How much does your personal experiences affect your faith?
- Thread starter tribesman
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
S
To look up after I voted very much without a seconds hesitation to see that red 100% bar that had very much beside it just....wow. I am just wowed and awed to feel the Holy Spirit moving in each and everyone of you that I call my sisters and brothers in Christ. The feeling I have right now...is amazingly beautiful and touched and I feel humbled that we all love our Lord so much. Thank you all for just being you. God Bless.
P
Tribesman, I hesitate to answer without fully understanding what you mean.
For instance, do you mean do I base what I believe about God on my experience?
Or do you mean does God use the experiences of my life to grow my faith?
Sorry if I'm being obtuse, I just want to be certain I am answering what you actually ask.
Thanks!
~ellie
For instance, do you mean do I base what I believe about God on my experience?
Or do you mean does God use the experiences of my life to grow my faith?
Sorry if I'm being obtuse, I just want to be certain I am answering what you actually ask.
Thanks!
~ellie
G
Well, I've chosen "very much" because my personal experiences are my reality and my existence. This being said, it is ultimately my personal experiences with scripture that determine the "line" I perceive in God's word. So while I would like to say I hold scripture as the sovereign control of my faith, I must acknowledge that in my depravity I will likely be swayed by my personal experience.
E
I voted not all all.
My faith is in what Jesus Christ has done for us. I've never waved from believing in Jesus Christ.
-
If the questions were
- how much do my personal choices effect my faith, I'd still have to say not at all.
Faith is rooted in/on Someone outside myself. My personal choices and experiences don't change anything about Jesus has done, or what is written.
- how much do my personal choices effect my sanctification - very much
- how much do my personal experiences effect my perceptions - very much, if I lose sight of Christ and His finished work.
My faith is in what Jesus Christ has done for us. I've never waved from believing in Jesus Christ.
-
If the questions were
- how much do my personal choices effect my faith, I'd still have to say not at all.
Faith is rooted in/on Someone outside myself. My personal choices and experiences don't change anything about Jesus has done, or what is written.
- how much do my personal choices effect my sanctification - very much
- how much do my personal experiences effect my perceptions - very much, if I lose sight of Christ and His finished work.
Last edited:
C
I agree 100% that scripture is indeed the absolute authority and that our experiences, if any, should line up with scripture.
However, I have discovered that a great majority of the church tends to interpret scripture according to their own "experiences". While many like to point the finger at Pentecostals and Charismatics as the guilty party, the truth is that non-charismatics are just as guilty, if not more so, for attempting to interpret scripture according to their own lack of "experiences".
The doctrine of cessationism, the belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer for today, completely contradicts scripture. There is absolutely nothing written in scripture which indicates that anything has changed since the founding of the church at Pentecost and scripture clearly indicates that nothing will change until the literal second coming of Christ once the current Great Commission is fulfilled. Cessationism is but one of many man made doctrines which attempts to either add to or take away from scripture.
Scripture says what it means and means what it says. As believers in Christ, our job is t conform our way of thinking to the biblical standard through the renewing of our minds and the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are to possess the very mind of Christ. Anything less is entirely unbiblical.
However, I have discovered that a great majority of the church tends to interpret scripture according to their own "experiences". While many like to point the finger at Pentecostals and Charismatics as the guilty party, the truth is that non-charismatics are just as guilty, if not more so, for attempting to interpret scripture according to their own lack of "experiences".
The doctrine of cessationism, the belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are no longer for today, completely contradicts scripture. There is absolutely nothing written in scripture which indicates that anything has changed since the founding of the church at Pentecost and scripture clearly indicates that nothing will change until the literal second coming of Christ once the current Great Commission is fulfilled. Cessationism is but one of many man made doctrines which attempts to either add to or take away from scripture.
Scripture says what it means and means what it says. As believers in Christ, our job is t conform our way of thinking to the biblical standard through the renewing of our minds and the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We are to possess the very mind of Christ. Anything less is entirely unbiblical.
Last edited:
C
If you were study church history, the gifts of the Spirit, while on the decline, did indeed continue on into the second and third centuries A.D. The reason for this decline was not because the church had entered into the promised "Millennium" or some other dispensation but rather, because of (1) intense persecution thus the early Church was forced underground and, (2) much error (ie. pagan mysticism) began to be incorporated into the Church as it grew and became dominated by gentiles.
By the time the fourth century rolled around and Constantine decided to make Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, much error was already introduced into the Church through what we now call the "Eastern Orthodox Church". It was though these men (ie. Augustine to name one of many) that Cessationism, Amillennialism and the the worship of Saints was first introduced for they are all sibling doctrines, different components of one larger doctrine which erred heavily in comparrison to first century Christianity.
