What is modern mysticism in the Church?

Modern mysticism is the practice of treating personal impressions, emotions, or fresh revelations as equal to or greater than Scripture. It often replaces biblical authority with subjective experiences.

Why is testing the spirits important for Christians?

Scripture commands believers to test every spirit (1 John 4:1) because many false teachers and deceptive experiences can appear spiritual but contradict God’s Word. Discernment keeps us grounded in truth.

How can I discern if a spiritual experience is from God?

Compare every teaching, impression, or 'word from God' with Scripture. If it contradicts the Bible, it is not from God. God’s Word is the final authority for all spiritual truth (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

What does the Bible say about feelings and emotions?

The Bible acknowledges emotions, but warns that the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Feelings must be submitted to God’s Word—not used as a compass for truth.

What are practical ways to grow in biblical discernment?

Stay anchored in Scripture, stay in Christian community, test teachings by their fruit, reject secret knowledge claims, and embrace the ordinary means of grace like prayer, worship, and the Word.

Biblical Authority vs. Modern Mysticism: Testing the Spirits

⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 1 min read

Biblical Authority vs. Modern Mysticism: Testing Every Spirit in the Church

🎙️ The Weekly Watch with Dave Jenkins

In this episode of The Weekly Watch, Dave Jenkins explores how emotional experiences, fresh “words,” and modern mysticism are creeping into the Church—challenging biblical authority and confusing many believers. What does it mean to truly test the spirits (1 John 4:1)? How do we discern truth from error in an age of feelings? This episode will equip you to stand firm on the sufficiency of Scripture when spiritual counterfeits sound persuasive and even “Christian.”

🎧 Listen

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🔍 Episode Highlights

The rise of modern mysticism and emotionalism in the Church
Why impressions and feelings are not divine revelation
How to biblically test the spirits (1 John 4:1–3)
5 practical principles for spiritual discernment
Encouragement to cling to Scripture in an age of confusion

📖 Reflection Questions

Do I measure truth by Scripture or by what feels spiritually powerful?
Have I allowed emotionalism or impressions to override biblical truth?
Who in my life helps me test spiritual claims against God’s Word?

📚 Recommended Resources

The Word Matters by Dave Jenkins
Counterfeit Kingdom by Holly Pivec & Doug Geivett
Articles from Doreen Virtue
Christian Answers for the New Age by Marcia Montenegro

Dave Jenkins( Executive Director )

Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.

Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.

He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).

You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.

When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.

Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

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