Experimental Christianity

Ge 30:27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

Jacob had served Laban for 7 years in return for Rachael’s hand in marriage which at the end of the first agreement he still waited for Rachael. Now, Jacob asked Laban to honor his agreement and bless the marriage between the two. However, Laban’s response to Jacob’s request was to ask for 7 more years seeing that in his words, I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake. Laban had learned by observable experience that Jacob’s presence had been beneficial and did not want to let him go.

Solomon declares: Ecc 1:16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

Solomon, the wisest man of his day found that through God’s blessings; great wealth and property; he had by experience gained both wisdom and knowledge.

Is there any better way to learn about life than by experience? Isn’t it true that “experience is the best teacher?” Isn’t it also true that when you learn something by experience you better appreciate what you have learned?

Today’s preaching either focuses on filling the heart rather than the head; or what may be worse is preaching that aims for the head at the expense of the heart.

This is true especially it appears, in “reformed” or so-called “conservative,” “evangelical” churches. It seems that the main interest of some folks is  on learning and little on application. There must be a balance. I do not mean to forward a postulation that sets one over the other. Learning applied is a beautiful thing.

The Reformers and Puritans stressed “experimental” preaching. The term means to try, test, prove, or better, put to the test. This was preaching that encouraged people to find or know their religion by experience. Carried further “experimental” religion means “knowledge gained by experience.” Read some of Spurgeon’s sermons…they are replete with application and experiential Christianity.

Experimental preaching must be in concert with teaching to bring joy to the heart of man. This is not to say that doctrinal preaching and/or teaching is void of joy, could there by any better source of our joy that to understand the doctrines of grace? but doctrine if it is to bring joy to the heart, must be applied as well as learned. Again, there must be a balance. Isn’t the whole counsel of God supposed to both teach us to learn and to enjoy.

Too much learning and not enough application is not a good thing! Too much application and not enough learning is empty also.

You might be surprised at the number of families who visit churches once, never to be seen again because they were not fed enough doctrine. Some even have told me that to preach on ordinances, or on the church, or evangelism was not preaching Jesus Christ, when in fact it is Christ that ordained that these things must be preached to all nations and people groups everywhere – we are to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all things he himself has taught. Others have come only to hear strong appeals for this or that; booming rhetoric that excites the emotions, and left feeling they had “been to church.” I have attended churches where tears and laughter were in abundance, yet wondering what I had learned and determining that I had fun but not learned any strong biblical truth to apply to my life – no experiencing Christianity here!

Christians need to experiment with their faith. We need to test it, to prove it, certainly to learn truth, but also to determine how what we have heard can be applied to our lives. We need to feel our faith working. Faithful preaching with applied learning brings joy to the heart.

Jesus said that it would be “His” joy and His peace that he would give to us and not a temporary type of joy and fragile peace that is offered by the world. It is a joy that is birthed by peace. Jesus said: Jn 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Jn 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Jn 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. Jn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I am not proposing we lay aside the things that become sound doctrine (Titus 2:1), nor that we close our mouths to exhort one another with sound doctrine (2 Ti 4:3-4) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

I am proposing that we combine sound doctrine with reason and understanding thereby welcoming joy and peace to enter in.

I am not proposing that we give up sound doctrine for sign gifts such as “tongues speaking.” But that we learn to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:14-15) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

I will say, however, that doctrine alone does not produce experience…it only provides the opportunity for it. A preacher cannot make this application, only the Holy Spirit can do that, however in preaching that appeals to the mind can also appeal to the heart, can’t it? This is no more than to say that Law alone does not offer salvation, but it does lead men to Jesus Christ.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being happy in our faith. As an example, Jesus said that by doing what we learn from him will produce happiness (Jn 13:13-17) Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

(1 Pe 3:14-15) But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye : and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

(1 Pe 4:14) If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

I want to explore with you this morning four things regarding “Experimental Christianity.”

1. Why Experimental Christianity is vital.

2. How we enter into an Experimental Christianity.

3. What we must know to Experience our Christianity.

4. What it is to Experience our Christianity. .

I. WHY EXPERIMENTAL CHRISTIANITY IS VITAL.

Learning alone can give intellectual satisfaction, but without understanding how to turn knowledge into action; action into application; application into experience; experience into joy and peace, the Christian will soon grow dull and unresponsive to preaching.

II. HOW WE ENTER INTO AN EXPERIMENTAL CHRISTIANITY

The Puritans knew that preaching had to produce both objective and subjective truth so that the hearer could by testing, proving, and put to the test its content to make them stronger and more vibrant as they live out their Christian lives.

Robert Burns, known as the “Ploughman’s Poet” said, The principle on which experimental religion rests is simply this, the Christianity should not only be known, and understood, and believed, but also felt, and enjoyed, and practically applied.

We enter into an experimental Christianity by preaching that deals in the realities of today and not of a different time. It must bring the truth of Scripture to the level of today’s ability to reason and understand and not talk in theatrical or Rhetorical speech. A sermon without application is a sermon wasted.

