Conversation with GOD (Encounter)

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Francis93

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Can people really encounter and talk with GOD like a normal meeting and conversation between two human beings?

I ask this question dear brothers and sisters because I have a classmate in college who keeps on convincing/pursuing (or in short, forcing) me to go to a ‘special’ retreat or an ‘encounter’ which would last for two nights and two days in a remote area somewhere in the boundaries of the town I live in. He told me that if I attend the retreat, I would encounter GOD himself, experience his great love and power, and that all of your questions, troubles and worries in life can be answered. He further explained that by the end of the retreat, my aura, spirituality, morality, etc would be renewed or changed forever. Overall, he said that the experience would be heavenly. I am skeptical/doubtful of this although he has testified that he encountered Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary in a vision at a different retreat: he met Jesus, shining bright and radiant at a distance who said to him “thank you my son” and then he met the Virgin Mary in her pure white veil who told him to “trust my son”. He has also claimed some testimonies from some of his friends/followers who actually underwent the retreat that they have the same experience and their lives have changed (ex. from being an alcoholic to a community servant, etc). I asked him that if he wanted this to be verified by Church officials of our local Diocese, he said that this has nothing to do with religion because no religion can save us and that it is only about strengthening or affirming your relationship with GOD through his Word.

He is born and baptized a Catholic but it seems that he no longer practices/says the Signing of the Cross and some Christian/Marian prayers as what I have observed during our Bible sharing every Tuesday. Yes, we do read verses and share our thoughts and insights whenever we meet every Tuesday at our school cafeteria and before we leave the place, we pray and eat snacks. I have been invited to come over to a certain place for 'praising but I declined due to suspicions that he might want me to convert or denounce or jeopardize my faith as a Catholic which I really don’t want to do. For now, I stopped meeting up with him every Tuesday.

I need your opinions, thoughts, ideas regarding this matter.

Thank you and may GOD bless you.
 
You should be aware that the human mind is quite capable of fooling itself. (That doesnt mean it isnt sometimes beneficial to do such, e.g. convincing yourself you have no longer need to drink)

So just because one has some spiritual experience, this does not mean much. What raises alarm flags for me is this:
" would encounter GOD himself, experience his great love and power, and that all of your questions, troubles and worries in life can be answered."

All questions being answered without restrictions? What about next week lotto numbers?
 
carn said:
You should be aware that the human mind is quite capable of fooling itself. (That doesnt mean it isnt sometimes beneficial to do such, e.g. convincing yourself you have no longer need to drink)

So just because one has some spiritual experience, this does not mean much. What raises alarm flags for me is this:
" would encounter GOD himself, experience his great love and power, and that all of your questions, troubles and worries in life can be answered."

All questions being answered without restrictions? What about next week lotto numbers?
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Yes. He claims that his life became easy ever since he had his first ‘encounter’. What should I say if ever he won’t stop convincing me? Or what could be the right thing to do?
 
Francis93 said:
Yes. He claims that his life became easy ever since he had his first ‘encounter’. What should I say if ever he won’t stop convincing me? Or what could be the right thing to do?
Click to expand...
The sceptic in me suggest, asking him for next week lotto numbers. Either he will invent some excuses or will produce wrong ones. Then he has some chance to admit that he misinterpreted his experience at least slightly, which might be sufficient to convince him to carefully analyze whats actually going on.

In religious aspects, remind him of Jesus, St. Peter and St. Pauls fate and of Jesus call for everybody to take his cross. From these words and examples it cannot be denied that contact with God is far from making life easy, at most it makes taking life easier, but often it includes having something completely opposite from an easy life. Therefore if he has some supernatural experience that actually makes his life easy, it seems likely that - if it isnt self delusion - its not God on the other end of the phone.
 
No you should not go on a retreat promising your “aura” will be changed, all your troubles will be removed, and you will have visions of God, Jesus, Mary, etc.

Have people received visions throughout human history? Yes
Is it rare? Yes
Is it typically associated with paying for a retreat? No
Is it “on demand”? No

You should stay far away from this friend and his retreat.
 
Sounds like a scam to me. God can speak directly to people, but, as stated, it’s at his discretion.

