Wormwood
Chaps
Barrd,Would you believe me if I were to tell you that when my husband was taken from me, God spoke to me and comforted me? That He whispered to me and strengthened me during those dark days when I took whatever dirty, drudge work I could get, in order to support myself and my kids? That He spoke to me that time that I was mauled by a vicious dog, and nearly died? I'm no one special, WW...just a hack writer from Alabama, struggling to make ends meet.
But God has spoken to me...
I would not discount that at all. I have had similar experiences. I do think God interacts with us in unique ways to affirm his love for us and presence with us as we go through challenges in life. I am not even discounting the idea that He would provide insight as to what to do in particular circumstances. What I am saying is that the Holy Spirit does not supplant the Scritpures (He is the author of them), nor does he provide interpretation or doctrinal clarification of them. That is what I am trying to highlight in response to mjhealth who seems to think we can toss out the Bible or that he has the inspired understanding of what texts mean because he belongs to God.
This is plain to see because he even compares himself and his knowledge with the Apostle Paul in the post above. Apparently he feels like his walk with God is no different than a divinely selected Apostle that was specifically chosen to take the revelation of the Gospel for the Gentiles and received divine insight, visions and understanding of the nature of that Gospel for the Gentiles that had never before been revealed. One who was also inspired to write 2/3 of the NT. So he has all that and no one can disagree with him and be right because he hears the voice of God directly (which apparently is different from the voice of the Scriptures since he regularly misuses texts in order to exalt himself and gut feelings as divine).
Did you get that last part mj? He chooses the weak and poor so that "no flesh can glory in his presence." God's grace is about creating humble, gracious, encouraging and selfless believers. Comparing ones self to the Apostle Paul is kind of the opposite of that.