Expert: Dr Tim Gladu - 1/23/2012

Question
QUESTION: I'm afraid I commited it although that was the last thing I wanted to do. I was always asking god to help me and I was in search for him. I began to have thoughts against the holy spirit. I almost couldn't help it but I tried not to. So I had some thoughts saying some christtians act sort of weird. Almost as of they are brainwashed by christianity. So I began to think. Are some of them brainwashed? When they became christians were they brainwashed by a evil spirit? So when I had these thoughts I felt weird. So I wanted to ask my friend if he ever had thoughts like this. I made sure I was careful how I asked him so I wouldn't acidently commit this sin. So I asked. Him "have you ever thought some christians are brainwashed?" That's when I feared I blasphemd the holy spirit

i had someone respond to me with this:
You must settle it in your mind. What are you referring to when you say some Christians are brainwashed? It is a theology that they have? Is it the way they act? Is it spiritual manifestations you are referring you? You must answer this question FIRST. What are you referring to? And is it indeed the work of the Holy Spirit? Or is it the work of man? If you are 100% sure it is NOT from the Holy Spirit, then you have nothing to worry about. You must know for yourself. You CANNOT trust other people's opinions.
Do these people claim their words/actions are from the Holy Spirit? If so, you better take the safe side, and take their word for it. But if you are 100% sure, based on your own relationship with the Lord, the Holy Bible, and Church history, that it is NOT the Holy Spirit, then you are free to say whatever you will.
Let me give you an example. I used to be part of a religious group (a long time ago) that claimed to have the Holy Spirit, and hear from the Holy Spirit, and interact with the Holy Spirit. But these people NEVER talked about Jesus. They NEVER glorified Jesus. They didn't even claim to be Christians. These people obviously DON'T have the Holy Spirit.
But if these people who you think are brainwashed actually love Jesus, worship Jesus, glorify Jesus,and say they are Christians, then you better not say anything bad about the Spirit by which they operate. In fact, I would be wanting what they have!
If you have discovered that it might be the work of the Holy Spirit. And you said these people are brainwashed. Then you have another problem. First of all, you don't know the Lord very well. You need to know the Lord well enough to recognize the work of the Spirit. Secondly, you have insulted the Spirit of Grace by asking such a question. It is an insult to the Holy Spirit to insinuate that they are brainwashed when it really is the Holy Spirit. You know this is the truth. Otherwise it wouldn't bother you.
What does the Bible say about insulting the Spirit? If you did not blaspheme the Holy Spirit, you surely did insult the Holy Spirit.
Last, but not least, do not believe every pastor and counselor. Most Christian leaders don't have the backbone to tell it the way it is. They want to please everybody, and not offend anyone. One very wise question you should ask yourself is, Would these people actually tell the truth if someone did blaspheme the Holy Spirit? Would they have the guts to say that someone blasphemed the Spirit to their face?

Answer: probably not

ANSWER: Ryan,

Before I answer your question I need to know your Church Denomination and I want to know the verses you are referencing to so I can help you with this question. I want you to know one thing about your question. The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is someone who has been told the truth about salvation and they do not receive the grace from God. These people have committed the only sin that cannot be forgiven and they will go to Hell. I would like to have the Bible verses your are speaking to so that maybe I can explain their meaning. I do not know what church you go to but most people in leadership I know will tell the truth about spiritual matters to the best of their ability because the truth will set you free. Please lets continue this with a little more background and I want to help you to grow in the Spirit and your personal walk with Christ.  

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Matthew 12: vs 31-32. notice the parallel passage in mark, because they said he hath a unclean spirit.

Answer
Christ had cast out a Demon and the men there had said it was the work of the Devil. They had attributed the works of the Holy Spirit with the work of the Devil. In this instance those men were the ones who would not be forgiven. I am not sure what you said but I do not believe that you were saying that those men were working for the Devil. You have to judge in your heart what you said and the intention of the meaning of your thoughts and feelings. If someone is doing something that seems wrong and you make note of it or even question their motivation then this is not blasphemy. These men in this passage was speaking to Jesus, they were condemned because they told Christ He was working for the Devil. Make sure that you read the entire passage and not take one single verse out of context. Keep studying the word and continue to grow in the faith.