Charismatics? - heeelp!

[kevb]

IMHO God is capable of effectively communicating in a manner we can understand. I think an organic Catholic charismatic theology would include these passages as well as the verse “Despise not prophesying” and Paul’s encouraging the Corinthians to prophesy. Something seems to be contradictory here.

Thanks for posting this.

No problem.
There does appear to be some contradiction. It could be that the CCR, and its increasing mainstream acceptance signals a major turning point in the Church’s understanding of the role of private revelation. After all, no saint’s writing is considered infallable. On the other hand, the Church might later distance itself from it if it fails to become properly integrated with our traditional theology and liturgy.

But what I quoted above is the sort of thing I’ve tended to use as a guide, and is a pretty common theme among many of the early Christian traditions like those of the Desert Fathers. The rich mysticism of the Eastern Church still adheres strictly to the idea of “spiritual sobriety” and to above all else, avoid falling into “prelest”, which means spiritual delusion. In their writings, only the very spiritually mature who’ve overcome their deceptive ego and passions through self denial have clear enough vision to discern properly. These teachings have been a great help to me, because I was at one time in my life very easily deceived by new age occultism. Perhaps now I’ve gone too far the other direction and am too ultra conservative, but I’m still a strong believer in the supernatural and in the reality of mystical experience. I just try to remain extra vigilant regarding the devil and his ability to deceive in the realm of “signs and wonders”. He’s appeared as an “angel of light” to me before in this way and so now I follow the advice of those who are infinitely more experienced than me.

 

[Truthstalker]

I’ve always been taught that private revelation is to be tested: you take prophetic words, for example, to those in authority over you to be evaluated before they are given publicly. If you think you hear God about something, you check with someone else who has a “good ear” before you accept it. I’ve also known people who maintain God is some sort of chatterbox who continually leads them audibly. Some of these people seem close to the Deep End to me. I also know people who have very independent spirits yet “hear from God”: one woman who can only be described as a rebel because “no one is going to get between her and God” who seems to have developed a special and unique hot-line between them… God tells her things no one else has ever known. The problem is that she really is off in fantasyland.

One weakness of independent Protestant churches is when the pastor gets a word or something and because of his position no one will challenge it when he immediately delivers it. I’ve been to meetings of certain ministers where they get a word and deliver it. Strangely, the word always confirms that that particular ministry is the Current Move of the Holy Spirit and get on board or get left behind, or supports the sermon the pastor is about to deliver. Most charismatic churches require you to submit the word to the meeting leader before delivering it, which provides some screening. I wonder about how effective the accountability structure of some independent, especially traveling, minister is in this regard. Some Protestant churches, such as the one I am a member of currently, are open to the gifts but cautious and the pastor discusses things with the elders, and the gifts are not prominently displayed. I guess what I am getting at is that the Catholic Church has the mechanism in place to deal with private revelations: take it to the priest. The priest can take it to the bishop if he is unsure. I am not sure how prophetic words are dealt with at charismatic masses - I suppose at the end of the Mass or something. I haven’t made it to one yet.