If you were to categorize religious history in the United States in the 20^th-21^st century, you might divide churches into two categories:  Word and Spirit.  The “word” churches would be those who were committed to basing everything they did on careful biblical exegesis. They would emphasize Bible study as a primary duty of every believer and would bring an academic approach to their study with strict guidelines for interpretation. Every experience would be lined up against scripture and if that experience was not seen on the pages of the Bible in the correct dispensation, it would likely be discarded as unbiblical which means it was not of God.

Then there would be the “Spirit” churches that emphasize experiences with the Holy Spirit above strict interpretations of scripture. As  “word” churches seek after an increase in biblical knowledge, “Spirit” churches tend to seek after more experiences with God. “Word” churches emphasize truth, while “Spirit” churches emphasize power. Neither camp trusts one another to a great degree.  “Word” churches see “Spirit” churches as poor students of the Bible who are subject to emotionalism and subjective experiences (deception) that often do not line up with what they see in scripture. “Spirit” churches tend to view the “word” camp as being tied to intellectualism and a powerless faith because they are not Spirit-filled.

So who has it right?  Which of these approaches is correct?  I think they are both flying airplanes with one wing or at least one wing much shorter than the other which is usually not a good idea. I believe that committed believers should be seeking to know God’s word intimately while at the same time seeking Spirit driven experiences with him.  I believe we should go after both truth and the power of God with all of our hearts.

Experiences must be measured against biblical truth.  Does the experience violate any biblical principles, the character of God, or any clear commands?  If it does, jettison it.  But truth without experience is a two-dimensional walk with God rather than a three-dimensional walk.  Experiences inform us of a fresh and relevant way to understand scripture and make us aware of how God is manifesting himself in this season of history.

Experience without a template of solid biblical truth is like playing in an NFL football game with no rules, no game plan, and no sidelines.  The outcome is probably painful chaos. But biblical truth without experiencing a supernatural God is like filling blackboards with X’s and O’s while never going out on the field to see if your game plan actually works.  It’s like running the ball without the added dimension of passing. To win you have to know the rules, have a plan, use all your options, and play the game. The rules give you structure while playing the game will give you a new understanding of how and when the rules actually apply and a modified game plan for the second half.

Scripture emphasizes both. As you read the gospels you recognize how often Jesus quotes the Torah and uses the words, “It is written.”  He was totally committed to the idea that the written word of God was essential and eternal. But, he also knew that while  the Father would never contradict his word, he would often contradict man’s understanding of his word.  How often did experience give believers the capacity to understand the actual meaning of those written passages?

For instance, Joel 2:28-29 was, for the most part, indiscernible to Torah scholars until Pentecost.  It was the supernatural experiences of Pentecost that gave meaning and understanding to Joel’s prophecy – the written word. The experience informed the meaning of the scriptures in a new but very biblical way.  When Philip encountered the Ethiopian treasurer in Acts 8, the man was pouring over Messianic passages in Isaiah but could not understand the meaning.  It was only after men had experienced the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Christ that those passages took on meaning. In the shadow of those experiences, Philip could fully explain the passages.

Jesus taught about healing, faith, and deliverance over and over as he preached the gospel of the kingdom while his disciples listened and watched. But when he sent them out alone to do the same, they returned with a much deeper understanding of the teachings they had received. Even with the Spirit of God in him, Peter never understood the biblical texts that spoke of all nations coming to God. Only after he experienced God through a vision of unclean animals being set before him and only after he experienced a “new thing” not “seen” in scripture before – Gentiles speaking in tongues (Acts 10) – did he understood that those passages referred to the Gentiles and that God was accepting all men in Christ.

Charismatic believers need the written word to establish parameters around experiences but evangelical believers need supernatural experiences to truly understand the passages regarding the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit. Surely if we can trust the Spirit to lead us into all truth, we should not only understand that truth as proper biblical interpretation but also as true experiences with God that give us deeper and more accurate understanding of the scriptures.

Paul, at one time will warn us not to go beyond that which is written (1Cor.4:6) while at another time will warn of those who have a form of godliness but deny the power of that godliness (2Tim. 3:5).  He will applaud the Bereans who searched the scriptures daily to test Paul’s teachings (Acts 17:11) while also commanding us to eagerly desire supernatural spiritual gifts – especially prophecy (1Cor.14:1) and not to forbid speaking in tongues (1Cor.14:39).  Word and Spirit seem to be bound together as a necessary duo for fully understanding God’s will and God’s ways.

Serious study along with a pursuit of supernatural experiences with God seem to be the two-winged biblical pattern for truly knowing God as we trust the Spirit to lead us in both arenas. Study without experiencing God risks becoming Pharisees who only thought they understood the scriptures.  Spirit without the Word creates energy without form and direction which produces either nothing of value  or an unpredictable explosion.  I encourage you to go after both Word and Spirit relentlessly.  You will never truly know one without the other.