Replies

If he knows of you, I am sure he is giving thanks, A-G. Of course its likely if you started disrupting a Roman Catholic parish with your challenges, you’d be asked to leave and that would be as appropriate as it would be were I to claim to become a Roman Catholic and then attacked the various dogmas of that particular church. I am, therefore, curious as to your point.

My point is precisely that. If the Holy Spirit led me to join the Catholic Church, it would be for that purpose.

For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance. - Romans 11:29

Why do you suppose I post on the Religion Forum? And particularly, why do you suppose I conclude most of the posts with "To God be the glory?"

We all have gifts of the Spirit.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. - I Corinthians 12:4-11

And mine is to encourage other believers;

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. - Romans 12:8

More specifically, my gift and ministry is to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to focus on the one and only Great Commandment - to love God surpassingly above all else.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. – Matthew 22:37-38

Evidently, some of us weed - which is to say, exhort others to beware the distractions and obstructions of mortal life.

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth [it] not, then cometh the wicked [one], and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. - Matthew 13:18-23

To God be the glory!

[ Evidently, some of us weed - which is to say, exhort others to beware the distractions and obstructions of mortal life. ]

Hmmmm weeding the garden... Sowing, watering, and WEEDING..
Indeed, There BE weeds.. Arrrrgh..

“If the Holy Spirit led me to join the Catholic Church, it would be for that purpose.”

Your purpose would be to be disruptive? I sincerely doubt that the HS would lead you to disrupt a Latin Rite parish.

“And particularly, why do you suppose I conclude most of the posts with “To God be the glory?”

Because your spiritual forebears learned that from Greeks?

“We all have gifts of the Spirit.”

I don’t accept that at all. That’s universalism of one form or another.

“And mine is to encourage other believers”

Encourage them to do what? Believe as you do? Reject the teachings of The Church as you indicated you would in a Latin Rite Church? Would you encourage them to believe whatever innovative notion they might believe the HS puts in their head? Would you encourage Episcopalians to follow the guidance of a spirit of some sort, which they sincerely believe to be the Holy Spirit, which is “doing a new thing”?

Thanks and amen! I’ve been blessed (?) with the gift of admonishment, but the other side of that is encouragement so it’s not all bad (smile).