Guided by the Holy Spirit

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In various conversations with individuals, family included, the often spoken adage of being guided by the Holy Spirit is a panacea type comment to rationalize a point of view or in a larger sense to supposedly make valid the establishment of a non-Catholic church. Because this is in the realm of spirituality, what comment is appropriate to remind those who adhere to such that there is a line to be drawn? It seems to be that if it does not harm anyone (holding a differing view to a scripture passage, for instance) then there is no room for worry. But, that is not always the case. Any examples here? Bottom line…in this new age of Holy Spirit congeniality…Catholic teaching is just another dessert on the platter…not a main course to be taken!
 
Do u think the Holy Spirit exists outside the catholic church?
 
I think that you should take comfort in your sensitivity to such arguments. You know it does indeed matter… Why?
  1. God is not double minded
  2. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth. There can only be one truth (although there are many divergent doctrines among Protestant churches) and God the Holy Spirit cannot deceive or lead one into error.
  3. You love your family and neighbor and love God even more. When appropriate you should try to share the grace given to you through the teachings of Holy Mother Church.
  4. Christ said that we should be one, Paul said let there not be divisions among you… There are countless examples of error being taught in break away churches.
  5. Your conscience sounds well formed. You should ask them why they are not seeking the Truth through use of their reason, scripture and all the materials available. Why are they not seeking God for themselves - seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you…
Faith is a gift. People value their relationship with their creator in varying degrees. Through the trials of life though, that often changes.
 
Joy2day said:
Do u think the Holy Spirit exists outside the catholic church?
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I don’t think that’s the point. The Holy Spirit is TRUTH and cannot be making conflicting views. Like Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said, “The truth is the TRUTH even if no one believes it and a lie is a LIE, even if everyone believes it.” The Catholic Church teaches the FULLNESS of TRUTH !! As promised by Jesus Christ, the Church cannot teach error and never has. Look around at many other denominations and see how they teach error. The proof is in the pudding, God Bless, Memaw
 
DOMINUM ET VIVIFICANTEM (Lord and Giver of Life)
Pope Saint John Paul II
  1. A little while after the prediction just mentioned, Jesus adds: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”.[19] The Holy Spirit will be the Counselor of the Apostles and the Church, always present in their midst even though invisible as the teacher of the same Good News that Christ proclaimed. The words “he will teach” and “bring to remembrance” mean not only that he, in his own particular way, will continue to inspire the spreading of the Gospel of salvation but also that he will help people to understand the correct meaning of the content of Christ’s message; they mean that he will ensure continuity and identity of understanding in the midst of changing conditions and circumstances. The Holy Spirit, then, will ensure that in the Church there will always continue the same truth which the Apostles heard from their Master.
ewtn.com/library/ENCYC/JP2GIVER.HTM

Peace
 
I think that you should take comfort in your sensitivity to such arguments. You know it does indeed matter… Why?
  1. God is not double minded
  2. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth. There can only be one truth (although there are many divergent doctrines among Protestant churches) and God the Holy Spirit cannot deceive or lead one into error.
  3. You love your family and neighbor and love God even more. When appropriate you should try to share the grace given to you through the teachings of Holy Mother Church.
  4. Christ said that we should be one, Paul said let there not be divisions among you… There are countless examples of error being taught in break away churches.
  5. Your conscience sounds well formed. You should ask them why they are not seeking the Truth through use of their reason, scripture and all the materials available. Why are they not seeking God for themselves - seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you…
Faith is a gift. People value their relationship with their creator in varying degrees. Through the trials of life though, that often changes.
 
Scriptures say “By one Spirit we are baptised into
one body, we were ALL made to drink of the one
Spirit” 1 Cor. 12:13, Paul faced a similar problem
in his day with ppl claiming to be “guided by the
Holy Spirit”! See 2 Cor. 10:7
Paul gave Timothy the way to handle those who
oppose him in 2 Tim. 2:24-26, I suggest you follow
his advice!!!
 
Examples?..

My favorite is when speaking to Peter, Jesus says “Thou art rock and upon this rock I will build my Church”.

There are Protestants who hold and teach that while Jesus was talking to Peter, he was pointing to himself and referring to himself, in the second person, as “thou” This is done of course as a means of trying to undermining the Catholic Church’s claim to be the church established Christ.

