Is talking to friends about experiences with God only boasting?

TylerPompei · Jan 6, 2017

Hello friends. I'll keep this short. Lately I've felt Jesus' presence in my life more than I ever have before. I have experienced some things during prayer that I truly believe we're answers straight from the Lord. I was hanging out with a friend today who I really care about, and I ended up telling him about the whole thing, in specific detail. I did it because I really wanted to tell someone. And I also did it because I want my friends and family to have faith in God, because I have felt his love and I want them to feel it too. But now my worry is this: would God want me to tell about these intimate moments with Him? And is it wrong to talk of these things, because it may come across as boasting? I truly did it because I love talking about spiritual ideas and I wanted to lead a friend to try and talk to God. What do you guys think?
God Bless.

look4hope · Jan 6, 2017

Hiya Tyler. Please don't feel discourage in sharing your experience of great prayer with your friend and/or family. At least for me, what you've described isn't even remotely considered boasting-- what you did there was sharing your joy of faith with someone you care about.

faroukfarouk · Jan 6, 2017

Hi; good to see you; God bless His Word to you.

A regular Bible reading and prayer life is essential and a great blessing; John's Gospel is a wonderful book of the Bible to get to know well.

TurtleAnne · Jan 6, 2017

Seems that most of the Bible verses I am finding on the topic of boasting and faith, are tied in thematically to Jesus' warnings about the hypocrisy of the pharisees. So in essence they are about the matter of thinking one is inherently good and not good through the grace of the Holy Spirit, or thinking one has saved him/herself rather than being saved by Christ, and so on. I don't see anything inherently against sharing one's spiritual experiences with others.

2 Corinthians 3 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God

Matthew 6 - Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Romans 3 - Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

This website has been helpful to me several times in just the past several days, can search all sorts of things in it and then get some direction for where to look in scripture: What Does the Bible Say About Boasting?

timewerx · Jan 6, 2017

There are times like when Jesus healed a sick man, He told that man not to tell anyone about his miraculous experience.

Larniavc · Jan 6, 2017

TylerPompei said:
Hello friends. I'll keep this short. Lately I've felt Jesus' presence in my life more than I ever have before. I have experienced some things during prayer that I truly believe we're answers straight from the Lord. I was hanging out with a friend today who I really care about, and I ended up telling him about the whole thing, in specific detail. I did it because I really wanted to tell someone. And I also did it because I want my friends and family to have faith in God, because I have felt his love and I want them to feel it too. But now my worry is this: would God want me to tell about these intimate moments with Him? And is it wrong to talk of these things, because it may come across as boasting? I truly did it because I love talking about spiritual ideas and I wanted to lead a friend to try and talk to God. What do you guys think?
God Bless.

If the person you are talking to does not already believe in God it will not sound like boosting at all.

A little odd (for them), but not boasting.

Ken Behrens · Jan 6, 2017

I'd consider it giving me more reason to praise God. I guess it depends how you phrase it. But that's me.

I am very careful who I tell what God has told me, largely because they would not understand, not because it is boasting.

If you think it is boasting, then perhaps for you it is. God gives you these experiences to change you.

Dave-W · Jan 6, 2017

timewerx said:
There are times like when Jesus healed a sick man, He told that man not to tell anyone about his miraculous experience.

In Aramaic speaking culture that means to go tell everyone.

Ken Behrens · Jan 6, 2017

DaveW-Ohev said:
In Aramaic speaking culture that means to go tell everyone.

Do you have a source for this? I have not heard it before.

Dave-W · Jan 6, 2017

In

Ken Behrens said:
Do you have a source for this? I have not heard it before.

Indeed. George Lamsa's book:

Greg J. · Jan 6, 2017

Which just begs the question, what are his sources? To accept that something means the opposite of what it states, I'd probably have to pull up photos of the extra-Biblical papyri myself. Well, maybe not, but it is the first time I've heard it, too.

TylerPompei said:
Hello friends. I'll keep this short. Lately I've felt Jesus' presence in my life more than I ever have before. I have experienced some things during prayer that I truly believe we're answers straight from the Lord. I was hanging out with a friend today who I really care about, and I ended up telling him about the whole thing, in specific detail. I did it because I really wanted to tell someone. And I also did it because I want my friends and family to have faith in God, because I have felt his love and I want them to feel it too. But now my worry is this: would God want me to tell about these intimate moments with Him? And is it wrong to talk of these things, because it may come across as boasting? I truly did it because I love talking about spiritual ideas and I wanted to lead a friend to try and talk to God. What do you guys think?
God Bless.

If you are doing this because you are excited about it, you are doing something good from God's point of view. I will mention however, that this is how I lost my best (non-Christian) friends, and it created some friction with one of my Christian friends a bit, too (who had never experienced God like I did). As Ken said, it may be prudent to consider how they will understand it, and possibly share it more on a level they can accept (or not share it at all). Sharing truth like that is powerful, but not many are ready to receive it. You could pray about how to handle it with each person you know.

There is a right time and a wrong time for such things.

