This is a question sent in by Chad on the “Ask Aaron Anything” link:
I am a Chritian and have a roommate right now who claims to be a Christian as well. My roommate has said some really crazy things and I am in need of another opinion:
My roommate has said that he can feel that through the power of Jesus there are going to be people bursting into flames and turning to ash because they are not accepting what he (my roommate) says.
He said that he felt the whole weight of the world upon him, just like Jesus, and he was being attacked like Jesus.
He told me that he could see smoke around me and that it was the Holy Spirit. He’s told me that he heals the blind and made someone in a wheelchair walk.
So much of what he says just doesn’t seem to line up with scripture. I don’t know if I should say anything to him or not. He has to find his own place by 4/15/09 – but I feel so uncomfortable a lot of the time when he talks like this and I feel the Holy Spirit is telling me that what this guy speaks is not truth.
What do you think?
My Answer:
It sounds weird chad. I have had people like that who I have dealt with my whole life. The spiritual realm is a real place and is talked about in scripture. Some people rely on visions more then scripture. I have had people tell me weird things similar to that and some of it is encouraging and challenging and coming from a humble person. Others seem to be so “spiritual” that it is “SUPER SPIRITUAL” and it does no one any good. Most of the time I wonder why people who say they see it brag about it like they are more spiritual because they see it. Which is the way your room mate sounds when he says, “people bursting into flames and turning to ash because they are not accepting what he says.” That does not sound like a normal thing Jesus used to do as he walked on the earth and people did not listen to Him. Not to say that we would not deserve something like that but it would not be because we are not listening to your roommate it would be because we do not listen to Jesus. I also would think your roommate would want grace for his hearers and not internal combustion.
I have never met your roommate so I am going completely off of your letter but he sounds really prideful and insecure in his relationship with Jesus. Trying to convince you of his spirituality by signs and wonders and not just humbly living it out in front of you. The whole story sounds prideful and laughable to me. Instead of arguing with him I would probably play with him but that is not good advice.
How would I handle this?
Well this is what I usually do. I just try and lovingly talk to them about what seems unbiblical and I use only scripture. To the things that are just weird and not against scripture I just, what I call, ‘shelf’ them. I put them on a shelf, so to speak, and see if they come true or ring true. I do not live my life off of them or even think about them much but I just put it on a shelf and see what happens. Like I said I get a kick and a laugh out of the crazy things that are said by “spiritual” people.
To balance that I will also say this. I have heard some very strange things people have seen or done that just seem real and are coming from a very humble, genuine person who is gifted to see and do spiritual things. I am always challenged and encouraged by those stories.
I am not sure if this helps you at all but just pray for him, confront lies, and shelf weird things.
I think this is quite interesting, somewhat offenssive and definately ignorant. You speak of "spiritual" people like were not as good as you bible thumpers. It sounds to me that this roomate of yours is mentally not well. Not just wiered and "spiritual" Aaron! And by the way, I am "spiritual" and i love being "spiritual" and i will never believe in your ways especially when being preeched by someone so ignorant.
Amanda Bresslin
For someone so spiritual that was about as carnal of a comment as I've read. Ride the celestial wind to a happier place.
The problem is that it's impossible to be spiritual when your spirit is dead. Which is the exact state of a spirit that has not experienced new birth through the Holy Spirit because of Christ's cross. So whatever you are defining as being "spiritual", whether it be being "zen" or open-minded, or at peace within your chakras, or whatever new age crap you're referring to, that's not what is being discussed here. As much as I love you, Amanda, and you know I do… you are horrifically wrong and have come across as… not very nice.
Amanda, you represent your spiritual depth well.
Amanda,
I have not been called a "bible thumper" in a long time. I think that means that i believe the bible is and has all authority and truth. If that is what it means then yes I am but if it means I hit people with the bible I have never done that although I have wanted to. LOL.
