Are you 'led' by God?

[Seraphim of Alabama]

Hey all. I really liked the thread going before about the idea of Christ as a 'personal savior.' Here's another I hear a lot about from my Protestant friends: being led by God. After the personal savior thing, I think that this is one of the most commonly spoken ideas from Protestants. I've been told that it doesn't matter what church you go to, the point of a Christian walk is to be so close to God that we lose our own will and follow where God leads. So we listen to Him and He will tell us where to live, where to go to church, where to work. I know some people get a bit silly and think God is telling them what to have for breakfast, I don't mean that. So the question is: do we need anything else other than to be led?


PS: I was ShiFuBill. I've decided to become Orthodox, I just e-mail my priest with my decision. I'll post in the convert thread when I'm officially a chatachumen. I may stick with this ID since I think I'll take the name of Seraphim. My birthday is his feast day.

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Hey all. I really liked the thread going before about the idea of Christ as a 'personal savior.' Here's another I hear a lot about from my Protestant friends: being led by God. After the personal savior thing, I think that this is one of the most commonly spoken ideas from Protestants. I've been told that it doesn't matter what church you go to, the point of a Christian walk is to be so close to God that we lose our own will and follow where God leads. So we listen to Him and He will tell us where to live, where to go to church, where to work. I know some people get a bit silly and think God is telling them what to have for breakfast, I don't mean that. So the question is: do we need anything else other than to be led?


PS: I was ShiFuBill. I've decided to become Orthodox, I just e-mail my priest with my decision. I'll post in the convert thread when I'm officially a chatachumen. I may stick with this ID since I think I'll take the name of Seraphim. My birthday is his feast day.Woohooo!!! Awesome news, Seraphim/Bill! :clap: I guess I've jumped the gun a little by already posting my conversion story. But, as far as I'm concerned I've already converted. It's the just the technicalities I'm waiting on (at my church, you don't just tell the priest "Ok, I'm ready!", he puts everyone on the same schedule, which is the beginning of Lent, provided you have already been attending for a year.)

About the "being led" thing......I've heard that phrase about a bazillion times from evangelical friends, and have even used it myself a few times. Even when I was saying it, I didn't feel right about it. I said it because it was expected for all truly "spiritual" Christians to say. I don't say it anymore because I am merely a weak sinner who prays and tries to follow God, but I cannot be certain that I can discern God's voice from my own, or from the Deceiver. I believe God gives us guidance, but only if we can accept it in humility. It turns my stomache now when I hear some people go on about "being led" because it seems like the pride and boasting (like "Look how spiritual I am!"). I, of course, cannot judge whether they truly have heard from God or not. This is not for me to say. But I can't do this sort of boasting. At least not where I'm at spiritually. I try to attribite all good things to God, as well as some of the negative things which challenge my faith. I don't like to give Satan credit for much of anything. He gets enough glory already from some Christian groups.;)

[Oblio]

:clap: :clap: :clap:

What wonderful news Seraphim !!

May God continue to guide you and keep you on your journey home.

[xenia]

Being led of God...

This is something from my Evangelical past that I'm not quite ready to toss out.

I feel led of God to repent, apologize, give stuff away, avoid evil situations, etc. One might say that this is the result of a conscience that is growing stronger because of prayer and partaking in the Sacraments, but I think it's a little more than that. If we receive the Holy Spirit at our baptism, is it unreasonable to think the He might provide us with some guidance in life, especially in the area of repentance?

But I know what you mean. I never know what to say to people who claim God led them to get a face lift, led them not to look for a job while receiving handouts, etc. Just last week I was at a Christian teachers' convention and was stopped by a sweet lady manning a booth who was telling me how God led her to start a ministry to go to women's retreats to give the ladies facials... I must be growing in Christ because I didn't burst out laughing!

I think the phrase can have two meanings:

1. In a general way, all Christians should be led by God. Who else should we follow? Through the prayers of the Saints, the watchfulness of the angels, through our own prayers, through receiving Holy Eucharist, through reading, through charity, through godly conversations- these things all work to help us be led by God. And every great once in a while, we may hear directly from Him in an emergency. :)

2. Evangelico-babble. Wanting to sound spiritual, some people will attribute their own thoughts and ideas to God. This is prelest, but of course these dear people don't know that. But to give them some credit, these folks truely want to include God in every aspect of their lives, their attempt to practice the presence of God. Therefore, you get the "God told me to fix pork chops for dinner tonight" type of declaration. It can lead down some very carnal paths, such as the gentleman of my acquaintance who said "God led him" to leave his family and wander the highways and byways, preaching the Gospel. Yeah, right. :mad:

-Xenia

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Being led of God...

This is something from my Evangelical past that I'm not quite ready to toss out.

I feel led of God to repent, apologize, give stuff away, avoid evil situations, etc. One might say that this is the result of a conscience that is growing stronger because of prayer and partaking in the Sacraments, but I think it's a little more than that. If we receive the Holy Spirit at our baptism, is it unreasonable to think the He might provide us with some guidance in life, especially in the area of repentance?

But I know what you mean. I never know what to say to people who claim God led them to get a face lift, led them not to look for a job while receiving handouts, etc. Just last week I was at a Christian teachers' convention and was stopped by a sweet lady manning a booth who was telling me how God led her to start a ministry to go to women's retreats to give the ladies facials... I must be growing in Christ because I didn't burst out laughing!

I think the phrase can have two meanings:

1. In a general way, all Christians should be led by God. Who else should we follow? Through the prayers of the Saints, the watchfulness of the angels, through our own prayers, through receiving Holy Eucharist, through reading, through charity, through godly conversations- these things all work to help us be led by God. And every great once in a while, we may hear directly from Him in an emergency. :)

2. Evangelico-babble. Wanting to sound spiritual, some people will attribute their own thoughts and ideas to God. This is prelest, but of course these dear people don't know that. But to give them some credit, these folks truely want to include God in every aspect of their lives, their attempt to practice the presence of God. Therefore, you get the "God told me to fix pork chops for dinner tonight" type of declaration. It can lead down some very carnal paths, such as the gentleman of my acquaintance who said "God led him" to leave his family and wander the highways and byways, preaching the Gospel. Yeah, right. :mad:

-Xenia
This was the kind of thing I was talking about. A former preacher of a church I used to go to felt "led by the Lord" to have extra-marital affairs and steal money from the general fund. :doh: I've heard of this same thing being applied to finding something on sale, what to wear to an occasion, what to make for dinner, etc.

However, I do agree completely with your first paragraph. It is always the Holy Spirit that prompts us to repentence (I think). I'm not baptised yet, so maybe that's why I usually feel in the dark where specific guidance is concerned.

[Oblio]

what to make for dinner, etc.


Except of course in matters of fasting ;)

[katherine2001]

Well, if we think the Holy Spirit is leading us to have a 16-oz porterhouse steak during the Nativity Fast or Great Lent, I think we can deduce that it isn't the Holy Spirit leading us to have it for dinner unless we are exempted from the fast due to health reasons.

[Oblio]

No, no !

I meant to portray the fact that our praxis of fasting (including adjustments under spiritual guidance) is part of Holy Tradition and is therefore of God. To fast under obedience and with prayer is being led by God.

Sorry for the ambiguity.