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. ... (bold mine, John 16:12-13a, 1984 NIV)

Ken Behrens · Jan 6, 2017

DaveW-Ohev said:
In

Indeed. George Lamsa's book:

See George J's response below yours and above mine. I have read many commentaries and each of them tries to explain why Jesus would have told someone to tell no one. It's unlikely that ALL these writers over all these years could be ignorant of this idiom. See what I mean: http://www.equip.org/article/george-m-lamsa/ I have no idea who is correct.

TylerPompei · Jan 6, 2017

Greg J. said:
Which just begs the question, what are his sources? To accept that something means the opposite of what it states, I'd probably have to pull up photos of the extra-Biblical papyri myself. Well, maybe not, but it is the first time I've heard it, too.

If you are doing this because you are excited about it, you are doing something good from God's point of view. I will mention however, that this is how I lost my best (non-Christian) friends, and it created some friction with one of my Christian friends a bit, too (who had never experienced God like I did). As Ken said, it may be prudent to consider how they will understand it, and possibly share it more on a level they can accept (or not share it at all). Sharing truth like that is powerful, but not many are ready to receive it. You could pray about how to handle it with each person you know.

There is a right time and a wrong time for such things.

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. ... (bold mine, John 16:12-13a, 1984 NIV)

I was telling of my experiences because I was excited. I agree with you that some people aren't ready to hear these kinds of things, but my friend luckily took it pretty well. I know what you mean about losing friends, I've drifted from many due to my faith. I'm always glad when non-religious friends accept me for who I am and don't criticize me. Thank you for the response!

Greg J. · Jan 6, 2017

Ken Behrens said:
See George J's response below yours and above mine. I have read many commentaries and each of them tries to explain why Jesus would have told someone to tell no one. It's unlikely that ALL these writers over all these years could be ignorant of this idiom. See what I mean: http://www.equip.org/article/george-m-lamsa/ I have no idea who is correct.

I've never looked into it myself. I just assumed it was consistent with how Jesus was moving around to avoid the authorities. I do not recall Jesus doing anything to bring attention to himself. It was the people who heard of the healing miracles and came to him. He sometimes went and hid (and prayed) after a gathering with people, too.

Bumble Bee · Jan 6, 2017

TylerPompei said:
Hello friends. I'll keep this short. Lately I've felt Jesus' presence in my life more than I ever have before. I have experienced some things during prayer that I truly believe we're answers straight from the Lord. I was hanging out with a friend today who I really care about, and I ended up telling him about the whole thing, in specific detail. I did it because I really wanted to tell someone. And I also did it because I want my friends and family to have faith in God, because I have felt his love and I want them to feel it too. But now my worry is this: would God want me to tell about these intimate moments with Him? And is it wrong to talk of these things, because it may come across as boasting? I truly did it because I love talking about spiritual ideas and I wanted to lead a friend to try and talk to God. What do you guys think?
God Bless.

It depends on the motives. From what you have said, your motives are pure. God looks at the heart. If you are sharing to say how important you are, you are boasting. If you are sharing to say how great God is, you are witnessing of the Lord's goodness.

bhsmte · Jan 7, 2017

TylerPompei said:
Hello friends. I'll keep this short. Lately I've felt Jesus' presence in my life more than I ever have before. I have experienced some things during prayer that I truly believe we're answers straight from the Lord. I was hanging out with a friend today who I really care about, and I ended up telling him about the whole thing, in specific detail. I did it because I really wanted to tell someone. And I also did it because I want my friends and family to have faith in God, because I have felt his love and I want them to feel it too. But now my worry is this: would God want me to tell about these intimate moments with Him? And is it wrong to talk of these things, because it may come across as boasting? I truly did it because I love talking about spiritual ideas and I wanted to lead a friend to try and talk to God. What do you guys think?
God Bless.

Nothing wrong with talking about your personal perceptions of God. As long as in doing so, you do not negatively judge those who disagree with you.

Dave-W · Jan 9, 2017

Greg J. said:
Which just begs the question, what are his sources? To accept that something means the opposite of what it states, I'd probably have to pull up photos of the extra-Biblical papyri myself. Well, maybe not, but it is the first time I've heard it, too.

How about growing up in a culture that still used the same language (even same dialect of Aramaic) with all the idioms intact?

Ken Behrens · Jan 9, 2017

DaveW-Ohev said:
How about growing up in a culture that still used the same language (even same dialect of Aramaic) with all the idioms intact?

Idioms intact could be pretty tricky to prove. Already in my life, in English, to be "bad" has changed to mean something is good, and look at what "gay" means today. In a hundred years to be someone's "fan" does not mean that you will blow at them to cool them off. And a hard drive used to be taking a loaded semi-truck through a mountain pass. Look at how many hymns have the adverbial -ly ending rhyming with the word "why". And how many kilograms are in a telegram?

Dave-W · Jan 9, 2017

Ken Behrens said:
Idioms intact could be pretty tricky to prove. Already in my life, in English, to be "bad" has changed to mean something is good, and look at what "gay" means today.

Understood. But his village back in the mountains between Syria and Turkey was pretty much cut off from the rest of the world until the late 1800s.

Read his works and make up your own mind.

Zurückschlagen · Jan 9, 2017

Herr @TylerPompei

Mark 16:15
And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

Is talking to friends about experiences with God only boasting?

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