I need some input............. (priest, beliefs, choice, church, pray)

[michel]

Mainly answers that a Christian might give me.

Please don't get mixed up in the "hows" and "whys", and the "I don't believe you" scenario.

If you can take what I say I can do as reality, and give me an answer based of your beliefs, that is all I am asking for.

I mentioned in a thread that, recently, I felt I was being 'led away' from talking to those who I love, who are dead. I presumed the 'leading away' was being done either because I realise that it is wrong to do so - or that 'someone above' was giving me subtle hints.

Now I have always had a 'psychic potential' - please just accept that as said. I have never developed that ability, because I have never wanted to be:-
a) Put into the position of using any ability for my own gain
b) doing something that Christians (who know their stuff) rather than a 'touchy feelie' guy as I am, would confirm is against 'The rules'.

Obviously, I don't hold back that ability for faith healing (because it is selfless, and I can tell whoever that it is not I who is helping them, but that I am just a 'messenger'.

Through Palmistry, and the tarot - sharp intake of breath - I can (but don't engage in - telling people their predicted future at any one point in time.

To put it more clearly, it would be comparable to my going to see the doctor, who knows I am an alcoholic, and, upon understanding that I have taken up the 'Demon drink again' will tell me "Give that up or you will come to grief". What I am able to do is very much on a par with that.

As far as I am concerned, the future is not "set in stone"; it is completely dependent on what we choose to do at any one point.

My mother was the same (this is where I got it from). Believe it or not - and, of course it is totally 'unprovable', My Mum used to tell me that one day she saw that a friend of hers was going to come to an 'utimely end" and could go so far as to say that it would be in an aeroplane.

She met the friend again a year or so later, fine and fit, and the girl (to whom Mum had told what she saw) explained that she had been planning on taking a job as an air-hostess; one of the planes that flew for the company she was going to join had a serious crash, and all on board died.
a)her friend had never mentioned to her that she was thinking of applying for the job as an air hostess
b) this is totally circumstancial and doesn't go anywhere near being 'proof', I accept that.

Now, I have always refrained from using my 'ability' (because I have a gut feeling that it would be 'wrong' to do so, from a christian perspective.

The other side of the argument is that maybe I have been given an ability and should use it - not to do so is wasting a potential.

Do you guys understand my predicament ? What would you all say to me, from the perspective of your branch of Christianity ?

[may]

ok , i am not here to condem you but the fact of the matter is , that spirit creatures are very powerful and some have remained faithful to God, and some have not remained faithful to God. the ones who have not remained faithful to God are the ones that can influence people. so the best thing to do would be to find out what God wants you to do then to act on that . and the bible is Gods word and is most beneficial when applied . the reason the bible tells his people to not have dealings with various things is because God protects his people from unfaithfull angels who like to get people to do things that lead them away from the true God . Draw close to God and he will draw close to you . drawing close to God means listening to what he tells us in the bible.

[James the Persian]

Pray for discernement (so that you can test whether these things are of God). Pray to God and, perhaps, dedicate yourself and your work to Him before you do anything at all. I very much doubt that demons would have any influence over one whose entrusted themself to God. Don't be surprised if the gift ceases when you do this, though. I've heard many accounts of just such things happening. And lastly, give up the props. God would have no need of Tarot cards and the like. If you can't do without them, then I'd suggest the gift is definitely not from God. If you can, I'd seriously suggest talking witha priest. Please note that I say this all as an individual layman and not a mouthpiece for Orthodoxy. It's what I think I'd do in your position, but i'm not sure it's absolutely correct. You can never have too much prayer, though.

Whatever you do, I'll pray for you if you're comfortable with that. Normally if I pray for someone I light a candle in Church, too. I can't imagine that would upset you but it does some people so let me know if you'd rather I didn't.

James

[Terrywoodenpic]

Gifts are Gifts
It is not a question of if they should be used , rather How and When and for what they should be used.

If they can be used in a way that truly helps people in their lives ...then ok.
It they are used to gratify peoples curiosity about things... then I think not.

The many branches of the church look on these gifts with great hesitation.
It is difficult for them to separate the genuine from the false or wishful thinkers.

It must always come down to those with the Gifts to make up their own minds as to how they use them or not.
One thing is certain, that is, it is never an easy ride, and can cause a great deal of heart ache to the Gifted.

[kateyes]

Okay Michel--I have been told my views on Christianity are unorthodox--so I cannot say that my views are one denomination or another and therefore won't go into whether the church should condemn or exalt in your gifts.

It doesn't matter whether any of the rest of us believe in your gifts as long as you believe in them. I don't believe in Satan/Devil--so I think your gifts must be God given--that means they were intended to be used--not hidden away or used for personal gain--but used to help people as YOU see fit. I agree with Terrywoodenpic-it comes down to the person who received the gifts deciding on how and when to use them. If you are uncertain which direction to take a prayer for guidance couldn't hurt.

[Super Universe]

You ask for guidance about something that most others know nothing about. How can they decide anything about it?

See your ability as a gift, since it runs in your family it is not a specific gift meant just for you, but what you do with it is entirely your own choice. To heck with the judgemental Christians, let them waste their own gifts. Those people need the ten commandments to tell them right from wrong, they do not obey their conscience, it's guidance is wasted.

I am not telling you to use your ability or not use it, what I am saying is the choice is yours and do not let anyone else tell you what to do with it. Trust yourself.

You have children, certainly you have brought them up to know right from wrong? Use this same knowledge and apply it to your own life. Trust your own judgement over that of others because only you know you.

[Scuba Pete]

Michel,

you have put us between a rock and a hard place. You and you alone can determine the authenticity and author of your gifts. If you want to be confused, ask those who have no hope of understanding just what this means to you. If you want answers, look within yourself, your heart and the Spirit.

[author@ptgbook.org]

You asked for an answer according to our beliefs. My belief is that the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is God speaking and is the only reliable guide to truth about anything in the realm of the supernatural. My suggestion is to spend more time with the Bible and use the Bible as a measuring stick to evaluate if the spiritual influences your experience are good and from God or are evil and from demons. Then you need to resist and avoid the evil influences and accept and believe everything that God teaches in the Bible.

The Bible clearly forbids trying to communicate with the dead, as well as engaging in anything relating to the occult such as astrology, witchcraft, and similar practices. The Bible also teaches that demons exist and can influence people. I also believe that the Bible teaches that the dead are asleep in the grave, so if you experience what seems to be a loved one who has died communicating with you, that is most likely a demon impersonating your loved one, and you should avoid that kind of communication. If you are being led away from communicating with "your dead loved ones" because at some level you perceive that it is wrong, your preception is correct. It is wrong, and you should avoid it.

Likewise I think you should avoid palmistry and tarot cards. These things are not "gifts" that God would want you to use.

There is certainly nothing wrong with praying to the God of the Bible to ask God to heal a person. But understand that it is God who heals, not the person who prays.

The main thing is to read and study the Bible more and let the Bible be your guide in all things relating to right and wrong. The more you understand the Bible, the more you will know the mind and will of God, and the more you know His will, the more you will be able to determine accurately right from wrong and what spiritual influences and activities to avoid. Keys to understanding the Bible include a willingness to believe what God says and a willingness to obey God. The more a person believes and obeys God, the more God will open that person's mind to help them understand the Bible correctly.

[Mister Emu]

Pray...

My beliefs would not change whether it was, or was not, from God... All one can do is pray and leave it to the Lord...

May God be with you in your discernment...