Experience is never the basis for truth
Some churches regularly elevate personal experiences over sound doctrine and biblical truth. This has led to a form of “experiential Christianity” where unbiblical practices are promoted not because there is a scriptural precedent for them but because they make people feel good.
However, spiritual experiences should never trump biblical authority.
The norm has become to first experience something and then run to scripture to try and find a rationale for what happened. People are told things like, “don’t resist, don’t take control, don’t analyze; just surrender completely to His love, and you can examine the experience later.”
But this is completely backwards from what we are required to do as disciplined Christians.
We have to begin with the Word of God, allowing a proper interpretation of the text to govern our experiences.
Experience is not the test of biblical truth; rather, biblical truth stands as the final test for our experiences.
Any true work of the Spirit of God is built on sound doctrine and biblical truth.
Doctrine and theology are never to be seen as a threat; instead, they should serve as a basis on which we are to filter lies from the truth. But once we allow subjectivism (through experience) to become the basis of our decisions, we will eventually deviate from the standard that Scripture prescribes.
Unfortunately, charismatics often downplay the importance of doctrine for the same reason they undermine the sufficiency of Scripture. Their assumption is that extensive efforts spent on scripture only stifle the work of the Spirit. Some even go so far as to state that teaching doctrines is a way for Satan to get us to rely on the Scriptures rather than on the Holy Spirit.
Moreover, charismatic Christians believe that progress in a Christian life requires experiencing an electrifying experience, something more, or something better. Consequently, many people within these movements are also frustrated because they spend their entire lives chasing one experience after another, and if their next experience isn’t as extraordinary as the previous, they wonder if there is something wrong with them.
In saying all this it must also be noted that we aren’t downplaying all spiritual experiences. Believers do experience authentic emotions and feelings.
A person may experience guilt for committing sin, pain during a traumatic situation, overwhelming peace in the face of adversity, a feeling of joy and confidence in God during a difficult time, an intense sense of loss, an inexpressible sense of praise for God when we comprehend His glory or heightened zeal and passion for service and ministry.
As a result of the convicting nature of God’s Word, Christians will experience strong internal emotions. This emotion is amplified by the Holy Spirit and personally applied to us.
The charismatic movement has often failed in this area since it tends to build its teachings on experience. This is because it fails to understand that any authentic experience occurs in response to truth and it begins with – the Gospel truth.
Conclusion
While authentic Christian life involves real emotions and experiences, these should be responses to the truth found in Scripture, not substitutes for it. The Bible consistently calls us to test everything against its teachings, ensuring our experiences align with God’s revealed Word. When we let experience overshadow doctrine, we risk building a faith that is emotionally driven and potentially misguided. True spiritual maturity is marked by a firm foundation in biblical truth, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us in a way that reflects sound doctrine. This balanced approach safeguards our faith, keeps us from being swayed by fleeting feelings, and honors God by aligning our lives with His eternal truth.