Evangelicals and thinking God is talking to them personally

[LaughingBoy1503]

My advice would be to question why this bothers you so much. Are more concerned about his soul or being right? Pray for him, and in the meantime see if you can maybe find a more charitable way of discussing these things with him.

I have questioned myself in this matter. I guess part of it bothers me because I use to kind of be the same way sometimes when I was a protestant (every little coincidence was a sign from God or God trying to talk to me) Part of it bothers me because it is just annoying to hear someone constantly telling you something that you do not believe but I don’t want to be mean so I cannot just come out and say “I don’t believe you, please keep your private revelations to yourself” Part of it probably is that I am concerned with being right. I don’t know about his soul. Though he is not Catholic, I would not be surprised if he could make a act of perfect contrition when he knows he did something wrong, without even knowing he is making a act of perfect contrition.

Yes, I will find a way to speak with our brother in Christ more charitably. I am still a work in progress.

 

[LaughingBoy1503]

I don’t get the whole,"God put it on my heart…"The only people I ever knew that would use that phrase were usually using it to justify or excuse some behavior. Personally, I feel everyone should have some sort of spiritual advisor no matter what your philosophy or religion is. The human mind has a way of really screwing up divine communication or conjuring up our own- I just don’t trust myself anymore on this issue. I felt this way long before I started going to Catholic Mass with my husband. My parents are born again "just’ Christians so I’ve had an earful of that. I wish they would convert but it will never happen.

Regarding Spiritual advisors… Before I became Catholic I use to ask a relative about spiritual things sometimes. I use to go through episodes of sleep paralysis and when I told this relative about it and described what it was like they immediately told me “you are being attacked by demons” and that is what I believed for a long time until I learned what sleep paralysis was and what caused it. In this way, spiritual advisors can be harmful. I was a 18 year old kid and this “advisor” was almost 40 and had been a Christian for over a decade already. I don’t hold any grudges but that wrong advice helped me to be in fear about these “demon attacks” for years of my life.

Probably part of the reason why I think giving a supernatural explanation to things that can be explained naturally can be dangerous. And I think it can start with believing every little feeling you get comes from God or thinking the internal dialog in your head sometimes comes from God. I am just trying to be cautious I guess.

 

[Deana83]

Regarding Spiritual advisors… Before I became Catholic I use to ask a relative about spiritual things sometimes. I use to go through episodes of sleep paralysis and when I told this relative about it and described what it was like they immediately told me “you are being attacked by demons”

Yes you definitely have to be careful with whom you choose to confide. I just meant it’s nice to have someone around to bounce your ideas off of that you respect and trust. I use my husband for that at times but his ability to be objective is somewhat limited due to the nature of our relationship. I know in addiction support groups members will use a sponsor to help them get or stay sober. Therapy could help one sort through some difficult issues. A BFF? Never really had that all inclusive warm and fuzzy relationship with another woman- guess I have some left over mommy issues. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is we have to use discernment. Your uncle sounds as though he were of the fundamentalist way of thinking and you, being only 18, were naïve enough to trust him. This is exactly why I like the Catholic church. You can take your confession to a priest, attend spiritual retreats, counseling, etc. I attended a Cursillo a few years ago which helped me with some spiritual issues I was struggling with. Yes. I’m well aware of the scandals and the bad priests and all of that-I have a TV. But, the Catholic church seems to have some sort of safety net built into it, that I never felt when I was a Methodist, Lutheran, or a non-denominational new ager. There’s a level of trust I haven’t experienced elsewhere.