Required reading
The Fundamentals edited by R. A. Torrey (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 23 (The testimony of Christian experience).
My summary
This week we learn about the importance of Christian experience from Mullins.
Firstly Mullins teaches us about the relationship of experience and philosophy. He explains that Christian experience 'is the supplemental link to complete philosophy. Philosophy is man reaching up towards God. Christian experience is the effect of God reaching down to man.'
Secondly we learn that Christian experience sheds light on all the unique claims of Christianity including:
(i) deity of Christ;
(ii) the power of God;
(iii) Christ.
Thirdly we hear that the Christian experience transfers the whole problem of Christian evidences to the sphere of practical life.
What grabbed me
I liked this point: 'Thus Christ acts upon the soul in experience as God and manifests all the power of God. Such a life proves Christ's claim again because intellectual difficulties die in the light of this experience. The mysteries are not all solved. But the difficulties cease to be relevant. Miracles do not trouble him now, because he has a sample of the miracle working power in his own soul. Hume's argument that miracles cannot be true because contrary to experience is exactly reversed and the Christian says miracles are true because they accord precisely with his experience. '
Although it is not a final authority, a regenerate life is a powerful argument.
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 24 (A personal testimony) and 25 (A personal testimony).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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