Is It Possible To Know When the Holy Spirit Is Guiding You?

[jgh7]

The bible says the Holy Spirit will be your guide. So, to Christians, how has the Holy Spirit guided you? What do you precisely attribute to the Holy Spirit? What did it do that was outside of your own volition? How do you know it was the Holy Spirit doing this and not your own self?

I am skeptical of people claiming that the Holy Spirit guides them. I am more inclined to believe that it is their own conscience. That is why I ask these questions.

If I had to sum all this up with one debate question, the title would be it. What I would like to see thusly is your best explanation to prove that the Holy Spirit has guided you rather than just you alone guiding yourself.

[RonE]

[Replying to post 1 by jgh7]

Just another layer of supernatural & unfalsifiable claims.
There is no credible evidence of either the supernatural or a "holy spirit".

[Divine Insight]

It would seem to me that the very idea of a Holy Spirit guiding someone flies in the very face of what Christianity is supposed to be all about.

For example, if I require a Holy Spirit to "guide me" then what does that say about my own sense of morality and choices? Obviously if I need to be guided by a Holy Spirit then my own personal morality and choices must not be any good.

But that's a problem isn't it? How could I be judged on my own moral choices if some Holy Spirit is guiding me?

~~~~~~

[OpenYourEyes]

The bible says the Holy Spirit will be your guide. So, to Christians, how has the Holy Spirit guided you? What do you precisely attribute to the Holy Spirit? What did it do that was outside of your own volition? How do you know it was the Holy Spirit doing this and not your own self?

I am skeptical of people claiming that the Holy Spirit guides them. I am more inclined to believe that it is their own conscience. That is why I ask these questions.

If I had to sum all this up with one debate question, the title would be it. What I would like to see thusly is your best explanation to prove that the Holy Spirit has guided you rather than just you alone guiding yourself.

Hi jgh. I think this is a problem not just for skeptics but also for believers since many believers have also mistaken their will for God's and have mislead themselves and others as a result. I haven't encountered any answers that settle the matter completely but there are some strong points that we can build on.

First off, God can guide or speak to us in many ways, some ways are more easily perceptible than others. I don't think your point is a strong when it comes to the easily perceptible ways that God can provides guidance, like when it's through revelation or some other supernatural means. For instance, you could tell the difference between what you're thinking about in your head vs you receiving information that you wouldn't have ordinarily known about, like prophecy, visions, etc. You are speaking more towards people who claim that God is guiding them through feelings. I'll give my 2 cents in the next paragraph.

I believe that God can stimulate emotional states (Romans 15:13), but that alone is not a good guide for doing something nor do I see that the Biblical writers advocated to go by emotions alone. Therefore, as a Christian, I don't claim that God is pushing me to decide something based on the presence of strong feelings alone. If anything, in this case, I'd pray and ask God for clearer guidance or talk to fellow believers about it. The rest of the guidance comes from reading the Bible and putting it into practice.

My overall conclusion, is that this issue is a valid problem but there are safeguards to keep people from being mislead, like testing the guidance to make sure it does not conflict with the Bible. You also can't draw the conclusion that the problem invalidates Christianity or makes it not practical because there are numerous times when the messages are very clear.

[Divine Insight]

My overall conclusion, is that this issue is a valid problem but there are safeguards to keep people from being mislead, like testing the guidance to make sure it does not conflict with the Bible.

But isn't that an oxymoron since we're supposed to be turning to the Holy Spirit to make sense of the Bible?

Also what do we do when the Bible contradicts itself? God commands us to judge and stone sinners to death. Jesus tells us to ignore God's directives on this matter.

Who should we believe? God, or Jesus?

Isn't this when we need the Holy Spirit to guide us to know who's the real authority; God, or Jesus? We can't follow them both since they tell us to do contradictory things. So the Bible can't resolve this issue.

[Zzyzx]

.

First off, God can guide or speak to us in many ways, some ways are more easily perceptible than others.

Are there any ways “God can guide or speak to us� that can be shown to be anything other than one's own mental processes?

I don't think your point is a strong when it comes to the easily perceptible ways that God can provides guidance, like when it's through revelation or some other supernatural means. For instance, you could tell the difference between what you're thinking about in your head vs you receiving information that you wouldn't have ordinarily known about, like prophecy, visions, etc.

Thus, non-religious mystics who “experience� revelation or some other supernatural guidance (or people who have a bright idea that they had not thought of before) are hearing from God. Right?

