That's another problem with gnosticism which is what my OP was directed towards because they claimed gnosticism.

How do you know the voice "revealing things" is God, or some other entity or just you talking to yourself. 🤷 simply as.

Gnostic Christianity makes no sense in that anyone could claim special revelation by God and we see that alot in pentecostal (and their successors) churches. "God told me x but I can't reveal it to you" or "God wants you to know x".

Everything you need is contained in the Word, period. God may "speak" to you, I ain't saying he doesn't. But I believe it's more in a personal capacity and leads to greater edification in His word. That or you feel like you should take a different route to work, low and behold a crash happened on your usual route that you would have been in. That type stuff. Not starting a whole new religion in the case of Joseph Smith and the LDS.

The church is just the body of Christ. Adhering to a single denomination tends to put ones focus on the denomination more than the Body which leads to defending of erroneous teachings. Not always but it is extremely common.

Also to you atheist point. My current stance is this. God's covenant is with Israel, if you are of his flock then his law is written on your heart. Which is why, by enlarge, White people tend to be more morally upright than other races. They are His flock. Now some will reject their shepherd and go the way of the world. The Spirit is given up on acceptance of Christ.

>Well you didn't always believe, wouldn't you say you were guided to Him?

Sure, still different than receiving the Holy Spirit, IMO.