Thoughts on Holy Compunction

[SloopidyBoop]

 

[SloopidyBoop]

Spiritual loneliness seems to be a growing thing. Part of me wonders if this spiritual loneliness is not so much about being alone per se'. So much as it is about being closer to our heavenly friend our Christ. Perhaps this compunction is to draw us closer to to His Spirit/Ruach. Are there any older Christians who can teach me about Holy compunction? And spiritual loneliness?

 

[sandman]

Spiritual loneliness seems to be a growing thing. Part of me wonders if this spiritual loneliness is not so much about being alone per se'. So much as it is about being closer to our heavenly friend our Christ. Perhaps this compunction is to draw us closer to to His Spirit/Ruach. Are there any older Christians who can teach me about Holy compunction? And spiritual loneliness?

Holy Compunction can carry a few different inflections … many times it is associated with guilt, which is contrary to the Word of God…. so I don’t really know how to respond to that.

However retreating is not the answer ….That is not to dismiss your daily(s) one on one with the Father…but retreating is the opposite of what we do ….especially when we feel like doing it.

There is nothing wrong with solitude and meditation …for the right reasons…. but setting up camp there is not the best thing to do.

In my own walk I have found a cure for sadness, loneliness, depression, anxiety …. actually just about any debilitating emotion … It’s not difficult but it is generally the last thing you want to do when you have turned inward….That is…. to get out and witness the Word of God. It doesn’t matter if it’s one person or a group, if they listen or not …the action of going out and planting a seed is life changing ….Not only will you feel great, but by going out and asking God “who should I talk to….and having God speak to you…. is more beneficial to your spiritual walk that hours of meditation…

What do I say??? ….You say what comes to mind when you reach that person….the words will be there, God will make sure of that ….and never judge yourself by results ….the results are Gods business…your business is that you take action.

 

[SloopidyBoop]

This is great.

I have tried to talk to people in person about God. But I am really terrible with in person conversations. I can't seem to track what it is that God is speaking to me. So after years of trying I have found a type of solice just not talking but acting. So I help where I can but seldom talk. Not sure what to do about my ineptitudes. Love your advice

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I had to look up compunction, it's basically guilt felt when doing something bad.

Guilt as an emotion is seated in anxiety. Since anxiety is the opposite of faith, not sure if it should be called Holy.

 

[SloopidyBoop]

I had to look up compunction, it's basically guilt felt when doing something bad.

Guilt as an emotion is seated in anxiety. Since anxiety is the opposite of faith, not sure if it should be called Holy.

I must be in the middle of a denominational difference. All throughout my life there was an understanding that one could regularly feel a compunction by way of the Holy Spirit, that you were not doing all that you could or should to be closer to God.

Is there no conviction by the Spirit to stop you and move you back? I can think of a few small examples in which the Israelites felt a Holy compunction. Or even Peter when he denied Jesus thrice. These are the words forms I am referring to.

Thank you for teaching me.

 

[biblelesson]

1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (Truly believing this wipes away shame and guilt).

God’s seed, the Holy Spirit makes us children of the Most High. Just like human beings have the seed of their father, which makes them an heir, we have God’s seed given to us when we believed on Christ which makes us heirs to the Kingdom, Romans 8:17.

1 John 3:20, “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” (Coming to truly believe this wipes away guilt)

There might be times “to separate” is necessary, and God sometimes sets us apart for our growth, Hebrews 13:12-13.

 

[biblelesson]

I must be in the middle of a denominational difference. All throughout my life there was an understanding that one could regularly feel a compunction by way of the Holy Spirit, that you were not doing all that you could or should to be closer to God.

Is there no conviction by the Spirit to stop you and move you back? I can think of a few small examples in which the Israelites felt a Holy compunction. Or even Peter when he denied Jesus thrice. These are the words forms I am referring to.

Thank you for teaching me.

We don’t have to do anything to be closer to God. Jesus accomplished that for us - we have been made righteous, 2 Corinthians 5:24.

We receive an unction from the Holy Spirit, 1 John 2:20, “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

I never heard of a compunction by way of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, and only speaks of what He hears. I don’t think the Spirit would put guilt on us if Christ took away our guilt, John 16:13.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I must be in the middle of a denominational difference. All throughout my life there was an understanding that one could regularly feel a compunction by way of the Holy Spirit, that you were not doing all that you could or should to be closer to God.

