Moved by the Spirit, the Protestant Interpretation

[Azygos]

What is the best way to respond when a Protestant says the Spirit leads them into all truth… (basically claiming to be infallible)

Also another interesting heresy I have come across is protestants who say the Spirit is a Feeling (Usually unknowingly). They say things like, “Did you feel the Spirit?”, “I felt the Spirit in that Church opposed to this other Church…”

I even had a person tell me in a Protestant Bible study not to correct another Protestant but let her interpret it by the Spirit and how she feels about it… Whhhaat? Then after the study he told me I was to pushy and that I needed to let the Spirit discern things individually for the person.

 

[BA11]

I’ve literally never heard anyone say the spirit “leads them to all truth”. Everyone acknowledges there are things we dont/cant know about God, his ways and his plan. Protestants dont claim any sort of infallibility of spiritual truth or revelation.

The holy spirit within certainly speaks to us as christians, though.

 

[RoseMary131]

I even had a person tell me in a Protestant Bible study not to correct another Protestant but let her interpret it by the Spirit and how she feels about it… Whhhaat? Then after the study he told me I was to pushy and that I needed to let the Spirit discern things individually for the person.

You were at a Protestant Bible Study which would make sense that they would want to interpret the Bible as “they feel”. The break of Protestantism forms more and more “breaks” and “churches” each day, because they interpret “how they feel”.

You may have been giving the teachings of the Church, the Catholic Church. As a Church, we look to the teachings of the Church, not our own personal feeling about what we think the scripture means.

You are putting a Catholic understanding of scripture study on a Protestant view. As Protestant, they Protest the teachings of the Church. They probably were not looking for the Church’s teachings.

I think the best place to study scripture is a Catholic Bible Study. If there is not one in your area, look for Catholic books or an on-line study.

Peace.

 

[JustaServant]

What is the best way to respond when a Protestant says the Spirit leads them into all truth… (basically claiming to be infallible)

Also another interesting heresy I have come across is protestants who say the Spirit is a Feeling (Usually unknowingly). They say things like, “Did you feel the Spirit?”, “I felt the Spirit in that Church opposed to this other Church…”

I even had a person tell me in a Protestant Bible study not to correct another Protestant but let her interpret it by the Spirit and how she feels about it… Whhhaat? Then after the study he told me I was to pushy and that I needed to let the Spirit discern things individually for the person.

I knew a guy once who went to one of these “word of faith” churches. He was dating a girl at the time, but he felt he had sinned because they both succumed to temptation. So at one of the meetings the preacher had a “word of faith” that told him they should not be in a relationship. So they broke up. Then another “word” told him he should leave the city he was in and pursue a woman in another city. So he did.
I remember meeting the first girl, she was a good kid. A little mixed up, but she obviously loved him. So he goes off to the other city and pursues the ‘girl who was his soul mate’.
And it came to nothing.
I remember questioning that “word of faith” to him. And he just wouldn’t hear it. It was infallible. The Spirit spoke.
Well, someone spoke. But I don’t think it was “the spirit”.

 

[JustaServant]

I’ve literally never heard anyone say the spirit “leads them to all truth”.

Then I suggest you get out more.

 

[wanabesaint]

Protestant means rejection of Truth, rejection of the Church of Truth… rejection of the Pope and the rejection of Being Guided by the Holy Spirit by Priests. Rejection of the Tradition that the Church is founded on, the very Tradition of the Church that put the Bible together, and for a rejection of the Holy Orders that in Truth recognizes God sent the Holy Spirit to work through the Priest in the sacrific of the Mass, and interpritation of the Gospels…

Rejection of Gods willl to Guide the Church…

Catholics should pray constantly for more of the Holy Spirit to guide them, that should be a daily prayer that Gods will be done in their lives, not self determination of what we want and wish for… Constanat prayer to the Holy Spirit to guide us.

Being Confirmed in the Catholic Faith would be a recognition of Turning to the Holy Spirit, and putting ones life in that of the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the true sense of being "Moved by the Holy Spirit.

 

[BA11]

Then I suggest you get out more.

Like I said, Ive been in protestant churches my whole life and have never heard someone claim spiritual infallibility. Ever. Moreover, such a claim would be the height of prideful, worldly arrogance.

Im sure they exist, but Ive sure never met one. And ive met a lot of christians of different backgrounds.

 

[JustaServant]

Like I said, Ive been in protestant churches my whole life and have never heard someone claim spiritual infallibility. Ever. Moreover, such a claim would be the height of prideful, worldly arrogance.

Im sure they exist, but Ive sure never met one. And ive met a lot of christians of different backgrounds.

And I spent almost 20 years in evangelical/fundamentalism and used to hear it all the time.
Are you implying we are liars?

 

[BA11]

And I spent almost 20 years in evangelical/fundamentalism and used to hear it all the time.
Are you implying we are liars?

