RE: Those who presume that “God spoke to them” (when He didn’t) are in error.
So, how do we know that someone is speaking in error or not?
What guidelines do we have?
>>> So, how do we know that someone is speaking in error or not? What guidelines do we have?
We have the Bible, and we have the Holy Spirit.
The closer you are in an intimate relationship with God, the more discerning you become.... because you hear His voice.
I would say consider the intended purpose of the message.
How does it line up with scripture?
What is the Holy Spirit telling you about it?
Is there confirmation from other witnesses?
With that said, my point was not how to tell if something is in error. My point was that we need to be careful with our accusations towards those who are simply using poor judgment in the choice of their words or acting with presumption. It is not the same thing as those who are getting rich off of God’s Name. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a serious issue because it is unforgivable. If we succeed in convincing a presumptuous christian that he/she has committed it, it can do so much more damage than we can possibly imagine.
God will judge our every word, and such an accusation is nothing less than judgmental. It is for this reason that I avoid making that accusation towards anybody... even against those in my heart I suspect are guilty.
By the way... I totally agree with the title of this thread... It just crosses the line a bit on that particular sin.