If your friend truly did have an encounter with God, good for him, I’m jealous. I doubt he did though. I would never attend something that claims immeasurable benefit / guarantees some sort of change in your life. There are only a few ways someone can guarantee a change in your life, and most of them involve physical harm in one way or another… >_>
 
carn said:
The sceptic in me suggest, asking him for next week lotto numbers. Either he will invent some excuses or will produce wrong ones. Then he has some chance to admit that he misinterpreted his experience at least slightly, which might be sufficient to convince him to carefully analyze whats actually going on.

In religious aspects, remind him of Jesus, St. Peter and St. Pauls fate and of Jesus call for everybody to take his cross. From these words and examples it cannot be denied that contact with God is far from making life easy, at most it makes taking life easier, but often it includes having something completely opposite from an easy life. Therefore if he has some supernatural experience that actually makes his life easy, it seems likely that - if it isnt self delusion - its not God on the other end of the phone.
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Noted. Whenever he talks about this so called retreat, I always reason out with the truth and facts about the Saints, the apostles, etc but he is very persistent and insists that I really must attend this retreat which I find annoying on my part being a Catholic. My last resort would be to remain silent and let him do the talking without me listening.
1ke said:
No you should not go on a retreat promising your “aura” will be changed, all your troubles will be removed, and you will have visions of God, Jesus, Mary, etc.

Have people received visions throughout human history? Yes
Is it rare? Yes
Is it typically associated with paying for a retreat? No
Is it “on demand”? No

You should stay far away from this friend and his retreat.
Click to expand...
He said that they have been ‘praying’ for specific dates so that the attendees would encounter God, Jesus and Mary. I am trying to stay away but it seems that he keeps on convincing me and I’m starting to get annoyed. About paying for a retreat, yes, he asks us for a fee and he offered to return the fee whenever we are dissatisfied.
carn said:
I missed that one. If someone earns money this way, then the answer must be this:
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He is recruiting some of my classmates and most of them think that what he’s saying is true.
 
Hello,

I know what you’re going through (not about the retreat, but about doing something to quiet someone), and I can tell you - don’t do it. I used to be bothered by a friend to watch a tv show that documented plane crashes, now, I’m terrified of flying. I got my ears pierced (not because I wanted earrrings) but because someone talked me into it, they used the “Well if you don’t, I won’t, and I really want so…” argument. sigh it is NEVER a good idea to do something you don’t want to, because of someone else. Losing some peace is a far better deal than getting mixed up into this stuff.

The red flags I’ve found based on your post are alarming. “Auras” are NOT supported by the Bible (at least not that I can tell - sure, Jesus is said to be radiant, but He’s the Son, not an everyday person). Seeking out people / places that claim to “read” or “enhance” your aura is not something you should do. I find it suspicious that “just anyone” can go to this place and have such a strong encounter. God is almighty - remember that, He only comes when HE wants to, not when your friend wants to. I’m sorry if I sound harsh but please, do not go to this place, it doesn’t sound like a good idea.
 
Francis93 said:
Can people really encounter and talk with GOD like a normal meeting and conversation between two human beings?

I ask this question dear brothers and sisters because I have a classmate in college who keeps on convincing/pursuing (or in short, forcing) me to go to a ‘special’ retreat or an ‘encounter’ which would last for two nights and two days in a remote area somewhere in the boundaries of the town I live in. He told me that if I attend the retreat, I would encounter GOD himself, experience his great love and power, and that all of your questions, troubles and worries in life can be answered. He further explained that by the end of the retreat, my aura, spirituality, morality, etc would be renewed or changed forever. Overall, he said that the experience would be heavenly. I am skeptical/doubtful of this although he has testified that he encountered Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary in a vision at a different retreat: he met Jesus, shining bright and radiant at a distance who said to him “thank you my son” and then he met the Virgin Mary in her pure white veil who told him to “trust my son”. He has also claimed some testimonies from some of his friends/followers who actually underwent the retreat that they have the same experience and their lives have changed (ex. from being an alcoholic to a community servant, etc). I asked him that if he wanted this to be verified by Church officials of our local Diocese, he said that this has nothing to do with religion because no religion can save us and that it is only about strengthening or affirming your relationship with GOD through his Word.