I believe that God can stimulate emotional states (Romans 15:13), but that alone is not a good guide for doing something nor do I see that the Biblical writers advocated to go by emotions alone.

Kindly identify guidance from God that is NOT emotional state or psychological (in mind).

Therefore, as a Christian, I don't claim that God is pushing me to decide something based on the presence of strong feelings alone. If anything, in this case, I'd pray and ask God for clearer guidance or talk to fellow believers about it. The rest of the guidance comes from reading the Bible and putting it into practice.

Is this to say that when one has “strong feelings� and then looks for “guidance� from the Bible that is God guiding them?

My overall conclusion, is that this issue is a valid problem but there are safeguards to keep people from being mislead, like testing the guidance to make sure it does not conflict with the Bible.

There are many situations in life that are not mentioned in the Bible. Thus, one has to make up something that seems to indicate what the Bible “would say� but does not. Pedophilia and child brides would be examples. Rape is condoned if the rapist pays the father a modest sum to buy the woman.

Recourse to “love one another� is a cop out.

You also can't draw the conclusion that the problem invalidates Christianity or makes it not practical because there are numerous times when the messages are very clear.

Kindly identify examples some of the “numerous times when the messages are very clear� (and can be SHOWN, not just claimed, to be something other than products of one's own mind).

[OpenYourEyes]

My overall conclusion, is that this issue is a valid problem but there are safeguards to keep people from being mislead, like testing the guidance to make sure it does not conflict with the Bible.

But isn't that an oxymoron since we're supposed to be turning to the Holy Spirit to make sense of the Bible?

My points were not about the Holy Spirit being wrong but were instead about our (human) will misguiding us. The guidance of the HOly Spirit and the message of the Bible should never conflict, otherwise it's not the Spirit.

Also what do we do when the Bible contradicts itself? God commands us to judge and stone sinners to death. Jesus tells us to ignore God's directives on this matter.

This is a change in policy rather than a conflict. It is not wrong for God to transition from one covenant to another.

[benchwarmer]

Also what do we do when the Bible contradicts itself? God commands us to judge and stone sinners to death. Jesus tells us to ignore God's directives on this matter.

This is a change in policy rather than a conflict. It is not wrong for God to transition from one covenant to another.

What about when there are conflicts during the same 'policy period'.

Regarding divorce, Jesus at one point says it is wrong in all circumstances. In another it is wrong in all circumstances except if the woman committed some sexual immorality (whatever that entails, and I imagine this is an escape clause put in to find an excuse when convenient)

All circumstances:

Mark 10

10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.�

Most circumstances (with a convenient escape clause):

Matthew 5

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[f] 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

[the above quotes are from biblegateway.com, NIV]

So, which is it?

[OpenYourEyes]

First off, God can guide or speak to us in many ways, some ways are more easily perceptible than others.

Are there any ways “God can guide or speak to us� that can be shown to be anything other than one's own mental processes?

When you say "that can be shown" in your statement, I assume you are referring to scientific verification. There are no scientific studies that shows such. Much of this I attribute to the limitations of science to not be able to explore our mental experience, that is, the content of our thoughts, and this would help because we usually become aware of God's revelation through our mind rather than our physical senses.

I don't think your point is a strong when it comes to the easily perceptible ways that God can provides guidance, like when it's through revelation or some other supernatural means. For instance, you could tell the difference between what you're thinking about in your head vs you receiving information that you wouldn't have ordinarily known about, like prophecy, visions, etc.

Thus, non-religious mystics who “experience� revelation or some other supernatural guidance (or people who have a bright idea that they had not thought of before) are hearing from God. Right?

No, not in all cases. I honestly haven't read any completely satisfactory answers for why people of different religions all have spiritual experiences. I will say though it doesn't conflict with Christianity entirely but only in certain parts.

I believe that God can stimulate emotional states (Romans 15:13), but that alone is not a good guide for doing something nor do I see that the Biblical writers advocated to go by emotions alone.

Kindly identify guidance from God that is NOT emotional state or psychological (in mind).

Anything information or feeling that strays from how you would ordinarily feel or know about. This could range from acquiring information that you wouldn't have known through ordinary means to having the power to love and forgive in circumstances where you would've normally snapped.

