My personal encounter with Jesus

[Berserk]

Jimmie, ignore boorish skeptics who have no concept of powerful life-changing spiritual experiences. Just seek God for an ever deepening connection with Him. Your testimony absolutely inspired me. And for what it's worth, my own electrifying life-changing experience not only made me psychic, but it also transformed my academic performance and led to a long journey from Canada to Princeton and Harvard--just one electrifying experience of God's grace and love, perhaps like yours.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I'm a christian, and when I first accepted Christianity, I was a bit lost; I was contemplating suicide, and because of it, I turned to religion. I'm a logical person, and I checked out the Bible, Quran, and Confucius's ideas. My family has always been atheist, so I'm not already biased, and when I read the Bible last, I got to the part where Nehemiah says " You alone are the lord..." and I felt moved, so I tried praying for the first time. I said: "O God, if you are real, please save me from this mess i'm in. I want to feel you all powerful presence upon me and I want to be changed, to be healed from my emotional scars. Please, Lord, save me!" or something similar to that (I won't lie, I didn't really remember what I said). Immediately afterwards, and this is not a made up story, my body started trembling with anticipation, and my heart felt like a warm, soft bag touched it. The feeling was like when you saw that girl/guy that you fell in love with at first sight, but 100 times stronger. I was so shocked by this that I cried a bit, because there is a God in this cruel world, and he is going to lead me into his light!
I am now pretty old, and very religious, and definitely not suicidal anymore! Thank you Jesus! I love you Jesus!
Thank you for reading my story

Nice that he helped you. He didn't help me.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Sudden religious experiences can be symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy and such attacks can be caused by abnormalities in the brain such as injury or disease. I strongly advice anybody who has religious experiences to have their brains checked for possible abnormalities. If you come across somebody who suddenly start to have religious experiences or seem to become obsessed with religious matters get them to a doctor!
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18171635

I'll give you as honest a reason as I can, and the answer isn't because people are mean spirited as you suggest.



This,



This,



And this, followed by this,



Did you ever notice people who have sudden revelations of God talking to them or feel God reached out and touched them in some way are almost always seriously disturbed? Considering suicide, bi-polar, depressed, drug addicted, etc. Every report I hear of someone who thinks God directly contacted them comes from someone who has severe emotional and/or physical problems.

Couple this with what ArtieE has noted, that doctors have linked sudden, acute religious experiences with serious brain disorders and you'll start to see the reason why many people aren't simply willing to say "gee, that's nice that God spoke to you." It's because we sincerely believe what these folks are hearing is not God's voice, but the onset of mental illness.

Rude and unhelpful. Don't contribute to the stigmatization of mental illness and shaming of those who struggle with psychiatric problems simply because you don't like religion.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Read post number 21 again. Yes, obviously I am the one who needs help and not those people in post 21 who hear God speaking to them and hurt and murder others.

Those people are psychotic. Psychosis is a lot more than just "hearing voices" or feeling a sense of serenity and positive inspiration. It's not so rare for people to hear voices, actually, especially when they're under stress and in other situations. So that alone isn't something to raise an alarm about.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis

 

[ArtieE]

Those people are psychotic. Psychosis is a lot more than just "hearing voices" or feeling a sense of serenity and positive inspiration. It's not so rare for people to hear voices, actually, especially when they're under stress and in other situations. So that alone isn't something to raise an alarm about.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis

If people say they hear God talking to them how would I know if they are harmless or dangerous or if their brains are fine or if they are seriously ill and need help? Who knows what they think God says? Shall I just wait until they have hurt somebody?

 

[ArtieE]

It all originates in the brain. If a normal person has a brain wired in such a way that he actually hears his subconscious and conscience telling him things in the form of a voice and words that is of no concern to me. But if the person is ill then it becomes everybody's concern. Him hearing a voice telling him to kill people is just a manifestation of his illness.

 

[Demonslayer]

Rude and unhelpful. Don't contribute to the stigmatization of mental illness and shaming of those who struggle with psychiatric problems simply because you don't like religion.

