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Experimental Religion

Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by Earth Wind and Fire, Jun 23, 2011.

  1. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    The older Reformed writers used the word "Experimental" to indicate that we not only read and confess what Scripture teaches, but also are enabled by the Holy Spirit in our own experience to prove and enter into those truths.

    Is this still a prevalent theological thinking process today?
     
  2. Dr. Walter

    Dr. Walter New Member

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    I always thought they used "experiential" to distinguish salvation that did not involve personal existence, experience and application (election, predestination, representation, etc.) from that aspect of salvation which involved personal existence and application (justification, sanctification, etc.)?
     
  3. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Apparently not from what I'm reading. It was very personal! Ive been to Congregational churches where they still stand up & give testimony how the Lord is working in ones life. Also in reading about my ancestors in the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church. ML-J indicated Methodism (in the early days) was essentially experimental & that these folks "all realized that religion primarily & essentially something personal" he goes on about it that it was all prompted by an intense desire to know God. It started with meetings between George Whitfield & Howell Harris. Whitfield called it the "Felt" Christ & you can hear it in William Williams hymns, 'Guide me, O thou great Jehovah' & ' O'er the gloomy hills of darkness'
     
  4. Dr. Walter

    Dr. Walter New Member

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    You are right when it comes to Methodists. That is their idea of experiential religion.
     
  5. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Walter, when I am referring to "Methodists" though, I am referring to the Calvinistic branch & not the Wesley/ Arminian branch. The Methodism in Wales was entirely Calvinistic. I think you understand that though. :thumbs:

    I'm guessing that because your the only one responding that it is not recognized in Baptist circles (And that is why I put the post in "General Discussion" thinking that other denoms would recognize & post commentary).....looks like a sleeper:sleep:
     
  6. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    It's experiential.

    Can you quote a sentence from the book that says "experimental"?
     
  7. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    I dont understand your question.
     
  8. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    You said:

    Do you have a quote where they used the word "experimental" as you say?

    I think you are mixing it up with "experiential" therefore I asked for a reference, a sentence from a reformed writing you can quote in here that quoted them using that word.

    What I am saying is you are the only saying they used "experimental" and I think it's really "experiential" that they used. So I was looking for some proof, other than your memory.
     
  9. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Actually both terms are being used.....

    From ML-J Welsh Calvinist Methodist sermon

    "Methodism is essentially experimental or experiential religion and a way of life. I think that is an adequate definition of it. What produced this? How did this ever come into being? The answer is that it was born of a number of things. The first was the realization that religion is primarily and essentially something personal. This was the thing that came to all of them. They all became aware of their own personal sinfulness; they underwent conviction of sin, and it was an agonizing process. But they all experienced this terrible need of forgiveness. This became a burden to them - both parties. Then there was also a great desire for a knowledge of God - a direct knowledge of God: not to believe things about God - they had already got that - but the desire to know God. 'This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent' (John 17:3). All this led on then to a desire for assurance of sins forgiven."
     
  10. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Well here I stand corrected. After examining the above paragraph, ML-J WAS discussing both Methodism-Calvinistic & Methodism-Arminian
     
  11. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    Martyn Lloyd-Jones? Who is ML-J?
     
  12. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    My apology for not being explicit....yes, Martyn Lloyd-Jones
     
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