I cannot judge others’ spiritual experiences. But I can for a fact attest to this: a prominent ‘Life in the Spirit’ member in our parish said, “the Holy Spirit is so strong in my life right now that I don’t feel the need to go to Mass.”
After Mass one Sunday a ‘Life in the Spirit’ spokesperson invited the congregation to a “deeper spiritual life” by attending their Friday night seminars. I immediately thought to myself, “we’ve just finished communion, the source and pinnacle of the faith, and he’s suggesting we’re not experiencing the full Holy Spirit until we’ve experienced the Spirit just like himself?!” Our ‘Life in the Spirit’ people at our parish make out their experience to be like some “eighth sacrament.”
Yes, I’ve been ‘slain in the Spirit’ and have had my share of supernatural experiences (as I believe any Christian has); but many–not all–charismatics seem to hunger for these charisms to an unhealthy degree.
Another observation: charismatics will often pray with different denominations–nothing wrong with that; but they can be led astray if they don’t know their Catholic theology. For example, I know of one lady in our parish who lovingly accepted a book to read from a charismatic protestant. The book had much truth–and much error (i.e. don’t pray to angels)–that had purportedly come from the Lord. She accepted it blindly; because the touchstone for truth for her was this powerful, moving, emotional, supernatural experience; not what it should be–the Church’s teachings.
Which brings me to another beef I have with charismatics: How come the ‘in tongues’ speaking Pentecostals down the street are claiming that the one true Church is the Whore of Babylon? Those ‘tongues’ don’t come from the one Holy Spirit.
The above reasons are why I do not join the ‘Life in the Spirit’ group in our parish and view all charismatics with suspicion.
But I’ve been wrong many times before--
Peace in Christ