Over the last month we have taken a fairly in-depth look at religious experience from the perspective of philosophy and apologetics. Today, we’ll focus on the theological implications of religious experience. Should religious experience reinterpret doctrine at any level? Should it change our lives? And what does the Bible say about it?
Obviously we wouldn’t have the Bible without religious experiences, because prophecy necessarily comes from religious experience and the Bible was written by prophets. However, the question remains—“can modern-day people experience the same kind of religious experience as the Biblical writers did?” The answer is pretty obviously no. The Bible is absolutely clear on this subject:
John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (NIV)
Its pretty apparent that John is talking about the Holy Spirit will make clear what Jesus had already said. W. Hall Harris claims, “…in light of the connection with ‘all the things’ Jesus said to them, it is more likely that the teaching function of the Holy Spirit is not intended to reveal exhaustive truth to the disciples, but rather the full significance of what Jesus did and said while he was with them.”
Hebrews 1:1-3 “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (NIV)
The point here is that God communicated His Word twice—first through their forefathers and prophets and secondly through His Son. Adam Clarke says it best, “This Son, in the fullness of time, was manifested in the flesh that he might complete all vision and prophecy, supply all that was wanting to perfect the great scheme of revelation for the instruction of the world, and then die to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.” (ASV)
Here we see that the faith (or Word) was delivered once and for all to the saints (ourselves). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary states, “No other faith or revelation is to supersede it. A strong argument for resisting heretical innovators.”
1 Cor. 4:6 “that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.” (emphasis added)
This verse clearly states that what is written is more important than anything anyone says later. Charles Hodge says, “That is, not to esteem minister above the scriptural standard. As Paul had been dealing with this subject, ‘nothing beyond what is written’ might seem naturally to refer to what he himself had just written. But as the phrase elsewhere always refers to the Old Testament, which were the ‘writings’ recognized as of divine authority, that is probably what he is referring to here.”
1 Corinthians 14:3 “…the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.”
It’s clear that prophecy is for upbuilding and encouragement.
These verses make clear that God’s Word is already written and that the role of prophecy in the church is for encouragement—not for doctrine. Thus, we can see that religious experiences, i.e. the ones that are prophetic, are not meant for the creation of new meaning in Christianity. However, these experiences can and should be uplifting.
In most cases, these experiences can change our minds, change our hearts and always remind of us of what is already written in the scriptures.
Conclusion…
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