He is born and baptized a Catholic but it seems that he no longer practices/says the Signing of the Cross and some Christian/Marian prayers as what I have observed during our Bible sharing every Tuesday. Yes, we do read verses and share our thoughts and insights whenever we meet every Tuesday at our school cafeteria and before we leave the place, we pray and eat snacks. I have been invited to come over to a certain place for 'praising but I declined due to suspicions that he might want me to convert or denounce or jeopardize my faith as a Catholic which I really don’t want to do. For now, I stopped meeting up with him every Tuesday.

I need your opinions, thoughts, ideas regarding this matter.

Thank you and may GOD bless you.
Click to expand...
If you want to encounter God, go to Adoration

He is there waiting

PAX
 
bknewto7 said:
If you want to encounter God, go to Adoration

He is there waiting

PAX
Click to expand...
I was just about to write this… Jesus is there in the Blessed Sacrament… go to Adoration and you will find Him there… many times and places He sits alone there… go visit Him 😃
 
First, God will never call you to something that goes against what he has told us in Scripture. So if this retreat is claiming to connect you with God, but the participants do not practice Christianity in the Church, I would be cautious.

Second, the New Age is renowned for trying to veil their practice by making a connection to Jesus and Christianity. If it has to do with anything other than sound Christian doctrine or practice it would be prudent to stay away.

Thirdly, all the “benefits” he mentioned can be obtained through going to your local parish and praying.

As far as him being pushy, just tell him you’re not interested and please stop bringing it up. Christianity doesn’t force, it attracts.

PAX
 
The experiences of direct contact with God as reported in scripture as well as by various Catholic believers down through the centuries (such as St Teresa of Avila or St John of the Cross) are incomparably profound; there’s no room for the one receiving these gifts to think they might’ve somehow produced the experience themselves. The Holy Spirit moves as He wills, according to His wisdom and for His purposes-and not in response to some human orchestrated event.
 
Biblelove13 said:
Hello,

I know what you’re going through (not about the retreat, but about doing something to quiet someone), and I can tell you - don’t do it. I used to be bothered by a friend to watch a tv show that documented plane crashes, now, I’m terrified of flying. I got my ears pierced (not because I wanted earrrings) but because someone talked me into it, they used the “Well if you don’t, I won’t, and I really want so…” argument. sigh it is NEVER a good idea to do something you don’t want to, because of someone else. Losing some peace is a far better deal than getting mixed up into this stuff.

The red flags I’ve found based on your post are alarming. “Auras” are NOT supported by the Bible (at least not that I can tell - sure, Jesus is said to be radiant, but He’s the Son, not an everyday person). Seeking out people / places that claim to “read” or “enhance” your aura is not something you should do. I find it suspicious that “just anyone” can go to this place and have such a strong encounter. God is almighty - remember that, He only comes when HE wants to, not when your friend wants to. I’m sorry if I sound harsh but please, do not go to this place, it doesn’t sound like a good idea.
Click to expand...
bknewto7 said:
If you want to encounter God, go to Adoration

He is there waiting

PAX
Click to expand...
Ysara said:
I was just about to write this… Jesus is there in the Blessed Sacrament… go to Adoration and you will find Him there… many times and places He sits alone there… go visit Him 😃
Click to expand...
SteveLy said:
First, God will never call you to something that goes against what he has told us in Scripture. So if this retreat is claiming to connect you with God, but the participants do not practice Christianity in the Church, I would be cautious.

Second, the New Age is renowned for trying to veil their practice by making a connection to Jesus and Christianity. If it has to do with anything other than sound Christian doctrine or practice it would be prudent to stay away.

Thirdly, all the “benefits” he mentioned can be obtained through going to your local parish and praying.

As far as him being pushy, just tell him you’re not interested and please stop bringing it up. Christianity doesn’t force, it attracts.

