Experience vs. the Word of God?

Experience is not the final test of truth. It does not trump what the Bible says. Every experience must be tested by the Word of God.

When it comes to Christianity, you can approach it in only 1 of 2 ways:

1. You can look at it from an historical, objective perspective, which emphasizes that God’s Word is truth.

2. You can look at it from a subjective, personal experience, which emphasizes what man says will or did happen.

To take the subjective approach is to challenge what Jesus said like Philip in John 14. Jesus said, “⁶… I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6-7).

Jesus comforted them with His upcoming departure because as they came through Him, they would be with the Father. There would be no cause for concern. Philip wasn’t convinced – “… Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us” (John 14:8).

Philip wanted more. He wanted an experience. God’s Word wasn’t sufficient for him. He needed something more, and this grieved Jesus – “⁹ Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works” (John 14:9-10).

In his book Charismatic Chaos, John MacArthur tells us, “We are not to base what we believe on what we have experienced. The reverse is true. Our experiences will grow out of what we believe. And we must continually examine and evaluate our experiences in light of the objective truth of God’s precious Word. Any other approach leads inevitably to speculation and error. To build a theology on experience is to build on sand. But to build a theology on God’s inspired, revealed Word is to build on rock. It is all a question of authority.” (pg. 45)

What rules for you? What is your source of authority? Your experience or God’s objective Word?