If this is possible for many to believe, how much easier to question Catholic teachings about divorce, abortion, homosexuality, etc… Just reinterpret the Gospel in light of “modern times”.

God is the same yesterday, today and always.
 
Yes the Church has the fullness of Truth, but there is truth in the other religions, however watered down. Jesus said “when I am lifted up, I will draw all people to Myself”, so of course the Holy Spirit goes out, beyond the Catholic Church, to.seek & find those who listen. The Holy Spirit teaches all who would listen. What did the Good Thief believe?
Where is that passage in the bible that says: “…but if I do all these things, but have no love…”.
Who is better: a person who believes in ? & loves others, or someone who believes all the church teaches, & does not love others?
Or: a homosexual who loves God (generally), & loves & welcomes all, or an upstanding catholic who persecutes & refuses to eat with homosexuals?
 
Joy2day said:
Yes the Church has the fullness of Truth, but there is truth in the other religions, however watered down. Jesus said “when I am lifted up, I will draw all people to Myself”, so of course the Holy Spirit goes out, beyond the Catholic Church, to.seek & find those who listen. The Holy Spirit teaches all who would listen. What did the Good Thief believe?
Where is that passage in the bible that says: “…but if I do all these things, but have no love…”.
Who is better: a person who believes in ? & loves others, or someone who believes all the church teaches, & does not love others?
Or: a homosexual who loves God (generally), & loves & welcomes all, or an upstanding catholic who persecutes & refuses to eat with homosexuals?
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Who is showing that they “have no love”? We speak the truth for the edification of our Protestant brethren precisely because we do love them and want to lead them to the fullness of the truth, in as much as they will to be lead. I’m getting weary of so many saying that anytime Catholics profess their faith they are unloving, uncharitable and lack compassion.

Is bearing witness to the fullness of truth (as you correctly referred to it) showing a lack of compassion? The third work of spiritual mercy is to “admonish the sinner”. Do you disagree? Should we affirm the homosexual in his sin because he “loves and welcomes all”? Shouldn’t we rather show our love for him by providing the support, example and bearing witness to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles? Do you think that the homosexual lifestyle is the best road for our brothers and sisters well being and eternal salvation?

Please tell me how can anyone really “believe in all the Church teaches and not love others”? Can someone really believe all the Church (and by extension Christ) teaches and not be moved to conversion of the heart (I assumed your thinking of “cafeteria Catholics” in your hypothetical). How can an “upstanding Catholic” “persecute” and refuse to eat with homosexuals and remain in your estimation an upstanding Catholic? I submit to you that good Catholics work to see Christ in everyone… I’m sorry that you think that the Church, through some of her members, is intolerant or uncharitable. There are many people in the Church, and all are at various states of spiritual maturity. I think as a whole, the Catholic Church is singular greatest channel of God’s Grace and mercy for the world. I think that Catholics that don’t believe this are taking for granted a great gift they have received.
 
Joy2day said:
Yes the Church has the fullness of Truth, but there is truth in the other religions, however watered down. Jesus said “when I am lifted up, I will draw all people to Myself”, so of course the Holy Spirit goes out, beyond the Catholic Church, to.seek & find those who listen. The Holy Spirit teaches all who would listen. What did the Good Thief believe?
Where is that passage in the bible that says: “…but if I do all these things, but have no love…”.
Who is better: a person who believes in ? & loves others, or someone who believes all the church teaches, & does not love others?
Or: a homosexual who loves God (generally), & loves & welcomes all, or an upstanding catholic who persecutes & refuses to eat with homosexuals?
Click to expand...
The Church teaches us the FULLNESS of TRUTH if only we would learn it. What your saying is NOT what the Church teaches and everyone has a free will to choose to live it or NOT. Just because a person steals and shares it with those he loves, does not make it right, anymore than a homosexual who loves God, (generally) and welcomes all. True love is trying to help one overcome their sins, not make excuses for them to stay in sin or to justify sin. Jesus also said not all who say LORD, LORD, will enter the kingdom of Heaven.
We must obey HIS laws. That’s real love !! The kind Jesus is talking about. When Jesus forgave someones sins, HE also said, “Go and sin no more”. He didn’t make excuses for them. God Bless, Memaw
 
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