Truth vs Experience

Two years ago, I read Ron Phillips book "Awakened by the Spirit" which shares his personal journey from being an anti-charismatic fundamentalist to passionately believing that evangelicals and charismatics can rediscover their common heritage and experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in personal life and ministry. The book also chronicles great moves of the Holy Spirit in many of the groups that dot the landscape of the Baptist denomination. The following is an excerpt from his writing:

"The evangelical world today divides doctrine into two camps, calling its own doctrine 'truth based' and calling charismatic doctrine 'experience based.' There are several problems with this division.

"First, there can be no valid Christian doctrine without experience. Scripture was not dictated to a scholar sitting in an office. Scripture was the inerrant, Holy Spirit-inspired witness of me to the mighty acts of God! Some Scripture actually came through the ministry of angels. Other passages were given to me while they were in an ecstatic state...even the apostle Paul's life was changed not by having an encounter with scholarship, but by being knocked down by the Holy Spirit. We must remember that Jesus spoke of a balance in life, a need to operate in Spirit and in truth.

"Second, the Scriptures themselves validate personal encounters with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Without a doubt the Bible speaks of and encourages personal encounters with God. For many, the Bible has become an icon or an idol. In their error, the Book becomes larger than its Author. The pathway to Christ becomes a destination of its own. Deep Bible study replaces the vital experience of knowing Christ...

"Third, evangelical tradition and theories are often lifted higher than Scripture. One such tradition is cessationism, which teaches that all of the miracles and supernatural gift ceased sometime during the early church age..."

Phillips goes on to say that "Historical tradition has robbed today's church of supernatural power" and that "Our miracle-working God does not fit in a man-made theory." I agree!!!

Some have even considered that the miracles found in the New Testament were there as proof of the Apostles calling. However, it is my belief that the miracles were a revelation of God and His character. Last night in our prayer meeting, we heard a report from our missionaries in Asia about the mighty acts of God among the people. Blind eyes were healed, legs and arms that were damaged - God restored, and men/women were saved as a result. Our God is still capable to doing the impossible.

While many people view the current debate as "Truth vs Experience" - I don't. Truth and experience go hand in hand. Jesus taught us that we would know the truth and that the truth would set us free. Any encounter with truth should result in an experience of it in our lives. My prayer for the church of today is to reclaim what has been lost through tradition and doctrine. The Holy Spirit is alive and well; and He is ready to take over at any moment we will give Him control. Let Him have His way!!!