There is a blog post I’ve been trying to write for a while now, but am having trouble putting my thoughts into words. I especially want to explain myself in a positive way. This week I’ve had several occasions to discuss this topic with people and that has helped me a little. I’ve got more to say, but, as often happens, others do a better job of expressing my own experiences than I can sometimes do. That’s the great thing about blogs; we often share experiences even though most of us have never met each other.
I’ve contemplated and now written about my occasional feelings of bitterness toward my involvement with the evangelical world before coming to confessional Lutheranism. I don’t want to be a bitter person, but I do want to help others avoid the mistakes in judgment I made.
I can’t tell you how many times (thousands or more?) I’ve heard people say, “God laid it on my heart.” or “God spoke to me in a …dream, prayer, while I was exercising, while I was driving or __________ (fill in the blank). I spent years reading books on knowing God’s will, how to be filled with the Holy Spirit, how to hear God speak to you, etc. The courses I took and churches I attend are fully endorsed by the evangelical world and there isn’t really a need to name them. In not one of these courses or churches was I told I was already filled with the Holy Spirit. I know that I was reminded that God’s word is true and timeless, but I was also told that he continues to speak today through other people. This opened the doors to all types of false teachings, most of which were well-intentioned by sincere people. I have learned that I must accept the blame myself for not being more educated in scripture, although my parents believed they were doing that. I am glad for the opportunity I have to make sure that my two kids are well-schooled in scriptural truths.
Consider the following pieces:
Chris Williams: “Apparently, God can lay whatever your subconscious mind wants Him to lay on your heart, even if it’s completely contradictory to what He laid on someone else’s heart, or what He has revealed in His Word.”
Bill MacKinnon: “I have a Bible, and God speaks to me whenever I open it.”
TK: Telling the whole story of salvation
TK: Why it’s not a good idea to follow your inner voice - humorous, with a serious point
TK: Name this Luther passage
TK: Baptism
Can anyone relate to my experience? Does anyone have any other good blog posts for me to add to this list? I know there are many, but I can’t spend anymore time right now looking.
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