“Scripture makes both doctrine and experience essential elements in healthy Christianity. An authentic experience of God’s truth always issues from the fountainhead of His revealed Word.”(Richard Mayhue, “Divine Healing Today,” [Moody Press: Chicago, 1983] p.12) Doctrine and experience are not mutually exclusive. In other words, the head or the intellect is not inimical to the heart or practice. Both are intertwined, indivisible and inextricably bound together. You cannot have one without the other. Dr Mayhue’s words above are correct in expressing this great and neglected truth. Christendom is divided today because of these opposite poles: one faction considers and emphasizes experience over and above teaching; however, the other group considers and emphasizes teaching over and above experience. Both exhibit an unhealthy de-emphasis of one over the other. In other words, the intellect, academic, or teaching should not be stressed over and above the experience, neither should feelings, experience, or emotions be stressed over and above the teaching. There should be a balanced view. However, one thing is for certain: the teachings and doctrines should form the pillar on which the feelings, the emotions, the subjective, or the experience is based upon. A reversal of this would be detrimental and sheer folly, notwithstanding unbiblical. How can we cultivate a balanced and biblical view? How can we verify that we are indeed balanced? Answering these two questions is crucial in the developing of equilibrium. Whenever we are evaluating a practice or a method for the church, for example, our barometer or standard should be the Word of God. In other words, before validating its merits, its value; sift it through Scripture and ensure that Scripture warrants or verifies it. Putting it another way, see if Scripture gives doctrinal examples of what you will be implementing. On another note, if someone comes to you with something he feels, or something he has experienced, before authenticating the experience, see if Scripture teaches it or gives solid examples of the truth they are personally relating by their experience. I believe these are safe principles to follow. Next time you are facing a claim of some sort that is subjective place it under the microscope of the Word of God and discover if there are amoebas swimming in the murky waters of experientialism.
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