I did not purposefully try and offend but let me try and contextualize it. 1st I think you are defining "spiritual" as something different then I am. I am talking to one Christian who believes in the bible who is trying to deal with another christian who is saying weird super spiritual things and He is asking how to deal with that. So I am pointing him to the center of all real spirituality and truth which is the Word of God and calling him to lovingly/light heartedly deal with a christian brother so contextually i am not preaching to you.
So i hope you can see it in context if not just write it off as "ignorance". Blessings.
I guess the problem here is that you believe in god and I dont. I believe in a higher power. I am wiccan…..uh oh yes I said it….and the way you speak about spiritual people offends me. And yes apparently we are speaking of different spiritual ways. Christy- nothing you can say can make me feel bad about my beliefs and my thoughts. And my new age crap is way more realistic than your bible.
Bide the Wiccan Law ye must
In perfect love, in perfect trust
Eight words the Wiccan rede fulfll;
An' ye harm none, do as ye will.
An' ever mind the Rule of Three:
What ye sends out comes back to thee.
Follow this with mind and heart,
An' merry ye meet, an' merry ye part.
Blessed Be!!
Amanda, my love, I am not trying to make you feel bad about what you believe or think. Nor do I doubt the reality of the power of Wiccan (which, i don't know why you think that's gonna shock anybody.) practices. I am not even trying to convince you that you need to change. You came and commented here, and therefore, I am simply pointing out the error of your thinking and words. that's all. Feel free to cling to your deception. I hope/pray that it won't always be that way, but clearly that is your choice for now. The difference is the source of the power. I stand firm on the power of Christ and His cross and empty grave. I stand firm on the power of His freedom and destruction of death. I stand firm in knowing who my God is to me and countless others surrounding me. My trust is not in the Bible itself… it's in the God the Bible tells the story of. The power isn't in the paper… it's in the Word.
we've known since high school the differences in our faith. Nothing new there. It doesn't change that I adore the crap out of you and I cherish the memories we share. I think you are the most fabulous Wiccan Witch I've ever known!!! Haha..! *that was a joke.* I would actually like to know more about Wiccan practices and what is so appealing about it. I've never talked to someone specifically about it. And we're friends… so who better to ask, right?!? Love you, Girl.
Wow, I LOVED that Christy = "My trust is not in the Bible itself… it's in the God the Bible tells the story of. The power isn't in the paper… it's in the Word."
AMEN!!!
what an optomistic way of thinking! I would be happy to tell you anything youd like to know about wicca or the wiccan way. You can contact me on facebook.
Blessed be,
Amanda
first of all chad, there are only two conclusions that you can reach about your room mate, either he is all that he says he is, or he is nothing that he says he is, do not automatically call him crazy because he implies that hes greater than you, Jesus did the same thing and they wanted to kill him for it. We cannot dismiss everyone as crazy or prideful heathens just because you cant understand him. Look at his fruits, if they do not match what he says than obviously rebuke him.
And with the whole wiccan girl thing, i appreciate the attempt to rebuke the woman but it just seemed like an attack on her to me. You dont need to seem tolerant of her beliefs, but you also do not have to wage holy war on her. Simply rebuke with Truth.
To amanda i would say this, there is only one God, the God who created the heavens and earth, the God of Israel, the LORD Jesus Christ. One day you will die and you will bow before Him, as every person will. Its not a matter of beliefs or religion, but of Truth, and Jesus Christ is the only truth, and your wiccan way is no more than witch craft and your higher power no more than an Idol. You are blind, and being led by the devil. I cannot convince you of your wrong, and probably no one can, because your name is probably already written in the book of hell. I know most people will not tell you that because they are trying to convert you, but i will not, there is something i care more about than you being converted, and that is upholding the honor of God, and rebuking you for your lies is part of that.
To christy i would say, do not talk to this girl about her wiccan way just because you want to try and convince her shes wrong, it will never happen. If shes meant to be saved than she will be, by the grace and power of God by which he had compassion on all of us who were so far from Him at one point. Just speak the truth, thats all you can do. But were not politicians here, no need to politic for the one true God.