Leeann, a question for you and anyone else who might like to answer.

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You made mention of being guided by the Holy Spirit at times… and I believe it was in relation to when reading the Bible.

The question is: If you believe that you are being guided by the Holy Spirit, how do you know with certainty that it is specifically the Holy Spirit, and not another spirit…even one of a nefarious nature?

Its a serious question.
 
A good way to know if the Spirit of Truth is guiding you or not is to check with the teachings of the Church. The Holy Spirit, Who is the Interpretor of the Word of God, cannot deceive nor be decieved, because He is God. Hence, He cannot go against the truths believed by the Church. Therefore, if a spirit dose lie or deceive or deny the truth, however small, than you know its not the Holy Spirit, but an evil spirit, or possibly just your imagination run wild (not every bad revelation has its origin in the spirits of Hell). It’s always good to check with Church teachings, and this includes the history of the Church as well. 🙂
 
Consequently, we too receive the Holy Spirit if we love the Church, if we are joined together by charity, if we rejoice in the Catholic name and faith. Let us believe, brethren; as much as every man loves the Church of Christ, so much has he the Holy Spirit.
–Saint Augustine (Tractatus in Io 32, 8 )​
 
I’m finding this very interesting… the only two people who have responded to this thread are apparently Catholics…:eek: Leeann, who is on the site tonite as evidenced by her posts has not responded. Not picking on you Leeann…just curious as to why you and other non-Catholic Christians have neglected to answer my question. Seems that a lot of people like to “bandy” these words (Holy Spirit, guided by, etc) but few desire to explain their feelings or impressions where this issue is concerned.

Is the crux of your existence based solely on …whatever stokes your furnace?
 
Why not pm Leeann, then?

For the question - that’s where discernment of the spirit comes in. You must also make sure it’s in line with scripture and what the church teaches (Scripture and Tradition).
 
Jennifer_G said:
Why not pm Leeann, then?

For the question - that’s where discernment of the spirit comes in. You must also make sure it’s in line with scripture and what the church teaches (Scripture and Tradition).
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Maybe she’s on another forum right now.
 
Jennifer_G said:
Why not pm Leeann, then?
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Because she has been posting on this particular forum this evening and even since I posted this question.

It seems that there are some people who do this, and others that do that…😃

She herself brought up this issue as a defense in several different posts then deflected questions or ignored them after she broached the subject…so I am asking directly, but it seems I’m not getting an answer…:eek:
 
RobHom said:
You made mention of being guided by the Holy Spirit at times… and I believe it was in relation to when reading the Bible.

The question is: If you believe that you are being guided by the Holy Spirit, how do you know with certainty that it is specifically the Holy Spirit, and not another spirit…even one of a nefarious nature?

Its a serious question.
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Couldn’t the same question be asked of anyone who has ever read or interpreted Scripture (including canonized saints, upon whom church doctrine and tradition is based)?

If I’m “the church of Hajnalcsillag” due to the interpretations and knowledge of Scripture that come to me while studying, who does it affect outside of me? But if I’m penning everything into doctrine, how many more does that affect?
 
Hajnalcsillag said:
(including canonized saints, upon whom church doctrine and tradition is based)?
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Well, Tradition is based on the teachings of the Apostles, who learned from Jesus directly. And I don’t think that He got anything wrong. If later people in the Church taught differently, it could be compared back to the original teachings.

As for those “penning everything into doctrine,” they can know whose spirit is leading them because Jesus promised that it would be His.

Sam, the Neon Orange Knight
 
RobHom said:
You made mention of being guided by the Holy Spirit at times… and I believe it was in relation to when reading the Bible.

The question is: If you believe that you are being guided by the Holy Spirit, how do you know with certainty that it is specifically the Holy Spirit, and not another spirit…even one of a nefarious nature?

Its a serious question.
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A good place to start would be I John 4:1-4 where John gives one test to determine if the HS or another spirit is speaking.

4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

There are at least 2 tests here. One is a person must confess Christ as being from God and the second test is does the teaching line up with the teachings of the apostles i.e. the NT. If a teaching lines up with the teachings of the apostles then it is from God and if not it not of Christ.

This has serious implications for the many Catholic teachings that cannot be grounded as a teaching of the apostles.
 
