Sep 248 min read

How Can We Understand the Role of Experience in Defending the Christian Faith?

Introduction: Defining Experiential Apologetics

Experiential apologetics is a method of defending the Christian faith that appeals to personal and collective Christian experience as evidence for the truth of Christianity. This approach contrasts sharply with other apologetic systems, such as classical apologetics or evidential apologetics, which rely more heavily on rational arguments, historical data, and external evidences. Experiential apologetics focuses on the inward, personal experiences of believers as a means of demonstrating the validity of the Christian faith.

It is important to recognize that experiential apologetics has a wide range of expressions. Some proponents emphasize mystical encounters with God, while others may point to significant personal transformations or conversion experiences. Regardless of the specific form, this approach holds that religious experiences can provide direct, self-evident proof of God’s existence and Christian truth, at least for the individual who has the experience. As we examine this approach in more detail, it will be necessary to explore both the strengths and weaknesses of appealing to experience as an apologetic tool.

BATTLE PLANS: A Game Plan for Answering Objections to the Christian Faith

Buy Now

Proponents of Experiential Apologetics

Throughout history, various Christian thinkers have emphasized the importance of religious experience in supporting the truth claims of Christianity. Some of these thinkers fall into the category of mystics, while others come from more evangelical traditions that stress personal conversion and subjective experience.

In the medieval period, individuals like Meister Eckhart focused on Christian mysticism, though his theology is considered by many to be unorthodox. Eckhart’s work emphasizes a direct, unmediated encounter with God that transcends reason and rational thought. However, the issue with Eckhart's theology—and much of medieval mysticism—is that it often ventured away from sound biblical teaching and relied too heavily on subjective experience rather than the revealed Word of God (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

In more recent history, the existentialist philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, often regarded as the father of existentialism, placed a high value on religious experience, arguing that Christian truth is something to be lived and personally encountered rather than merely intellectualized. Kierkegaard’s emphasis on the subjective nature of faith points to a deeply personal relationship with God. However, like mysticism, this approach runs the risk of detaching faith from objective, verifiable truth. We must remember that the Christian faith is rooted in historical events, as Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15:14: "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain."

In modern evangelicalism, figures such as Jonathan Edwards and Elton Trueblood have made contributions to the discussion of experiential apologetics. Edwards, for example, in his classic work A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, sought to defend the legitimacy of Christian experience while also emphasizing the need for reason and discernment. Edwards was careful to point out that not all religious experiences are genuine, but those that are, reflect a true encounter with God. This aligns with Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:16, where He states, "You will recognize them by their fruits." In other words, true religious experiences should manifest in a transformed life.

DIFFICULTIES IN THE BIBLE: Alleged Errors and Contradictions

Buy Now

Types of Experiential Apologetics

Experiential apologetics can be divided into two broad categories: general religious experience and special religious experience. Each of these plays a unique role in defending Christian truth, though each has its limitations.

General Religious Experience

General religious experience refers to experiences that are commonly shared across different religious traditions. These include a sense of awe or wonder in the presence of creation, a feeling of dependency on a higher power, or an innate sense of morality. As noted by proponents like Paul Tillich, even atheists or secular humanists experience moments of what he called "ultimate commitment." Sigmund Freud, a vocal atheist, even admitted to a feeling of "absolute dependence" at times, which he recognized as similar to religious feelings described by Christians.

While such experiences may suggest the existence of something beyond the material world, they fall short of proving the unique claims of Christianity. The Bible acknowledges that people have an awareness of God’s existence, even if they suppress it. Paul writes in Romans 1:19-20: "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." This passage teaches that the created world itself reveals God’s existence, and people are without excuse for rejecting Him. However, this general revelation does not lead to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, which requires the special revelation of Scripture (Romans 10:17).

General religious experiences, therefore, may point to the existence of a transcendent being but cannot verify the specific claims of Christianity. They may provide a basis for dialogue with skeptics or adherents of other religions, but they do not prove the deity of Christ or the truth of the gospel.

Special Religious Experience

Special religious experiences, by contrast, are specific to particular individuals or groups and are often regarded as a more powerful demonstration of Christian truth. These experiences include conversion experiences, personal encounters with God, and mystical experiences. Unlike general experiences, which may be shared by people of various faiths, special experiences are often unique to the Christian faith or are interpreted through a Christian lens.

