Cautious Faith: The Church’s Warning on the Electronic Voice
The Church’s stance on the phenomenon of the electronic voice is decidedly categorical. Representatives of the Church and believers, guided by spiritual teachings, call for great caution regarding such phenomena, as they may serve as a gateway to deceptive, even demonic, interpretations of the world. To avoid misdirection, believers are advised not to trust voices and phenomena that do not align with the Gospel, but rather to listen only to the true voice of Christ. As stated in one source:"Regarding voices and phenomena, even greater caution is required: here the demonic allure is closer and more pernicious. Many of the holy and learned Fathers were deceived by demons, who cunningly concealed and masked their lies and darkness with apparitions of truth and light; thus, deception nowadays may be even more convenient... It is necessary, over a long time and through experience, to train the mind and heart to distinguish between good and evil, regardless of the disguise under which evil may appear. Therefore, the holy Fathers commanded that the newly initiated should not rely on any voices or phenomena – but should reject them and not accept them, leaving the matter to the judgment and will of God, while recognizing humility as more necessary than any voice or phenomenon. The voice of Christ is the Gospel; let us listen to it and obey it." (source: link txt)Thus, for the Church, the phenomenon of the electronic voice is seen not as a manifestation of a genuine spiritual experience, but rather as a potentially dangerous distraction that could mislead believers if given credibility. This explanation underscores the importance of distinguishing between the true divine message and deceptive vocal manifestations, which might be interpreted as a distortion or perversion of reality influenced by malevolent forces.