Ruth A. Tucker, God Talk: Cautions for those Who Hear God’s Voice (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2005), 173 pages.

Ruth Tucker confronts the popular notion that everyone can hear the voice of God. Pentecostal, Charismatic, and Evangelical bookshelves abound with books that instruct the reader on the normalcy for the average Christian to conversationally engage with God in prayer—hearing God’s literal voice in response. This book stands against the tide of popular-selling Christian books saying that you can hear God’s voice in “three easy steps.”

The reader must complete this book—not become frustrated or prematurely judge it, abandoning it mid-way. With great courage, Tucker bluntly speaks on the forbidden emotions associated with the silence of God. One’s first response to her thesis might be that she has missed the intimate blessing of God. Persisting through the whole of her argument will bring the reader to a new understanding.

From the opening subtitle to the subtle phraseology of the text, the reader may wonder if Tucker is embittered against the church or against God, and whether this book is giving vent to her disappointment. She does not flinch when shooting the sacred cow of popular Christianity (i.e.., God told me). The book unbraids the familiar stories of the “Guideposts guidance” kind of prayer. She does not avoid making the church wince when it hears the convicted criminal announce that the voice of God instructed him to do his evil deeds. She confronts the subjective, even naïve interpretation of events―mocking the assumption of sunshine or green traffic lights as a personal favor or as a special answer to prayer. She grapples with theodicy, echoing popular arguments for defending God’s goodness in a world filled with evil.

Midway through the book Tucker gives a brief solace for the bruised reader to rest as she finds a secure toehold in sola scriptura before continuing her climb (We let the reader decide if her direction is upward or downward). Moving toward her conclusion she bandages the wounds of the tender reader with the comfort of Christ-centered soteriology. When the final pages are turned, the reader may well be relieved that someone had the chutzpah to speak unguardedly. There are no “Sunday School” answers in this text. These are difficult issues—dragons that only the brave dare challenge.

Tucker says that in the mystery of God’s silence is a safe place to be—though silence is a stark contrast to our culture’s insistence on activity. She pulls the scarlet thread of this silence through the whole fabric of the book—the mysterious thread of the silence of God—as noted in Scripture, in the writings of Christian mystics throughout history, and in the reality of the serious moments of life. She warns that the fabrication of conversation or the embellishment of conversation with God is a serious offense. Even in the silence, God is there.

Reviewed by John R. Miller

Preview God Talk: http://books.google.com/books/about/God_Talk.html?id=uFfIsfjiO-AC

This book is “A Handbook for Strengthening Ministry Skills,” it is a guide full of good counsel about what pastors will encounter in their careers. Pastor Tucker writes from the perspective of one who has been there and done that. My first reaction was that the book was perhaps targeted more to the new minister, but as I read on, I found myself comparing my own experiences with Tucker’s, and appreciating his insights to the challenge of being all things to all people.

Tucker writes, “Sinful humanity’s twin problems are alienation from God and estrangement from others.” As a pastor, he has spent a lifetime helping people who suffer from those two problems and want relief from them. He was successful in that endeavor, though not every time, and his words will help you be more successful.

I have worked at solving problems and helping others resolve disputes for many years. Often, fortunes accumulated over a life time were at stake. Emotions of every kind resonated through the life of the dispute. I found that in almost every case, the disputants needed to go back to the basics to understand what was really involved in the situations that they faced. Those that were able to deal with the implications of the basics were winners even when they seemingly lost what they sought.

Austin Tucker is a Southern Baptist with more than 30 years of experience. He is not Pentecostal/charismatic or from a holiness tradition in doctrine or experience, and he does close his book with his version of the Spirit-filled life. This discussion concludes with his admonition that we are to ensure we are rightly related to God the Holy Spirit. Tucker tells us that we do this by seeking a Person, not an experience, however great and blessed spiritually that experience may be. Tucker states that we are seeking God the Holy Spirit. Scripture never calls us to seek an experience in Tucker’s view, scripture calls us to seek God. We do not want divine power but to come under divine control. However, I believe we should desire God’s power when we are rightly under His control. Nonetheless, Tucker’s thoughts and perspective on a God-controlled life are worthwhile.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it.

Reviewed by H. Murray Hohns

Preview A Primer for Pastors: books.google.com/books?id=hpo1WtsL3T0C