How is it rude to point out that fact that people who hear voices and have dramatic religious experiences are very often deeply troubled in other ways? It's true, and I have experience with this.

People who are drug addicted, in serious legal trouble/in jail, have terrible depression, or other mental illnesses are very often the ones who report "hearing God" literally, or having robust, dramatic visions or other supposedly real, physical otherworldly experiences.

I don't see how that stigmatizes mental illness. If anything I'm imploring people not to ignore real mental illness, because true mental illness is very serious as you well know. Glossing over a serious mental illness and saying "yay, God spoke to you last night" is irresponsible in my eyes. By doing it you may be ignoring a real problem, simply because you don't want to insult someone's supposed chat with a deity.

 

[BenTheBeliever]

How is it rude to point out that fact that people who hear voices and have dramatic religious experiences are very often deeply troubled in other ways? It's true, and I have experience with this.

People who are drug addicted, in serious legal trouble/in jail, have terrible depression, or other mental illnesses are very often the ones who report "hearing God" literally, or having robust, dramatic visions or other supposedly real, physical otherworldly experiences.

I don't see how that stigmatizes mental illness. If anything I'm imploring people not to ignore real mental illness, because true mental illness is very serious as you well know. Glossing over a serious mental illness and saying "yay, God spoke to you last night" is irresponsible in my eyes. By doing it you may be ignoring a real problem, simply because you don't want to insult someone's supposed chat with a deity.

Not all people who talk to God are a threat to others though.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

If people say they hear God talking to them how would I know if they are harmless or dangerous or if their brains are fine or if they are seriously ill and need help? Who knows what they think God says? Shall I just wait until they have hurt somebody?

Unless you know them personally and are familiar with their personal behavior, you can't know and it's none of your business.

How is it rude to point out that fact that people who hear voices and have dramatic religious experiences are very often deeply troubled in other ways? It's true, and I have experience with this.

People who are drug addicted, in serious legal trouble/in jail, have terrible depression, or other mental illnesses are very often the ones who report "hearing God" literally, or having robust, dramatic visions or other supposedly real, physical otherworldly experiences.

I don't see how that stigmatizes mental illness. If anything I'm imploring people not to ignore real mental illness, because true mental illness is very serious as you well know. Glossing over a serious mental illness and saying "yay, God spoke to you last night" is irresponsible in my eyes. By doing it you may be ignoring a real problem, simply because you don't want to insult someone's supposed chat with a deity.

It's something that has to be examined in context. Psychiatry doesn't work by making blanket statements.

 

[Demonslayer]

Not all people who talk to God are a threat to others though.

Not all people who talk to their neighbors dog are a threat either, that doesn't make it a sign of mental stability.

I've always said, hearing messages from God is all well and good as long as God says "help that old lady across the street." When God suddenly says "drown your children in the bathtub" it becomes a problem.

I encourage the rejection of this kind of thought because you never know when the former is going to turn into the later.

 

[Demonslayer]

Unless you know them personally and are familiar with their personal behavior, you can't know and it's none of your business.

But I wasn't talking about anyone personally, I was speaking in generalities. Has everyone, every single person, who has claimed to actually hear God, had other emotional, physical, legal or environmental problem? No, nothing anyone ever says can be applied to every single person.

All Irish people don't have pale skin, but it's fair to say "Irish people are fair skinned" isn't it? In my experience the people who report hearing voices or any other very literal revelations typically have other severe issues. The fact that the very first three people on this thread who reported such events, also reported depression, suicidal thoughts, etc., only supports my comment.

Psychiatry doesn't work by making blanket statements.

Well it's a good thing I wasn't trying to play psychiatrist then. I was making a social observation and I stand by the fact that, while not applicable to every single person on the planet, it is directionally correct and supportable.

 

[BenTheBeliever]

Not all people who talk to their neighbors dog are a threat either, that doesn't make it a sign of mental stability.

I've always said, hearing messages from God is all well and good as long as God says "help that old lady across the street." When God suddenly says "drown your children in the bathtub" it becomes a problem.