Jonathan Edwards is perhaps the most well-known advocate of special religious experience. In his works, Edwards emphasized the transformative nature of Christian conversion and argued that such experiences were evidence of God’s work in an individual’s life. He writes that true conversion results in a "new sense of the heart," which leads to a profound love for God and an increased awareness of His presence in everyday life.

The Bible itself highlights the importance of personal experience in faith. Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is perhaps one of the most famous examples of a life-changing encounter with Christ (Acts 9:3-6). Yet, Paul did not rely on this experience alone to defend his apostleship or the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, he appeals to the historical facts of Jesus’ death and resurrection as the foundation of the Christian faith, not his personal experience alone. This serves as a reminder that while personal experience is important, it must be grounded in the objective truths of Scripture.

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS: Answering the Tough Questions: Evidence and Reason in ...

Buy Now

Evaluating Experiential Apologetics

While experiential apologetics has its merits, it is not without significant limitations. It is important to examine both the positive and negative aspects of relying on experience to defend the Christian faith.

Positive Aspects of Experiential Apologetics

One of the strengths of experiential apologetics is that it emphasizes the personal and relational aspects of the Christian faith. Christianity is not merely a set of intellectual beliefs but a living relationship with the Creator. As William James observed, at the heart of religious experience is a desire for a satisfying and transcendent relationship with God. The Bible speaks to this personal relationship in numerous places. For example, in John 17:3, Jesus says, "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Additionally, experiential apologetics rightly acknowledges that all truth must be experienced at some level. Knowledge is not merely intellectual assent; it involves personal awareness and understanding. This is especially true in the case of religious truth. As James 1:22-25 warns, it is not enough to hear the Word of God; we must also act on it. A person’s experience of the transforming power of the gospel can provide compelling evidence of the reality of God’s work in the world.

Finally, experiential apologetics can be particularly effective in pastoral contexts, where individuals are seeking comfort, healing, or meaning in their lives. When someone has experienced the peace of God in a time of crisis, as described in Philippians 4:7—"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"—they may find personal assurance in their faith that is difficult to dismiss.

Negative Aspects of Experiential Apologetics

Despite its strengths, experiential apologetics faces several challenges that cannot be ignored. One of the primary criticisms is that experience is inherently subjective. What may be a profound religious experience for one person may not be shared or even understood by another. This makes it difficult to use personal experience as an objective proof of Christianity’s truth claims.

Additionally, religious experiences are not self-authenticating. Just because someone has a powerful emotional or spiritual experience does not necessarily mean that their interpretation of that experience is correct. For example, a person may feel a sense of peace or transcendence during a religious ritual, but this does not mean that the ritual itself has divine approval. The Bible warns against false experiences and urges believers to test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1).

Jonathan Edwards recognized this issue and argued that true religious experiences must be accompanied by sound doctrine and a transformed life. Merely having an emotional experience is not sufficient; the experience must align with the truths of Scripture and lead to genuine spiritual growth. The fruit of the experience is essential, as Jesus taught in Matthew 7:16: "You will recognize them by their fruits."

Another challenge to experiential apologetics is the possibility of competing interpretations of the same experience. Two individuals may have similar mystical or religious experiences, but interpret them in vastly different ways depending on their worldview. For example, a Christian might interpret an encounter with God as a confirmation of their faith, while a Buddhist or Hindu might see the same experience as evidence of their own spiritual journey. Without an objective standard to evaluate these experiences, it is difficult to claim that one interpretation is more valid than another.

The Bible provides a clear objective standard for evaluating religious experiences. In Deuteronomy 18:22, God instructs His people to test the words of a prophet: "When a prophet speaks in the name of Jehovah, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that Jehovah has not spoken." This principle can be applied to religious experiences as well. If an experience contradicts the clear teachings of Scripture, it cannot be from God.

REASON MEETS FAITH: Addressing and Refuting Atheism's Challenges to Christianity

Buy Now

The Necessity of Objective Truth

While religious experience can provide personal assurance of faith, it must be grounded in objective truth. Christianity is not a religion of blind faith or mystical experiences detached from reality. The foundation of the Christian faith is the historical death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospels. Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 15:17: "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins."

Therefore, any experiential apologetic must be tested against the objective truth of Scripture. Personal experiences can serve as a supplement to the historical and rational evidence for Christianity, but they cannot replace it. The Bible, as the inspired Word of God, provides the ultimate standard by which all experiences must be evaluated (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).