This has serious implications for the many Catholic teachings that cannot be grounded as a teaching of the apostles.
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Such as? Remember, not everything the apostles taught is in Scripture. We know this from several places in Scripture itself, notably St. Paul speaking of “holding fast to the traditions I have given you both written and by word of mouth”, as well as from your favorite St. John who said that all that Jesus did and taught was not ‘written’ because ‘there would not be enough books in the world to contain His teaching’.

Of course, if you limit yourself to Scripture alone (which itself is not an apostolic teaching that can be found IN Scripture as Scripture nowhere defines itself by table of contents IN Scripture), you can still find nonScripture (or oral) Tradition implicit in said Scripture. No oral Tradition contradicts Scripture. Ever.
 
justasking4 said:
This has serious implications for the many Catholic teachings that cannot be grounded as a teaching of the apostles.
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Please go back and read the original question. I was not looking for “scriptural proofs” for believing… I was looking for your particular “personal feelings” or gut feelings or how it is you know “personally” that it is the Holy Spirit and not another spirit guiding you.

I can’t imagine any serious implications for any Catholic teachings… in fact I can’t even begin to fathom where you dug that comment up from…
 
RobHom;4312669]Please go back and read the original question.
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Here is the question you asked:
"You made mention of being guided by the Holy Spirit at times… and I believe it was in relation to when reading the Bible.

The question is: If you believe that you are being guided by the Holy Spirit, how do you know with certainty that it is specifically the Holy Spirit, and not another spirit…even one of a nefarious nature?

Its a serious question."
I was not looking for “scriptural proofs” for believing… I was looking for your particular “personal feelings” or gut feelings or how it is you know “personally” that it is the Holy Spirit and not another spirit guiding you.
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I didn’t see anything in your question about “feelings”. Relying on “feelings” for guidance is a dangerous thing to do. This is why knowing the Scriptures is a far superior way to know if the HS is guiding you since the Scriptures have their source in Him.
I can’t imagine any serious implications for any Catholic teachings… in fact I can’t even begin to fathom where you dug that comment up from…
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Look at verse 6 where John where John exhorts his readers that they can know this guidance by “by listening to the apostles” which we know to be the NT. Now we know there are many teachings in the church that were not taught by the apostles. Take the “Tresasury of Merit” as an example of something the apostles never taught.
 
Tantum ergo;4312625]
justasking4
This has serious implications for the many Catholic teachings that cannot be grounded as a teaching of the apostles.
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Tantum ergo
Such as?
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Were familar with the Marian doctrines and mandated celibacy for bishops and there is also the Treasury of Merit which has yet to be discussed. These doctrines were never taught by the apostles to which John refers to in verse 6 as a “test” to determine if it is of the HS or not.
Remember, not everything the apostles taught is in Scripture. We know this from several places in Scripture itself, notably St. Paul speaking of “holding fast to the traditions I have given you both written and by word of mouth”, as well as from your favorite St. John who said that all that Jesus did and taught was not ‘written’ because ‘there would not be enough books in the world to contain His teaching’.
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True. Howver no one knows what these “other things” were since they were never recorded for us.
Of course, if you limit yourself to Scripture alone (which itself is not an apostolic teaching that can be found IN Scripture as Scripture nowhere defines itself by table of contents IN Scripture), you can still find nonScripture (or oral) Tradition implicit in said Scripture. No oral Tradition contradicts Scripture. Ever.
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The problem you have is that you don’t know what these oral Traditions were. They were never recorded.
 
Poor JA. . .the same responses over and over. You have been given answers to every one but you refuse to accept them.

Let’s just post these links so everybody can read some definitive answers.

From the CA library: For Scripture and Tradition: catholic.com/library/Scripture_and_Tradition.asp

Apostolic Tradition:
catholic.com/library/Apostolic_Tradition.asp

What’s your Authority:

catholic.com/library/What_Your_Authority.asp

Proving Inspiration:

catholic.com/library/Proving_Inspiration.asp

Intercession of the saints:
catholic.com/library/Intercession_of_the_Saints.asp

Immaculate Conception and Assumption:
catholic.com/library/Immaculate_Conception_and_Assum.asp

Mary, ever Virgin:
catholic.com/library/Mary_Ever_Virgin.asp

Mary, full of grace:

catholic.com/library/Mary_Full_of_Grace.asp

Mary, Mother of God:

catholic.com/library/Mary_Mother_of_God.asp
 
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