PAX
Click to expand...
fhansen said:
The experiences of direct contact with God as reported in scripture as well as by various Catholic believers down through the centuries (such as St Teresa of Avila or St John of the Cross) are incomparably profound; there’s no room for the one receiving these gifts to think they might’ve somehow produced the experience themselves. The Holy Spirit moves as He wills, according to His wisdom and for His purposes-and not in response to some human orchestrated event.
Click to expand...
I highly agree with all of your insights and views especially about the adoration of the blessed sacrament (our cathedral has an adoration chapel at the back and I usually go there with my family for our deepest, earnest prayers and personal intentions). I also believe in the truth that GOD only comes out at his own discretion and to those who are worthy just like the Saints who lived the life of Christ by taking up his Cross and following HIM. No one can forcibly make contact with him. He is powerful and is somewhat difficult to reach. The only way or method to reach him is through prayer or adoremus in aeternum santissimum sacramentum 🙂 Thank you for the enlightenment. 🙂

Well he believes that the Holy Spirit was the mediator between GOD and the attendees. But I think he’s just making up fake reasons and excuses just to make us believe in him.

Pax
 
Francis93 said:
I highly agree with all of your insights and views especially about the adoration of the blessed sacrament (our cathedral has an adoration chapel at the back and I usually go there with my family for our deepest, earnest prayers and personal intentions). I also believe in the truth that GOD only comes out at his own discretion and to those who are worthy just like the Saints who lived the life of Christ by taking up his Cross and following HIM. No one can forcibly make contact with him. He is powerful and is somewhat difficult to reach. The only way or method to reach him is through prayer or adoremus in aeternum santissimum sacramentum 🙂 Thank you for the enlightenment. 🙂

Well he believes that the Holy Spirit was the mediator between GOD and the attendees. But I think he’s just making up fake reasons and excuses just to make us believe in him.

Pax
Click to expand...
See, he has already given out false info. He doesn’t even seem to know the truth. Jesus Christ is the ***ONE and ONLY ***mediator between God and man.
 
Ysara said:
I was just about to write this… Jesus is there in the Blessed Sacrament… go to Adoration and you will find Him there… many times and places He sits alone there… go visit Him 😃
Click to expand...
I love that response.

I get offended by these “movements” that say they have the inside track on “summoning” God and he will appear. How dare people think they can snap their fingers or say some magic incantation and God will show up like a magical genie. Haven’t they learned anything after all those false “rapture” predictions that God isn’t going to give you numbers on what date “Fred will meet God” at this retreat? If God has something to say to you believe me, you will hear it. Being open and praying and going to Church will certainly bring that message to your attention.

Yes if I am on a retreat God will speak but not wiping away every problem I have but reassuring me of love. The AURA comment alarms me, sounds new age or something weird. I even wonder if THEY are the “voices of God” who come out and say they are channeling God or God said to tell you this or that.

Please don’t give in. You sound as if you love your faith. Go to Adoration as suggested, talk to a priest, and pray for your friend. It sounds like your friend is in deep with a strange cult group. I will pray for your friend and you. Maybe it’s the other way around. Maybe YOU are the one to lead Him back to the truth.

Lorrie
 
Irishgal49 said:
I love that response.

I get offended by these “movements” that say they have the inside track on “summoning” God and he will appear. How dare people think they can snap their fingers or say some magic incantation and God will show up like a magical genie. Haven’t they learned anything after all those false “rapture” predictions that God isn’t going to give you numbers on what date “Fred will meet God” at this retreat? If God has something to say to you believe me, you will hear it. Being open and praying and going to Church will certainly bring that message to your attention.

Yes if I am on a retreat God will speak but not wiping away every problem I have but reassuring me of love. The AURA comment alarms me, sounds new age or something weird. I even wonder if THEY are the “voices of God” who come out and say they are channeling God or God said to tell you this or that.

Please don’t give in. You sound as if you love your faith. Go to Adoration as suggested, talk to a priest, and pray for your friend. It sounds like your friend is in deep with a strange cult group. I will pray for your friend and you. Maybe it’s the other way around. Maybe YOU are the one to lead Him back to the truth.

Lorrie
Click to expand...
Thank you so much Lorrie 🙂

This guy sent me an SMS at around midnight. He said he blesses me and my family IN THE NAME of Jesus Christ and he mentioned something about Jesus’ “Blood”. I forgot the whole message because I deleted it the moment I knew it was from my classmate. By the way, I forgot to mention that whenever he prays, he lets his listeners/followers repeat what he’s saying. I also saw him yesterday afternoon at a Dunkin Donuts store in a mall sitting in with a cell group of young men and I was thinking “there he goes again”.
 
Just tell him you are praying to God on what to do and once you receive and answer you will let him know. ask God to guide you, he will probably keep you away.
 
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