Do Christians believe in personal revelation? (Jesus, ritual, salvation, tradition)

[Scott C.]

Fundamental to Latter-day Saint doctrine is the idea that the Holy Spirit can and does communicate truth to the individual truth seeker. We have a promise in the Book of Mormon that says if we ask God with real intent concerning the validity of that book, He, God, will manifest the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost. When a Latter-day Saint claims to have received such a witness of the Spirit, I've many times heared Christians say this is impossible because God does not communicate in this way. I've heard such answers to prayers referred to as "feelings" and "feelings" can't always be trusted, as they are no more than emotions. It's one thing to say "I don't believe you received a spiritual witness through the Holy Ghost because I don't believe your doctrine is true." But, it's another thing to say "I don't believe you received a spiritual wtiness from the Holy Ghost, because the Holy Ghost does not testify of truth." I was listening to a Christian on the radio the other day and he spoke of his conversion to Christ. He started as a non-believer. He said he studied the Bible and Bible history and became certain that the history proves the existence of and resurrection of Christ. Once convinced by the historical evidence, he became a Christian and dedicated his life to Christ. I never once heard him mention any spritutual confirmation from God that Jesus is Lord and was resurrected. So, do Christians base there belief on promptings from the Holy Spirit or from historical evidence only? If you believe in prompting of the Spirit, how does this feel? What is it like? I know how I feel about this and would like to know how you feel.

[ChristineES]

God speaks and reveals himself to every one. It is up to us to listen. Sometimes I will pray for an answer and an answer will appear in my head. I believe that is from God. I think any one who is religious (including non-Christians)may have similar experiences.

About the man you mention that never mentioned any "confirmation" from God, just because he did not mention does not mean he did not have it.

[*Paul*]

Originally Posted by Scotty

Fundamental to Latter-day Saint doctrine is the idea that the Holy Spirit can and does communicate truth to the individual truth seeker.

It is fundamental to biblical Christianity that the Holy Spirit communicates truth to the individual truth seeker and that truth will be verifiable by scripture, if it cannot be then there is no reason to treat it as being from God. Everything is tested against the measuring rod of scripture. A mere knowledge of the truthfulness of scripture will produce only an intellectual belief such as is described by James that the devil has, this faith cannot change the inner man and thus produce good fruit.
The whole purpose of scripture is to bring us to Jesus:


St. John 5:39-40 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

We have a promise in the Book of Mormon that says if we ask God with real intent concerning the validity of that book, He, God, will manifest the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost. When a Latter-day Saint claims to have received such a witness of the Spirit, I've many times heared Christians say this is impossible because God does not communicate in this way.

I think what is meant is that such feelings cannot be tested by the word of God and a lying spirit could just as easily cause these feelings and deceive. So from our point of view it is a shaky place to start.

So, do Christians base there belief on promptings from the Holy Spirit or from historical evidence only?

We base them on our faith in God's promises. Some people may look at the historical and scientific evidence and conclude that God's Word is trustworthy and so trust in the promise of full pardon / justification and God's gracious offer of eternal life. Others need none of this to convince them but are simply convicted spiritually of their need for the Saviour and put their trust in God in a childlike way not demanding proof from Him, if the end result is trust and faith in God that what He promised He is able and willing to perform then the end result is salvation.

If you believe in prompting of the Spirit, how does this feel? What is it like? I know how I feel about this and would like to know how you feel.

There is no universal norm for this or scriptural demand for it.

[Muffled]

I believe that God is still speaking to people and that He is the truth, however many people who claim they hear from God are not.

I was once asked by a Mormon to pray about the Book of Mormon. I did and God's answer for me was that it was written by a contemporary of Smith. The Mormon missionary said that God said the book was from Him. One of us was not hearing from God.

I like to think that I am objective but I highly suspect that a Mormon missionary is anything but objective. Even so, I don't always understand correctly what God is telling me especially if I have a subjective iron in the fire.

[Terrywoodenpic]

Of course God reveals through the holy spirit....
some will deny it means that though.

[Victor]

Catholics certainly do. Public revelation on the other hand, we believe was restricted to the Apostolic era.

[athanasius]

Originally Posted by Victor

Catholics certainly do. Public revelation on the other hand, we believe was restricted to the Apostolic era.

I second that. And No private revelation must contradict any public revelation(Scripture or tradition). And private revelation cannot add to public revelation. It is just a tool God uses to sanctify the individual(and others) he is revealing himself too. No new revelation of any Doctrine is ever given. And it can't be because public doctrinal revelation ended with the death of the last apostle, John.

[4Pillars]

Each Christian has his own measure of information. I do not question the work of the Holy Spirit, for His ways are above my ways. Each Christian learns what he should know, as the Holy Spirit leads him.

That's how God has chosen to reveal His Truth. Look at all the denominations. If you look at Christianity as a big Pie, and see all the denominations as slices in the pie, you will find that God's Truth is in the whole pie, and that each slice teaches only part of God's Truth.

God Bless

[Seyorni]

Originally Posted by athanasius

I second that. And No private revelation must contradict any public revelation(Scripture or tradition). And private revelation cannot add to public revelation. It is just a tool God uses to sanctify the individual(and others) he is revealing himself too. No new revelation of any Doctrine is ever given. And it can't be because public doctrinal revelation ended with the death of the last apostle, John.

This is the problem I see:
People believe in personal revelation as long as it doesn't contradict something they already believe. Then they declare it false doctrine, heresy, or diabolic trickery.

With no evidence either way but the claim that "God told me so!" why should we accept any article of faith?