed in God’s word then we are off-road. When I see people opposing the true written word of God, I reply with a greater AMEN because they confirm that I’m in the right track. The Bible promises that we shall be persecuted and this is part of it.
Apostle Paul was opposed by talking more of God’s grace by the teachers of the law thinking that he was advocating lawlessness.
Sister, I expected more people to oppose you because you have unveiled the truth.
Thank you, Mandela!
So glad I found this as I was researching something else. I have had two instances when I believe God directly communicated with me in a dream. As I reflected on why He would do it that way instead of through the more common ways of having a brother exhort me, or from meditating on a specific passage, or hearing a sermon, I realized that when I am asleep, I am not consciously regulating my mind.
in other words, when I am awake, I am consciously ‘taking every thought captive’ and ‘making no provision for the flesh’ and ‘whatever things are pure . . . lovely . . . think on these things’ etc. When I am asleep though, my conscious defenses are down, which can be both bad and good. But in that state of conscious incapacitation, I feel like I was much more open to what God was communicating to me.
In both of these instances, had a Christian brother come to me with the same word of rebuke, all of my conscious defense mechanisms would have kicked in and I would not have received the message. In fact, I would have been able to give quite an exhaustive list of empirical evidences as to why he was wrong in his assessment.
I have struggled for double-digit years with these two matters in spite of meditating for hours on the pertinent Scriptures. But after the dreams, when I ‘directly heard from God,’ as it were, both issues were conclusively dealt with.
So in short, I agree with your statement of faith! God does indeed communicate, today, with His people in dreams. It may not be normative or common, but it most certainly happens.
Amen. It’s good to hear from you, Murray.
What was this pastor referring to specifically? Did he write an aritcle? YouTube video? I”m curious. Coming from a cult, I always encourage people to search the scriptures and decide for themselves. We must be Bereans. I choose not to “trust” any bible teacher but search the scriptures myself.
One thing I’ve found important with dreams & visions…they must be supported by scripture and not considered “gospel”. There is way to much “extra-biblical” stuff out there that people try to pass off as “well, it must be true. God “told” me.” Hope this makes sense. We need so much discernment in these times. God help us all!
Thanks for sharing Rebecca.
I agree, for sure. There is much danger when people “hear a word from God” to tell OTHERS what to do. When people have done that with me, I’ve responded, “I’ll wait for God to show me the same thing He’s shown you.”
In my statement of faith, the link on the phrase “through dreams and visions” is this chapter from a book of true missionary stories I wrote years ago: http://hiddenheroesmissionarystories.com/sample-chapter-from-lights-in-a-dark-place-true-stories-of-god-at-work-in-colombia/
The pastor didn’t say anything publicly as far as I know. Someone told me he was trying to warn her away from me, trying to find heresy in my statement of faith.
We do indeed live in strange times, when the idea that God can reveal Himself in many ways is considered heresy by “people of the book” !
I have a firm belief that God can speak to individuals through dreams and other means we would think aren’t necessary because the full,revealed Word of God exists. His methods haven’t changed(neither is He bound by time)and He can use whatever means necessary to get His message to people. What we Americans fail to understand is that there are places and situations in this world where the Bible cannot be used. We limit our thinking; He is never limited in application.