Is there no conviction by the Spirit to stop you and move you back? I can think of a few small examples in which the Israelites felt a Holy compunction. Or even Peter when he denied Jesus thrice. These are the words forms I am referring to.

Thank you for teaching me.

I think guilt is a powerful force, but it's of the flesh. The Israelites, not born again by the Holy Spirit. Peter, not yet born again by the Holy Spirit when he denied thrice.

There may be a spiritual equivalent to what you are talking about not seated in the emotions at all - perhaps an obvious next choice to repent .. and then you just go do it without much thought?

Spiritual motivation is hard to pin down because it is tasteless to the flesh.

 

[SloopidyBoop]

Very well. I was wrong.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Spiritual loneliness seems to be a growing thing. Part of me wonders if this spiritual loneliness is not so much about being alone per se'. So much as it is about being closer to our heavenly friend our Christ. Perhaps this compunction is to draw us closer to to His Spirit/Ruach. Are there any older Christians who can teach me about Holy compunction? And spiritual loneliness?

We are " set apart" and made Holy through Him. Loneliness is of the flesh and we know the flesh fights against the Spirit. Walk in His Holy Spirit daily and above all, do not doubt. He has made His Home in you. This is His promise, the Comforter.
Blessings.

 

[mourningdove~]

I must be in the middle of a denominational difference.

Yes.
When one comes to CF, one will definitely encounter lots of denominational differences!

I personally have never heard 'holy compunction' discussed within Protestant circles.
I think traditional Catholics would most likely be the group most familiar with holy compunction as you describe it.

 

[mourningdove~]

I have tried to talk to people in person about God. But I am really terrible with in person conversations. I can't seem to track what it is that God is speaking to me. So after years of trying I have found a type of solice just not talking but acting. So I help where I can but seldom talk. Not sure what to do about my ineptitudes.

Though we are one in Christ, we do not all have the same spiritual gifts. And we do not all have the same spiritual temperaments.

It wasn't until I learned about spiritual temperaments that I began to understand my difficulties in some areas ...
and to appreciate my strengths in other areas.

Fr. Conrad Hock wrote a classic book entitled "The Four Temperaments and The Spiritual Life" (1934).
In it, he explains well the differences in temperaments. Here is a link to it, if interested:

https://www.stjoanarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/The-4-Temperaments-Hock.pdf

I share this because, as a Christian, I tried for many years to be who I was not, instead of who God made me to be. It wasn't until I learned about spiritual temperaments that I learned why I could not change mine, and that God did not intend for it to change.

... Different temperaments are better at doing different things, and there are many different things to be done in the Body of Christ!


The writing you shared in the opening post is beautiful, deep, rich. (I 'get it'.)
I also very much 'get' the desire to grow 'closer' to Christ ...

The opening post is something that a person with a melancholic temperament, or melancholic mixed temperament, might write and/or appreciate. Thanks for sharing it.

God bless

 

[mourningdove~]

Spiritual loneliness seems to be a growing thing.

... and spiritual loneliness is a gift, when it creates in us a desire for closer union with God.

 

[SloopidyBoop]

Though we are one in Christ, we do not all have the same spiritual gifts. And we do not all have the same spiritual temperaments.

It wasn't until I learned about spiritual temperaments that I began to understand my difficulties in some areas ...
and to appreciate my strengths in other areas.

Fr. Conrad Hock wrote a classic book entitled "The Four Temperaments and The Spiritual Life" (1934).
In it, he explains well the differences in temperaments. Here is a link to it, if interested:

https://www.stjoanarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/The-4-Temperaments-Hock.pdf

I share this because, as a Christian, I tried for many years to be who I was not, instead of who God made me to be. It wasn't until I learned about spiritual temperaments that I learned why I could not change mine, and that God did not intend for it to change.

... Different temperaments are better at doing different things, and there are many different things to be done in the Body of Christ!


The writing you shared in the opening post is beautiful, deep, rich. (I 'get it'.)
I also very much 'get' the desire to grow 'closer' to Christ ...

The opening post is something that a person with a melancholic temperament, or melancholic mixed temperament, might write and/or appreciate. Thanks for sharing it.

God bless

Thanks for your insights, I appreciate you!