I encourage the rejection of this kind of thought because you never know when the former is going to turn into the later.

Ether way until something bad happens it is non of your bussiness

 

[BenTheBeliever]

But I wasn't talking about anyone personally, I was speaking in generalities. Has everyone, every single person, who has claimed to actually hear God, had other emotional, physical, legal or environmental problem? No, nothing anyone ever says can be applied to every single person.

All Irish people don't have pale skin, but it's fair to say "Irish people are fair skinned" isn't it? In my experience the people who report hearing voices or any other very literal revelations typically have other severe issues. The fact that the very first three people on this thread who reported such events, also reported depression, suicidal thoughts, etc., only supports my comment.



Well it's a good thing I wasn't trying to play psychiatrist then. I was making a social observation and I stand by the fact that, while not applicable to every single person on the planet, it is directionally correct and supportable.

Almost everyone has depression sometime in their life. The word is a hard place to live in

 

[Demonslayer]

Ether way until something bad happens it is non of your business

We're supposed to ignore signs of mental illness until "something happens?" I strongly disagree with that point.

Very strongly. If my child, for example, starts showing signs of bizarre thinking, you can be sure I'm going to pay very close attention to that. Ignoring the signs of emotional problems very often, and very sadly, leads to tragedy.

Ditto with things like the Colorado movie theater shooter guy. Don't we all say, after that kind of thing happens, why didn't someone notice this person had issues? Why didn't someone help this person? You're saying we should just ignore people who display bizarre thinking patterns or behaviors until something goes Kablooey? Why on Earth would you suggest that?

 

[BenTheBeliever]

We're supposed to ignore signs of mental illness until "something happens?" I strongly disagree with that point.

Very strongly. If my child, for example, starts showing signs of bizarre thinking, you can be sure I'm going to pay very close attention to that. Ignoring the signs of emotional problems very often, and very sadly, leads to tragedy.

Ditto with things like the Colorado movie theater shooter guy. Don't we all say, after that kind of thing happens, why didn't someone notice this person had issues? Why didn't someone help this person? You're saying we should just ignore people who display bizarre thinking patterns or behaviors until something goes Kablooey? Why on Earth would you suggest that?

But because in your opinion almost every believer in Christ must be crazy cause we can hear the holy spirit talking to us. These kind of thinking insult us Christians

 

[Demonslayer]

Almost everyone has depression sometime in their life. The word is a hard place to live in

There is "depression" like boo hoo I'm sad, my wife cheated on my, my job stinks, etc. Everyone has that kind of depression in their lives, you are correct.

Then there is very serious, clinical depression that is a whole other ball game. I don't want to minimize the severity of this second thing by lumping it with the first thing. I've had two times in my life that we very, very hard, when I became quite depressed and needed help to "get out of it." And yet still I would never call it "Depression" with a capital D because I think that's disrespectful to people...perhaps like you, perhaps like St. Frankenstein (though I can't speak for either of you so please correct me if I'm wrong)...who have had actual, clinical, chemical imbalance that causes real, true depression.

The seriousness and severity of this second thing cannot be overstated. It often ends in suicide, to be very frank. And I'll be damned if I'm going to sit quietly and not comment on potential signs of such depression if I see them, simply because religious people get bent out of shape when you push back on their claims that God spoke to them.

 

[Demonslayer]

But because in your opinion almost every believer in Christ must be crazy cause we can hear the holy spirit talking to us.

That's you projecting something on me that I have never said. Try to read what I'm writing objectively without getting insulted.

As I've said many times, the vast majority of people in my life whom I love with all my heart are Christians. My parents, most of my direct family, most of my dear friends. Not one of them has ever reported hearing God speak to them. And if one did I would ask them to seek help because of the link between reports of hearing voices and having visions with mental illness.

I never once said "almost every believer in Christ must be crazy." If you really want to understand my position on this, read what I'm actually saying. I'm saying quite the opposite actually...that almost every believer in Christ is NOT crazy, because almost every believer in Christ doesn't claim to hear voices.