By the time the fourth century rolled around and Constantine decided to make Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, much error was already introduced into the Church through what we now call the "Eastern Orthodox Church". It was though these men (ie. Augustine to name one of many) that Cessationism, Amillennialism and the the worship of Saints was first introduced for they are all sibling doctrines, different components of one larger doctrine which erred heavily in comparrison to first century Christianity.
Last edited:
G
I fully agree with this post, but I would also say 100% of the church interprets scripture according to their own experiences. It is for this reason that I choose "very much", because I am very much a sinner. If I claim that my faith is fully in line with scripture, then I feel I assert a claim that I fully understand all scripture and the Godhead. This would be a lie, so I cannot say that even though I want to. To that end, my identity as a totally depraved man is the personal experience that affects my faith the most. So when I say very much, I mean very much a sinner.
I wanted to add this because I do not mean my faith is in any way tied to "feelings" or "interpretations", or anything other than..."I'm a sinner and I need a savior" and that is a personal experience first and foremost...a profession of "yes" I believe.
I wanted to add this because I do not mean my faith is in any way tied to "feelings" or "interpretations", or anything other than..."I'm a sinner and I need a savior" and that is a personal experience first and foremost...a profession of "yes" I believe.
Our experiences should have very little effect upon our faith, but many of us walk by faith in what we have experienced instead of the promises of God. Abraham was given a promise and it was years before he experienced the fulfillment of that promise. Abraham was strong in faith and did not stagger at the promise. Faith looks at things that are not as though they were and is the substance of things hoped for. Experience does not validate a promise from God, only faith and hope can do that.
A
How much does your personal experiences affect your faith?
I'm thinking not at all, because my experiences does not influence if I believe in God more or less.
it s my faith which is a gift from God that allow me to understand my personal experience. it is scripture and the Holy Spirit that reveals God's will and purpose for my life.
it does not matter if we weep or rejoice with others, our faith should remain strong despite our own personal experience.
it reminds me of these scriptures:
John 9:1-3
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
your physical existence does not reveal your spiritual state..
I'm thinking not at all, because my experiences does not influence if I believe in God more or less.
it s my faith which is a gift from God that allow me to understand my personal experience. it is scripture and the Holy Spirit that reveals God's will and purpose for my life.
it does not matter if we weep or rejoice with others, our faith should remain strong despite our own personal experience.
it reminds me of these scriptures:
John 9:1-3
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
your physical existence does not reveal your spiritual state..
Last edited by a moderator:
C
My friend, while I will agree that men are indeed depraved, the notion that men are still completely depraved after salvation is but a mere a myth. 2 Peter 1 plainly states that "we have been given all things pertaining to life and Godliness through the divine nature" which is the indwelling Holy Spirit. Once you are saved, the chains (bondage) of sin have been broken and you are free to "walk in the Spirit" for if one abides in the Spirit they need not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Romans 8, Galatians 5).
R
I get what you're saying. You need to have faith in the first place to recognize that an experience is 'of God.'
I agree with that, however I would like to add that our experiences can also have an effect on our faith. We have the natural ability to recognize patterns in this world. We're super good at it. Patterns in personal life experience can lead one to conclude something that may confirm or reject the need for faith. If, in your personal experience, religion is an evil device used by wicked men to prey on the weak, you may see faith as a bad thing as it makes people more susceptible or gullible. But, if in your personal experience, the Bible is wholly useful and can lead even the most awful person to a more compassionate and beneficial way of living, you may see faith as a very good thing.
I think, really, the two things go together. We are a collection of personal experiences. Our faith is a reflection of experience, but also the lens through which we view it.
I agree with that, however I would like to add that our experiences can also have an effect on our faith. We have the natural ability to recognize patterns in this world. We're super good at it. Patterns in personal life experience can lead one to conclude something that may confirm or reject the need for faith. If, in your personal experience, religion is an evil device used by wicked men to prey on the weak, you may see faith as a bad thing as it makes people more susceptible or gullible. But, if in your personal experience, the Bible is wholly useful and can lead even the most awful person to a more compassionate and beneficial way of living, you may see faith as a very good thing.
I think, really, the two things go together. We are a collection of personal experiences. Our faith is a reflection of experience, but also the lens through which we view it.
G
I don't mean to hijack the poll. I have never perceived such a thing as totally depraved man before accepting Christ and then a partly depraved man after accepting Christ. My understanding is that I will be fully depraved in my flesh until I am reunited with Jesus Christ, glorified. I could very well be wrong. Again, this is how my personal experience affects my faith and my total dependency on Him. According to what you are saying with 2 Peter 1, we can live lives 100% free of sin. Maybe I misunderstand you, but it seems you believe scripture says you can live as a man or woman on this earth and never sin? This would be where your faith is affected by your interpretation of scripture as it is different from mine. But I am not going to say my interpretation is right, but just that I am a sinner most identified by that erroneous experience. Anyway...it all starts going around in circles...which is why I my faith's anchor is my experience that I am a sinner.