The Bible and Feeling Led

[Cow Poke]

I have no problem with praying for wisdom like that. We all should.

I would agree that "feeling led" is way overused, but I would disagree that it's not an important component of being a Christian.
(perhaps I misunderstood, and you're not saying that)

[Apologiaphoenix]

I would agree that "feeling led" is way overused, but I would disagree that it's not an important component of being a Christian.
(perhaps I misunderstood, and you're not saying that)

It depends on what is meant by it.

If I don't see it showing up in Scripture, I question the normativity.

A good read on this also for all sides is the following:

https://www.amazon.com/How-Then-Shou...s%2C430&sr=8-6

[Cow Poke]

It depends on what is meant by it.

Sure!

If I don't see it showing up in Scripture,

A) an argument from silence?
2) not specifically that term, but the principle?

I question the normativity.

As I said, WAY overused.

A good read on this also for all sides is the following:

https://www.amazon.com/How-Then-Shou...s%2C430&sr=8-6

So, in my real life example of the girl sitting on the steps about to take her own life --- coincidence?

[Apologiaphoenix]

Sure!

[/QUOTE] A) an argument from silence?
2) not specifically that term, but the principle? [/QUOTE]

A. If something isn't in Scripture, it's up to someone else to demonstrate to me that it's Scriptural. I see Scripture constantly telling us to use wisdom and follow that path. I don't see anywhere where we are taught to hear from God. If anything, the times of God speaking are rare. The people who hear are the exceptions.

So, in my real life example of the girl sitting on the steps about to take her own life --- coincidence?

I can accept something happening then, but again, it is not normative. It is the exception.

[One Bad Pig]

I can accept something happening then, but again, it is not normative. It is the exception.

IMO, if the Holy Spirit is abiding in us, I'd expect that it's normative to be led by Him.

[Cow Poke]

I can accept something happening then,

I missed that part in the OP.

but again, it is not normative. It is the exception.

I'm living wrong.

[Apologiaphoenix]

IMO, if the Holy Spirit is abiding in us, I'd expect that it's normative to be led by Him.

But in what way?

[One Bad Pig]

But in what way?

We should listen for His promptings. That isn't to say we should listen to every prompting; we should "test the spirits" as Scripture says (1 Jn. 4:1), and not follow promptings that are clearly against Scripture.

[Apologiaphoenix]

We should listen for His promptings. That isn't to say we should listen to every prompting; we should "test the spirits" as Scripture says (1 Jn. 4:1), and not follow promptings that are clearly against Scripture.

And I'm wondering still from Scripture how one could tell what prompting is of God and what isn't and how that testing would come about.

[One Bad Pig]

And I'm wondering still from Scripture how one could tell what prompting is of God and what isn't and how that testing would come about.

If the prompting urges us to sin or gratifies our sinful passions, then it's clearly not from God. For example, if you feel led to become a pastor because your girlfriend wants to be a pastor's wife, that's not from God. If you feel led to join the worship team because you have a gift for music and want to use your talents in God's service, that's very probably from God. The church's experience is also pertinent in that regard; there is a strong tradition of guarding one's thoughts stretching back to at least the 4th century.

[Apologiaphoenix]

If the prompting urges us to sin or gratifies our sinful passions, then it's clearly not from God. For example, if you feel led to become a pastor because your girlfriend wants to be a pastor's wife, that's not from God. If you feel led to join the worship team because you have a gift for music and want to use your talents in God's service, that's very probably from God. The church's experience is also pertinent in that regard; there is a strong tradition of guarding one's thoughts stretching back to at least the 4th century.

Yes, but at the same time one could have a desire for something good and want to do it and it still wouldn't be from God. I have no problem with guarding one's thoughts, but that doesn't seem like it's the same thing entirely.

[One Bad Pig]

Yes, but at the same time one could have a desire for something good and want to do it and it still wouldn't be from God. I have no problem with guarding one's thoughts, but that doesn't seem like it's the same thing entirely.

Guarding one's thoughts and testing the spirits both involve the same sort of examination.

Is there anything good that doesn't come from God?

[Apologiaphoenix]

Guarding one's thoughts and testing the spirits both involve the same sort of examination.

Is there anything good that doesn't come from God?

All good things come from Him, but that doesn't mean they all come directly from Him.

[NorrinRadd]

We should listen for His promptings. That isn't to say we should listen to every prompting; we should "test the spirits" as Scripture says (1 Jn. 4:1), and not follow promptings that are clearly against Scripture.

Yeah, "I feel God is leading me to dump my wife and hook up with that young hottie" is NOT being "led by the Spirit."

[Cow Poke]

Yeah, "I feel God is leading me to dump my wife and hook up with that young hottie" is NOT being "led by the Spirit."

I actually had a deacon once tell me that God told him, in a dream, to divorce his wife and leave his family.

I told Him, "God is telling me right now that you no longer need to serve as a deacon in this Church".

(I was being somewhat facetious, but it was, indeed, the end of his service with us)
(If I was married to his wife, I may well have come up with such a declaration from God myself )