An encounter with an angel... Or not.

[FallentoReason]

I see. That means by your standards this guy was exactly that, a guy. The reason being that he at one stage randomly went on a tangent about psychics and how they can know so much about someone by speaking to their dead relatives. I can only assume that the connection must have been that psychics are strictly Christians. It's kind of along the line of every religion thinking only they can e.g. talk to God. So if he believes in psychics and communication with spirits I'm assuming this is all within a Christian framework. But you have made it clear no such thing is to be found in the Bible.

Without specifics, I am not in a position to make that judgment. But know if 'he' was directly telling you to seek the advice of psychic, or seek the advise from the dead then his 'revelation' is not consistent with scripture. Now if he said something like 'he is something like a psychic' his then do not completely dismiss what was said. Take what was said word for word and pair it against scripture. If everything checks out then you have a legit experience. If not move on, and do not be disappointed. For God does speak through messengers, and other times the Holy Spirit will speak to you directly. You just have to be able to identify what is being communicated. We can only do this if we know the Word.

Also know God is not the only spiritually based being who uses 'messengers' to speak to people. Be careful and guard your heart. and remain faithful to God and you will receive what you have been asking and seeking after. Know things/temptations like this test our resolve. In that do we want something so bad we will take whatever is offered, or will we press on to the actual Goal. (Real relationship with God)
This test is not for God, but for you so that you know if you are willing to 'knock' until you get what you truly want or will you only knock until you are given a trifle and told to go away.

Know your decision will depend on how you look at this situation and the others to come. Will you honor what the scripture says and continue to seek God on His terms or will you yield to the appeal to your vanity.

As for wanting to address questions I might have, I'll keep in mind your offer. Thanks by the way. I really do appreciate the effort you go through to discuss what I bring up.

Your welcome, and I will do my best to answer any question you or anyone else may have.

He explicitly said that psychics talk to spirits. I forgot what exactly we were talking about by that stage that made him bring that up, but either way it doesn't line up with scripture.

Thanks for the other tips though.

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Maybe I should have spent more time describing him and why my two friends thought what they thought.

>This guy looked humble and had a very humble car.
>He seemed to hone in on my questions only (I was pushing for arguments that were the least favoured).
>He sat talking to us for half an hour before he got up to see why his food hadn't arrived. When he sat down a waitress brought his change that he forgot. This implies he never ordered in the first place but was merely there to talk to me.

Angels buy cars now? Given their abilities what possible use would they have for a car? My main objection to believing this guy is an angel (besides the whole religion it's based on being very unlikely to be true to begin with) is that there's no reason to believe it.

According to my friends, angels need to blend in as much as they can...

Facts being consistent with a hypothesis is not the same as facts indicating a particular hypothesis is true. A simplified example might be the disappearance of my shoes when I'm getting ready one morning. Maybe an elf hid them. While the facts are consistent with this hypothesis (i.e., nothing contradicts it), there's nothing about the mere disappearance of shoes that indicates it to be true. Millions of people who own shitty cars go to restaurants everyday. There's nothing particularly remarkable about that unless you're looking for it. Now, I'm not saying that this guy was definitely not an angel -- hell, maybe he was. What I find curious is that angel's identities and miracles in general have become increasingly ambiguous since the Iron Age (you know, back when people's free will was apparently not violated by apparitions of God or angels explicitly identifying themselves as such). Instead, it's become a guessing game which, of course, is itself a testament to God's creativity because he's testing us.

Yeah I completely agree with you. This whole supernatural business is becoming a frustration, especially when my friend just laughs at it and points out the obvious for why he wasn't an angel. Go the extra mile then and ask yourself why e.g. healing never works....... arrrhghh...

My personal tip would be get the suspected angel's name next time. Or their license plate number. Then you'll be able to test whether they're angels or not. Presumably angels cannot be begotten by humans, although I'm sure a caveat can be added if it suits someone's belief system.

His name was Rupert. That's all I found out about him.

[Epimethean]

"Take what was said word for word and pair it against scripture. If everything checks out then you have a legit experience."

Holy crackpot consequent, Batman. And you wonder why the religious have trouble getting jobs in the scientific community.

[KichigaiNeko]

So... Two things:

1) How can a Christian know when something was genuinely from God? Please be creative with your answer instead of calling her a fake Christian. You don't know her therefore you can't make that call.

I understand.... that they (xtians) cannot understand anything that does not fit their delusion. Ergo that ANYTHING can be "from god" if they wish it to be so..much like any child under the age of 5 years.

2) Knowledge (in the broadest sense of the word) clearly alters what one percieves. Had she not lost confidence in people she wouldn't have figured this guy out and therefore everyone would have been in agreement that it was an angel. Thoughts?

Agreed. Have had a similar experience. Mostly it is just some random person wishing to exercise their superiority in-front of those less evolved. A scam if you like, for personal gain.

[Godscreated]

@FallentoReason, if this person you referred to said anything, any one thing that was against scripture, then he was not an angel sent by God, he however could be someone influenced by Satan, I doubt it though why would Satan need to bother with an unbeliever, you are already in the basket. Satan's mission is bigger than individuals, he wants people by the masses and when he can get people to believe he's not real, he's gotten them hook, line and sinker. So your guy was someone who happened to be there, just like I was awhile back when some atheist were eating were I was. They made sure everyone around them knew what they thought of Christ. I took it to heart an challenged them in front of the whole restaurant and before I left they wished they had not been so bold. Young ones beware of a bold stance in public, there are many Christians like me who will take up your challenge, remember we are intelligent and know the scriptures, we do not need the Bible with us to look up passages.

[Epimethean]

You go, Billy Jack!

[Tempus]

Is Satan part of God's plan?

[Drich]

Is Satan part of God's plan?

it appears that way.

[Epimethean]

LOL. Great dance move, Deney.

[Godscreated]

You go, Billy Jack!

I did and will continue to do so. No one will insult my beliefs in public without hearing my side, and if they are embarrassed by my stance, so be it.

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Is Satan part of God's plan?

Yes, for this reason, freewill is part of God's plan, no matter the result.

[Welsh cake]

So your guy was someone who happened to be there, just like I was awhile back when some atheist were eating were I was. They made sure everyone around them knew what they thought of Christ. I took it to heart an challenged them in front of the whole restaurant and before I left they wished they had not been so bold.

To that I say, fuck you.

That was wholly inappropriate of you to barge into someone else's conversation that you happened to overhear and preach religious garbage in a privately-owned business. You deserved to be thrown out by the owners of said establishment for making such a stupid scene, for disturbing the peace and for disturbing the *other customers*.

Young ones beware of a bold stance in public, there are many Christians like me who will take up your challenge, remember we are intelligent and know the scriptures, we do not need the Bible with us to look up passages.

Knock yourself out.

http://www.chick.com/articles/legality.asp

I did and will continue to do so. No one will insult my beliefs in public without hearing my side, and if they are embarrassed by my stance, so be it.

I for one find the embarrassment that you are somewhat entertaining.

Yes, for this reason, freewill is part of God's plan, no matter the result.

Yeah the devil causing the fall of man subsequently resulting in the condemnation of billions of humans is all according to your divine cretin's plan, oh, but not you ever going to hell, oh no, that's not in your god's plan at all, oh perish the thought!