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Counterfeit Spiritual Experiences and the True Gospel
With Doreen Virtue
Contending for the Word Q&A
Spiritual experiences can feel convincing, but feelings cannot establish whether a teaching is true. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Doreen Virtue explains how counterfeit spiritual experiences can draw people away from Scripture and the true gospel of Jesus Christ.Addressing the New Age emphasis on personal experiences, Doreen points listeners to Christ’s finished work and the need to test every spiritual claim by God’s Word.Listen or Watch
Counterfeit Spiritual Experiences and Biblical Authority
False teaching often encourages people to trust their feelings and sensory experiences. An experience may seem comforting or powerful while promoting beliefs that contradict Scripture. Christians must evaluate spiritual claims by God’s Word.The True Gospel Centers on Jesus Christ
Doreen explains that sinners deserve God’s judgment and cannot save themselves. Jesus Christ lived a sinless life, died in the place of sinners, and rose bodily from the dead. Those who trust in Him are forgiven and counted righteous because of His righteousness.The Christian’s hope rests in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. His finished work provides the foundation for salvation and confidence before God.Spiritual Deception Distorts God’s Character
In Matthew 4:1–11, Satan uses Scripture during his temptation of Jesus. Doreen draws attention to the danger of twisting biblical truth, including using the statement that God is love to dismiss His holiness, justice, and judgment.God’s love does not give us permission to ignore sin. We need repentance and faith in Christ, and we must receive what Scripture teaches about God’s character.Test Spiritual Claims by Scripture
Jeremiah 17:9 warns that the heart is deceitful. Our feelings cannot serve as the final authority for truth. Doreen closes by urging listeners to examine experience-based teachings carefully and compare them with Scripture.Faithful discernment directs us to trust Jesus Christ and submit to His Word.Scripture Discussed
- Matthew 4:1–11: Satan’s temptation of Jesus and misuse of Scripture.
- Jeremiah 17:9: The deceitfulness of the human heart.
- 1 John 4:8: God is love.
Doreen Virtue holds a Master’s degree in Biblical & Theological Studies with highest honors from Western Seminary (56 units / 2021), and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University. Prior to being saved by God‘s grace and mercy in 2017, Doreen was a psychotherapist specializing in women’s issues, rated in the top 15 most influential living spiritual teachers by Watkins, and the top selling new age author in the world. She was born and raised in new thought churches which she attended for 33 years, before segueing to new age and Wicca in 1991 while touring with a mind-body-spirit conference organization. Before her salvation, Doreen frequently appeared on Oprah, CNN, The View, Coast to Coast and other liberal secular media. After the Holy Spirit convicted her of her sins, while she read Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Doreen repented and gave her life to Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Doreen has been helping professing Christians to identify and avoid new age and new thought deception. Doreen volunteers in discipling women who’ve been saved out of New Age in a private Facebook group. Doreen was a speaker at the Answers in Genesis 2025 women’s conference at the Ark Encounter. She has been featured on American Gospel 3, American Gospel TV, Daily Wire, Moody Radio, Spillover, Christianity Today, Cultish, New York Magazine, Spiritual Counterfeits Project, Servants of Grace, and other Christian media.
