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Counterfeit Spiritual Experiences: How Satan Leads People Away from Christ
Counterfeit spiritual experiences can feel powerful, convincing, and even helpful. But an experience that appears to bring healing or relief may still lead someone away from Jesus Christ and the true gospel.
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In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Doreen Virtue explains how practices such as Reiki, qigong, shamanic healing, Christian Science, manifestation, and the law of attraction can encourage people to rely on themselves, spiritual forces, or supposed universal power rather than the Lord.
Doreen also addresses the mistaken belief that God always promises immediate physical healing. Scripture teaches that God may use suffering to deepen our dependence upon Him and make us more like Christ. As 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 warns, Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, so Christians must never judge a spiritual practice merely by whether it appears to work.
Every spiritual teaching, experience, and claimed miracle must be prayerfully tested by the Word of God so believers are not led away from Christ and the truth of the gospel.
Key Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 11:14–15; 2 Corinthians 1:9; Exodus 7:10–12; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21–22.
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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.