Im not implying anything. Im saying Ive never met such people. If you have, then Im sorry that you were unfortunate enough to be subjected to such nonsense. Im sorry that they so poorly represented the faith. Im glad you got away from that atmosphere, the catholic church is far more christian than any place preaching spiritual infallibility.

 

[JustaServant]

Im not implying anything. Im saying Ive never met such people. If you have, then Im sorry that you were unfortunate enough to be subjected to such nonsense. Im sorry that they so poorly represented the faith. Im glad you got away from that atmosphere, the catholic church is far more christian than any place preaching spiritual infallibility.

Okay dude, nothing personal, just checking.
We get people on this site all the time who claim our converts/reverts didn’t really experience what we say we experienced, to the point we have been called liars.
Glad to hear you’re not one of them.

 

[BA11]

Okay dude, nothing personal, just checking.
We get people on this site all the time who claim our converts/reverts didn’t really experience what we say we experienced, to the point we have been called liars.
Glad to hear you’re not one of them.

I think everyone who trusts in the blood of Jesus is a child of God and thus is empowered by the holy spirit. Im sure your conversion stories were just as real as anyones. To argue otherwise is at best unbiblical.

 

[chero23]

What is the best way to respond when a Protestant says the Spirit leads them into all truth… (basically claiming to be infallible)

Also another interesting heresy I have come across is protestants who say the Spirit is a Feeling (Usually unknowingly). They say things like, “Did you feel the Spirit?”, “I felt the Spirit in that Church opposed to this other Church…”

I even had a person tell me in a Protestant Bible study not to correct another Protestant but let her interpret it by the Spirit and how she feels about it… Whhhaat? Then after the study he told me I was to pushy and that I needed to let the Spirit discern things individually for the person.

Hopefully my answer will respond to your question. But remember the Holy Spirit will never lead anyone away from the Church God established. The Catholic Church is that church. Now remember what Paul tells us, imitate me as a imitate The Lord, follow the traditions that we have professed to orally or written.

One of the most compelling verses to tell these Protestants pastors/ preachers is this verse from Galatians, its Galatians 1:8-9 but even if we, or angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which you have received, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you have received, let him be accursed.

This verse tells me reaffirms what our Lord Jesus said, be aware of false prophets. A lot of these Protestant pastors say the Holy Spirit has touch them to start a new church but according to Paul said they are wrong.

 

[BA11]

Hopefully my answer will respond to your question. But remember the Holy Spirit will never lead anyone away from the Church God established. The Catholic Church is that church. Now remember what Paul tells us, imitate me as a imitate The Lord, follow the traditions that we have professed to orally or written.

One of the most compelling verses to tell these Protestants pastors/ preachers is this verse from Galatians, its Galatians 1:8-9 but even if we, or angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which you have received, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you have received, let him be accursed.

This verse tells me reaffirms what our Lord Jesus said, be aware of false prophets. A lot of these Protestant pastors say the Holy Spirit has touch them to start a new church but according to Paul said they are wrong.

So youre saying protestants cant be guided by the holy spirit? Id hate to think every person who has been saved from their sin through protestanism was somehow not led by the spirit. What about the tens of thousands of former catholics who now call themselves protestant? Are they not still being guided by the spirit? One would think that if the spirit only led people to catholicism the numbers into and out of the church would be very one sided, and yet statistics show they are not. For every minister turned priest, there’s a former priest now claiming protestanism.

The holy spirit will never lead someone away from Jesus. People are led to Jesus many different ways.

 

[bitznbitez]

What is the best way to respond when a Protestant says the Spirit leads them into all truth… (basically claiming to be infallible)

Tell them that I studied my bible, prayed, and the holy spirit led me into the Catholic faith.

 

[chero23]

So youre saying protestants cant be guided by the holy spirit? Id hate to think every person who has been saved from their sin through protestanism was somehow not led by the spirit. What about the tens of thousands of former catholics who now call themselves protestant? Are they not still being guided by the spirit? One would think that if the spirit only led people to catholicism the numbers into and out of the church would be very one sided, and yet statistics show they are not. For every minister turned priest, there’s a former priest now claiming protestanism.

The holy spirit will never lead someone away from Jesus. People are led to Jesus many different ways.

In all truth do you think god contradicts himself? Remember God established his church based on apostolic tradition. he told the apostles, who were lead by Peter, whoever listens to you listens to me (John 10:16), god built his church on the foundation of the apostles (Ephesians 2:20) you see God set rules, God set rules that we must all follow. You say if the Catholic Church is Gods true church why do ppl leave it? That’s very easy ppl leave bc they find a church that abides to their persona, when in reality it’s not the god should abide to me but the other way around.

