Dangers of Unbiblical Spiritual Experiences in Christianity
The concept of spiritual experiences is deeply rooted in Christian tradition, but not all experiences claiming to be spiritual are biblically grounded. The Bible warns against unbiblical spiritual experiences that can lead to apostasy, false spiritualism, and destructive behavior. In Hebrews 6:4-8, the author warns about those who have fallen away from Christ and the church, emphasizing that such apostasy results in devastating judgment [2].
One of the dangers of unbiblical spiritual experiences is the potential for false spiritualism. The apostle Paul warns against this in 1 Timothy 4:3, where he describes individuals who, under the guise of spiritual perfection, forbid marriage and advocate for abstaining from certain foods. This kind of asceticism is rooted in a "spurious spiritualism" that distorts the true nature of Christian perfection [5].
The Bible also cautions against experiences that lead to a disregard for the holiness and reverence due to God. Encounters with divine holiness are inherently dangerous, as seen in the biblical accounts of individuals who encountered God and lived to tell about it, often with a sense of awe and reverence (Genesis 32:30; Deuteronomy 5:4-5) [1]. Unbiblical spiritual experiences can lead to a lack of reverence and a casual attitude towards the sacred.
Furthermore, unbiblical spiritual experiences can result in a false sense of security or a misguided confidence. Thomas's absence from the disciples when Jesus appeared to them led to his unbelief, which became "utterly unreasonable" [3]. This highlights the importance of communal spiritual practices and the dangers of isolating oneself from the body of believers.
The New Testament emphasizes the importance of being spiritually joined to Christ and the consequences of violating this union. Believers' bodies are considered parts of Christ, and engaging in sinful behavior, such as physical union with a prostitute, is a violation of this spiritual union (1 Corinthians 6:15-17) [6]. The body of believers is also considered the temple of God, and destructive behavior, such as jealousy and divisiveness, can have terrible consequences (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) [7].
The biblical warnings against unbiblical spiritual experiences are echoed in the warnings against bringing "strangers" into the sanctuary, referring to unregenerate individuals who are alienated from divine and spiritual things (Ezekiel 44:7) [4]. This highlights the need for discernment and vigilance in evaluating spiritual experiences.
Sources
- Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 6:22: 6:22 Encounters with divine holiness are inherently dangerous (cp. Gen 32:30; Deut 5:4-5).”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:4: 6:4-8 This passage, one of the most difficult in the New Testament, gives a harsh warning about those who have left the Christian faith. Those who have fallen away from Christ and the church are like those who fell in the wilderness (3:15-19): The lack of faith shown in such apostasy results in devastating judgment (cp. 10:26-31). 6:4 In Greek, the word impossible begins the sentence for emphasis—it absolutely cannot happen (see also 6:18; 10:4; 11:6). • They were once enlightened when they “first learned about Christ” (see 10:32 and corresponding study note). • T”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 20:24: Thomas - called Didymus - See this name explained, Joh 11:16 (note). Was not with them - And, by absenting himself from the company of the disciples, he lost this precious opportunity of seeing and hearing Christ; and of receiving (at this time) the inestimable blessing of the Holy Ghost. Where two or three are assembled in the name of Christ, he is in the midst of them. Christ had said this before: Thomas should have remembered it, and not have forsaken the company of the disciples. What is the consequence? - His unbelief becomes 1st. Utterly unreasonable. Ten of hi”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 44:7: In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers,.... Unregenerate men, who are in a state of alienation and estrangement to divine and spiritual things: strangers to God; to the true knowledge of him in Christ; to the fear and love of God; to the true grace of God in conversion; and to communion with him: strangers to Christ, to his person and offices; to the way of peace, life, and salvation by him; to his righteousness; to faith in him, love of him, and fellowship with him: strangers to the Spirit; to his person, to regeneration and sanctification by him; to th”
- 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:3: Sensuality leads to false spiritualism. Their own inward impurity is reflected in their eyes in the world without them, and hence their asceticism (Tit 1:14-15) [WIESINGER]. By a spurious spiritualism (Ti2 2:18), which made moral perfection consist in abstinence from outward things, they pretended to attain to a higher perfection. Mat 19:10-12 (compare Co1 7:8, Co1 7:26, Co1 7:38) gave a seeming handle to their "forbidding marriage" (contrast Ti1 5:14); and the Old Testament distinction as to clean and unclean, gave a pretext for teaching to "abstain”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 3:16: 3:16-17 Christians must be very careful, both in what they teach and in how they relate to one another, because the body of believers is the temple of God, the home of the Spirit of God who lives in them (cp. Eph 2:21-22), and God’s temple is holy (see 1 Cor 1:2). There are terrible consequences for anyone who destroys God’s temple by such things as jealousy, argumentativeness, and divisiveness (see 3:3-4).”