Therefore, as a Christian, I don't claim that God is pushing me to decide something based on the presence of strong feelings alone. If anything, in this case, I'd pray and ask God for clearer guidance or talk to fellow believers about it. The rest of the guidance comes from reading the Bible and putting it into practice.

Is this to say that when one has “strong feelings� and then looks for “guidance� from the Bible that is God guiding them?

I don't believe that feelings are a reliable guide to take action. My advice for those Christians who believe such is to communicate with God for a clearer signal or don't act at all. As a Christian, I'd rather miss acting on unclear signals/signs than to act on an unclear signal and be misled into a bad decision.

[Zzyzx]

.

First off, God can guide or speak to us in many ways, some ways are more easily perceptible than others.

Are there any ways “God can guide or speak to us� that can be shown to be anything other than one's own mental processes?

When you say "that can be shown" in your statement, I assume you are referring to scientific verification.

You assume wrong – as often happens when people shoot from the hip rather than understanding what is said (or asking if they can't understand).

There are many forms of evidence that are not “scientific� in the real world.

If someone asks if I have a driver's license and I produce one with picture ID and all in order that is showing evidence that is NOT “scientific�.

If someone says they had an automobile wreck recently they can SHOW that the claim is valid by producing the damaged vehicle and a police report describing what happened. That is NOT “scientific�

If some claims to have written a book they can SHOW evidence by producing the book with its ISBN number, author name, etc. Not “scientific�

Those examples are real-world verification that requires no “science�.

There are no scientific studies that shows such.

Agreed.

Much of this I attribute to the limitations of science to not be able to explore our mental experience, that is, the content of our thoughts,

Study of the brain / mind is rapidly progressing. When it reaches a point of being able to explore mental experiences Apologists with have to think of another excuse.

and this would help because we usually become aware of God's revelation through our mind rather than our physical senses.

Thank you. That is my point. “God experiences� are mental / emotional / psychological episodes – that cannot be shown to be anything other than products of the imagination.

I don't think your point is a strong when it comes to the easily perceptible ways that God can provides guidance, like when it's through revelation or some other supernatural means. For instance, you could tell the difference between what you're thinking about in your head vs you receiving information that you wouldn't have ordinarily known about, like prophecy, visions, etc.

Thus, non-religious mystics who “experience� revelation or some other supernatural guidance (or people who have a bright idea that they had not thought of before) are hearing from God. Right?

No, not in all cases. I honestly haven't read any completely satisfactory answers for why people of different religions all have spiritual experiences. I will say though it doesn't conflict with Christianity entirely but only in certain parts.

If what mystics and preachers / prophets of other religion say conflicts with Christianity which one is right – and why?

I believe that God can stimulate emotional states (Romans 15:13), but that alone is not a good guide for doing something nor do I see that the Biblical writers advocated to go by emotions alone.

Kindly identify guidance from God that is NOT emotional state or psychological (in mind).

Anything information or feeling that strays from how you would ordinarily feel or know about. This could range from acquiring information that you wouldn't have known through ordinary means to having the power to love and forgive in circumstances where you would've normally snapped.

What you describe are common human experiences. How do they point to a “god�?

People of all religions (or no religion) experience feelings different from what they ordinarily feel, come up with information they did not know about, forgive when they would normally “snap� – HOW can gods be shown to be involved?

Could it be that those who worship one of the “gods� THINK that such things come to them supernaturally when they are just common human experiences?

Therefore, as a Christian, I don't claim that God is pushing me to decide something based on the presence of strong feelings alone. If anything, in this case, I'd pray and ask God for clearer guidance or talk to fellow believers about it. The rest of the guidance comes from reading the Bible and putting it into practice.

Is this to say that when one has “strong feelings� and then looks for “guidance� from the Bible that is God guiding them?

I don't believe that feelings are a reliable guide to take action.

Agreed.

My advice for those Christians who believe such is to communicate with God for a clearer signal or don't act at all. As a Christian, I'd rather miss acting on unclear signals/signs than to act on an unclear signal and be misled into a bad decision.

Kindly show readers that a “clearer signal from God� is anything more than the product of one's own mental processes / imagination / wishful thinking.