 

[ltwin]

What is the best way to respond when a Protestant says the Spirit leads them into all truth… (basically claiming to be infallible)

No Protestant claims anyone alive today has infallibility. That’s one reason we aren’t Catholic! The Spirit does lead us and guide us. There are times when God does speak to us. There are gifts of prophecy, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, etc. However, no one is infallible, and both individuals and the church at large is responsible for discern whether someone is speaking in accordance with God’s word and revealed truth or is doing something else entirely.

Also another interesting heresy I have come across is protestants who say the Spirit is a Feeling (Usually unknowingly).

What do you mean by “unknowingly”. Have you asked them what they mean or are you assuming?

They say things like, “Did you feel the Spirit?”, “I felt the Spirit in that Church opposed to this other Church…”

I’ve never asked someone “Did you feel the Spirit.” That’s a pretty stupid question to ask and too personal to boot.

However, I have at times (a lot actually) felt the Spirit’s tangible, manifest presence. The prophet Jeremiah’s words come to mind, “his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot” (20:9). And that is exactly how I felt, so filled by His presence that all I could do was just rejoice in the God of my salvation and glorify His name.

We read throughout all of Scripture incidences where the Spirit was tangibly present and made Himself known. In the Old Testament, He filled the Temple with the Glory of God to such a measure that the priests could not stand to minister.

In the Acts of the Apostle, we read that the Holy Spirit came into the upper room like a mighty, rushing wind and tongues of fire descended upon the disciples and they spoke in other tongues magnifying God. Hearing, speech, and heat (feeling) all engage the senses.

Throughout Acts when the Holy Spirit comes upon someone the language used is “falling upon” or “filling” them. Saying, “the Holy Spirit fell” indicates sudden impact and “filling” indicates a complete absorption. Sure, the Holy Spirit can be felt. Our God is not a mute idol made from stone and wood. He is a living God, and He can engage with our senses and emotions.

I even had a person tell me in a Protestant Bible study not to correct another Protestant but let her interpret it by the Spirit and how she feels about it… Whhhaat? Then after the study he told me I was to pushy and that I needed to let the Spirit discern things individually for the person.

Sounds like you might just need to find a Catholic Bible study or at least a Protestant Bible study that is made up with people you can get along with. That would be my advice.

 

[BA11]

In all truth do you think god contradicts himself? Remember God established his church based on apostolic tradition. he told the apostles, who were lead by Peter, whoever listens to you listens to me (John 10:16), god built his church on the foundation of the apostles (Ephesians 2:20) you see God set rules, God set rules that we must all follow. You say if the Catholic Church is Gods true church why do ppl leave it? That’s very easy ppl leave bc they find a church that abides to their persona, when in reality it’s not the god should abide to me but the other way around.

God doesnt contradict himself at all. I think many people, on both sides, have a skewed perception of what “the church” really is.

And you act like protestants dont follow God’s rules. I dont reject any of his rules. Love him above all else, love thy neighbor, flee from sin, repent and be saved through the blood of christ, etc. I dont do those things because they abide to my persona, I do them because Im commanded to.

 

[chero23]

God doesnt contradict himself at all. I think many people, on both sides, have a skewed perception of what “the church” really is.

And you act like protestants dont follow God’s rules. I dont reject any of his rules. Love him above all else, love thy neighbor, flee from sin, repent and be saved through the blood of christ, etc. I dont do those things because they abide to my persona, I do them because Im commanded to.

So the church is invisible then? That’s not what Paul and Peter says. Paul says the church is the foundation of truth? What church you ask, theirs 45,000 denominations said to be moved by the Holy Spirit? Or how bout were Paul says, if a person is about to die, call the priest and have him put oils on him, and have him forgive his sins. I think Paul left rules for the Church, all 45,000 churches don’t do that my brother. I don’t know you and you may feel that I’m attacking your faith with God and trust me I’m not bc at the end of your day it’s what’s in your heart what meters. But I do want to let you know that rules were set for that visible church to do.

 

[BA11]

So the church is invisible then? That’s not what Paul and Peter says. Paul says the church is the foundation of truth? What church you ask, theirs 45,000 denominations said to be moved by the Holy Spirit? Or how bout were Paul says, if a person is about to die, call the priest and have him put oils on him, and have him forgive his sins. I think Paul left rules for the Church, all 45,000 churches don’t do that my brother. I don’t know you and you may feel that I’m attacking your faith with God and trust me I’m not bc at the end of your day it’s what’s in your heart what meters. But I do want to let you know that rules were set for that visible church to do.

The church consists of the followers of Jesus Christ. Call it whatever you want. The number of denominations means nothing other than people fight over trivial matters. There were many small “denominations” of catholicism for centuries, the only difference was Rome had the power to squash them when they popped up. There have always been disagreements.

In the end, Christ saves. Everything else is trivial in comparison.

 

[JustaServant]

There were many small “denominations” of catholicism for centuries, the only difference was Rome had the power to squash them when they popped up.

Documentation please.