We enter into an experimental Christianity through preaching that instructs us in truth, then tells us what the truth means and what we should do with the truth as it is given.

Preaching should not only tell us to walk a worthy walk but explain how to walk a worthy walk and what it will mean to us and others when we do.

Preaching should tell us to be obedient to the Word of God and at the same time tell us why so we will want to be obedient without coercion.

Experimental preaching should address the hopes and fears of today’s Christian and help him/her cope and respond in a positive manner.

III. WHAT WE MUST KNOW TO EXPERIENCE OUR CHRISTIANITY

· The peace the world gives is temporary and transitory; it comes and goes because it is based on things and other people.

· The peace that Christ offers is peace of mind as to our relationship with God. The love of God is beyond our ability to define but not beyond our ability to experience it.

· That Christianity is not simply an exercise in self-denial, but the fulfillment of joy in self-denial. The principle which Christ considered most important  was the principle of self-denial applied by  example. (Mt 16:24-26) If any man will come after me, let him deny himself , and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

IV. WHAT IT IS TO EXPERIENCE OUR CHRISTIANITY

Experimental means “to test in order to discover an effect or a law.” It is one thing to believe strongly in a Christian principle, such as loving one’s neighbor. It is quite another thing to actually “love” one’s neighbor. We must be shown in the Scriptures what it is to love another person.

A theory is something believed but not proven. A theory is only proven by experiment. Such is Christianity a theory if not proven by experiment. We can espouse Christian virtue all day long to no effect to the hearer if we are not willing to be virtuous ourselves.

Arminian churches offer a type of experiential Christianity. Preaching a works/grace salvation provides a sense of personal worth and achievement that pleases the senses and makes one happy.

True Christianity that is experienced is a Christianity that one believes with his head and practices with his heart – this is true happiness.

Mainline (so-called) churches such as Catholic and Southern Baptists are in the top 25 churches in America that are growing if not by much. Catholic churches are up almost one and a half percent over last year. Southern Baptists, while still ranked second, are down by about a quarter of a percent. Methodist churches still hold the number three spot, but they are down as well by almost one percent.

However, if there was to be an actual head count of people active and regular in these churches, we may find a much smaller number in church activity.

The churches that are growing according to one source are: the Catholic church, in the number one place with a growth of 1.49 percent; The church of Latter Day Saints; the Church of God in Christ remains the same at 5.5 million people; the Assemblies of God are up over one and a quarter percent or 2.9 million souls.

Every one of these church groups are works related and appeal either to fear, tradition, or works of the flesh. None could be considered strong in the Doctrines of Grace, in fact have never heard about them or at best have heard of them but have no idea as to what they are.

Churches that attract people today are churches that are made up of so-called baby boomers who, according to the report in the Kansas City Star (Feb. 20, 2010), “went off to college and confronted the “Beatles,” and rock-n-roll, and a post-Vietnam distrust of bureaucracies, and a kind of an anti-traditionalist youth movement.”

The report cited says further that “Baby-boomers who are also Christians…have been drawn more to churches that are more informal” (I take that to mean no ties, suits, but T-shirts or open neck collared and blue jeans), “less institutional and more rock-n-rollish.

Then there is  a new designated group in the offing: “The New Immigrant (not “emerging” which is a story in itself)  Church.” These churches are filled with immigrants who have, according to the Star account, helped combat the effects of secularization (?) and have led to a membership boost of new Christian communities.

V. MARKS OF GRACE IN THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

· We find our joy in God through Jesus Christ — Ro 5:11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. We understand the Atonement and this gives us joy.

· We have access to God by faith. To have access is to know that we can come boldly to the throne of grace because of the Son of God.

· We are able to find joy even in tribulation. Ro 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

· We know that we have been justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. We can experience liberty in God and be loosed from the bondage of guilt and death in which we were held in chains. Ro 5:9- Much more then, being now justified by his blood , we shall be saved from wrath through him.

· We know that God loves us and that through his Son we have been reconciled to our heavenly Father. Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

· This brings us back to the joy factor. Romans 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Experimental Christianity does not mean we are to flit from one place to another, trying this one then the other always looking but never finding that religion that will satisfy my soul and meet my “felt needs.”

Other systems of beliefs offer a life that is merely the beginning of the end, while Christianity understood and experienced is simply the end of the beginning.

In the final analysis, however, to enjoy an experimental Christianity is to experience Jesus Christ – To walk as he walked, to love as he loved, to live a live of self-denial, and to enjoy life as he enjoyed it. Jesus was full of grace and truth. Let us experience Him, let Jesus live in us, and let us experience our Christianity.

Joel Beeke in his article on this subject says in regard our “great need,” When God’s Word is preached experimentally, the Holy Spirit uses it to transform men, women, and children, and nations. Such preaching transforms because it corresponds to the vital experience of the Children of God…we desperately need a return to faithful, Reformed experiential preaching today — Amen to that.