Tammy, if you believe that Jesus communicates with you, then no further evidence is required.
This is true.
It is a personal subjective experience that you choose to share. Other humans cannot validate your experience, they can only relate theirs. Sharing involves telling others about your experience and makes the experience more vivid. Defending yourself against the challenges that sharing attracts, can help to strengthen your belief. Opposition helps you to define your belief.
Actually, I prefer to keep my faith to myself. Treasure it, so to speak. But this does nothing to build up the Body of Christ, and well, I think I am called to do that. To share what i am given, in the hopes of helping someone else who might want to hear, or belong to, or follow Christ. It is why I joined this forum in the first place. I saw a misunderstanding, (naively) thought that if others just understood what I understood, then the misunderstanding would be cleared up, and something that was impeding some from going to Christ would be diminished.
As well, now that I have been here for so long and see it, I just like to combat the black and white views that some people hold. For a little more tolerance among us all.
As a Jehovah's Witnesses I spent many years of my life debating with householders and insisting I had found ‘the truth.’ It turned out I was wrong. I can never again know such certainty. Fortunately I do not wish to be certain. I enjoy the freedom of letting go and allowing my mind to come to rest where it will.
There is great peace and tolerance in this. I was never not certain about God, himself. But I felt great peace when i relinquished all certainty of what I (or others) thought of Him, and simply left myself in his hands, to guide me. I didn't have to be right. And sometimes words get in the way. there have been times where i can see how peaceful a vow of silence would be. Just doing; no speaking. One day (once the kids are adults), I may do this for a spell. It holds great appeal to me.
I have had many robust debates on this forum and criticized Christians for their apparent contradictions. It is a pointless exercise. I have learned that people will believe what they want to; they will only change if and when they are ready; opposition strengthens belief.
You could be right. 'Certain' people (as in people who are certain), are often unyielding. And few people change their ways until they are ready, no matter the info presented to them. I am seeing this as well. Hence, the lovely vow of silence idea :)
Peace,
tammy