 

[BenTheBeliever]

That's you projecting something on me that I have never said. Try to read what I'm writing objectively without getting insulted.

As I've said many times, the vast majority of people in my life whom I love with all my heart are Christians. My parents, most of my direct family, most of my dear friends. Not one of them has ever reported hearing God speak to them. And if one did I would ask them to seek help because of the link between reports of hearing voices and having visions with mental illness.

I never once said "almost every believer in Christ must be crazy." If you really want to understand my position on this, read what I'm actually saying. I'm saying quite the opposite actually...that almost every believer in Christ is NOT crazy, because almost every believer in Christ doesn't claim to hear voices.

Maybe they don't tell you they talk to God cause you would assume they are crazy. Ever though of that?

 

[Demonslayer]

Maybe they don't tell you they talk to God cause you would assume they are crazy. Ever though of that?

No, I haven't thought of that because I'm 45 years old and have had a life full of honest discussions. My mother "talks to God" via prayers, others tell me the same thing.

Trust me, most people are not hearing voices in their heads, Christian or otherwise.

 

[BenTheBeliever]

http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/8-ways-god-speaks-to-us-today.html
He conversed with Adam in the first garden. He told Noah to build an ark. He spoke to Moses in a burning bush. He promised Abraham a son. Paul heard His voice on the way to Damascus. But does God still speak to us today? If so, how? When? Where?

Often when people ask this question, they are talking about an audible voice. And God can do that. He can do anything He wants. He’s God. Why then, can’t I hear God speak to me audibly, someone might ask?

I can’t answer questions that the Bible does not make clear. And the way God works is one of those questions. I do think “hearing God speak” may mean different things to different people. To some, it may suggest, “I need answers for my life, or this particular crisis.” Another may say, “I’ve asked God for _________, but He never answers me."

God treats each of us as unique children. None of us are cookie-cutter Christians. Because of that, God doesn’t “speak” the same way to all of us. However, here are eight ways God often uses to communicate with us.

8 Ways God Speaks to Us Today

SEE ALSO: 5 Ways to Find Healing from Your Past

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1. Through His Word in general.

2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is “God-breathed.” His Word sometimes gives us a warning, a word of encouragement, or a lesson for life. It’s ”His-story”–written with love as God’s guide for life, “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

That means God is whispering, and sometimes shouting, all through His Word, giving us instructions and principles for life. As we interpret Scripture by other Scripture, we avoid the false logic and misinterpretations that sneak into our world. If someone claims, “God told me to go kill my neighbor!” would you believe him? Of course not! God never violates His own Word or principles. That “voice” does not belong to God.

I needed help for raising my children. God “told” me about that in His Word, especially in proverbs. Marriage difficulties? God spoke about that as well. Times when I was afraid? I “heard” Jesus’ words to His disciples as they feared for their lives one stormy night: “Peace, be still!” and it was as if God was speaking to me, too (Luke 8:23-25).



2. Through His Son, Jesus Christ

The New Testament was the fulfillment of God’s special plan. It’s the gospel: the good news of Jesus Christ. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” Hebrews 1:1-2, NIV).

Through the words of Jesus in Scripture, we can “hear” God’s heart and God’s voice–and know what God is truly like. These words were not written for a few, select individuals who could jump through the right spiritual hoops (“For God so loved the world…”). Someone in Africa, in Germany, in China, and in Alabama can “hear” Jesus’ voice by reading the same Bible.

Comparing us to sheep and He as the Shepherd, Jesus says inJohn 10:27, NKJV: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Why? Because the sheep know who He is. They belong to Him, and they recognize Him by the sound of His voice. And He’s the one who will always lovingly lead them on the right path–again and again.



3. Through Nature and God’s Creation

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse ” Romans 1:20, NIV). Through the intricate details and magnificent beauty of all that God has made, we can “hear” His voice. How? By observing the ant’s strength to store up food all summer long, we learn about wisdom and industriousness. By studying the heavens, we understand more of God’s greatness. And through planting and growing a garden, we “hear” about miracles of death and rebirth. God designed–and spoke them all into existence.