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Counterfeit Spirituality: When Experience Replaces God’s Word
Contending for the Word • Weekly Watch
Host: Dave Jenkins
Show Summary
Counterfeit spirituality is one of the greatest dangers facing the church today—not open rejection of Christ, but spirituality that sounds Christian while quietly redefining how we know God, hear God, and obey God.
In this Weekly Watch episode, Dave Jenkins explains what counterfeit spirituality is, why it is so appealing right now, and how Christians must respond biblically by testing the spirits and staying anchored to the sufficiency of God’s Word.
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Key Scriptures
- 1 John 4:1
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
- John 14:15
- Luke 24:27
Episode Highlights
- What counterfeit spirituality is: promising closeness to God while bypassing God’s Word.
- Why it is dangerous: experience replaces revelation; feelings replace truth; techniques replace faith.
- Common warning signs: experience treated as unquestionable, discernment framed as unloving, Scripture used selectively.
- Why it appeals: it offers shortcuts—depth without discipline and assurance without obedience.
- How Christians respond: test all things, ask simple questions, and stay grounded in God’s ordinary means of grace.
Full Article
Counterfeit spirituality doesn’t usually deny God. It doesn’t usually deny Jesus. Instead, it quietly redefines spirituality. It promises closeness to God while bypassing the very Word of God. That’s the key.
Scripture warns us about this: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). We are not commanded to celebrate every spiritual surge—we are commanded to test.
Experience replaces revelation, feelings replace truth, techniques replace faith, and outcomes replace obedience. Emotional intensity is not the same as spiritual authenticity. Novelty is not the same thing as faithfulness.
Counterfeit spirituality often shows up when experience is treated as unquestionable—when phrases like “God showed me” or “You can’t judge my experience” become shields against biblical testing. But Scripture never treats experience as final authority. God’s Word tests experience.
Another common mark is when discernment is framed as unloving. Scripture never pits truth against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, and He uses the Word to teach and conform believers to Christ.
Scripture is also used selectively—quoted without explanation, context ignored, and treated as a launching pad rather than the authority. What you do with the Bible reveals what you believe about the Bible.
Counterfeit spirituality appeals to sincere but weary people. It offers shortcuts: depth without discipline, peace without repentance, assurance without obedience, and power without submission.
The biblical response is discernment, not cynicism. Test all things. Hold fast to what is good (1 Thess. 5:21). Stay grounded in God’s Word, prayer, and the local church. God is not silent. Scripture is sufficient. Christ is always enough.
Takeaways / Reflection Questions
- Am I pursuing God through Scripture or through what feels spiritually satisfying?
- Do I test spiritual claims by God’s Word?
- Is repentance present, or minimized?
- Are the ordinary means of grace treasured or neglected?
