Which should come first: doctrine or experience?
Doctrine should come first. Believers must be doctrinally grounded by faith, and then work toward experience—not the other way around. Experience does not exercise faith. The proper order is doctrine first, with experience following, rather than emphasizing experience as the foundation.
Les explains that in the context of the spiritual armor, Paul used the Roman soldier as an example. The armor was only for a forward direction, never retreat. He notes some liberals criticized 'Onward, Christian Soldiers' as too militant, and suggests the church may have lost that confrontational edge. Then he addresses faith: today there is a lack of faith and an emphasis on experience. Experience does not exercise faith. Instead, we must get doctrinally grounded by our faith, and then work toward experience, not the other way around. This principle is drawn from Israel under the law, but by application it teaches a tremendous lesson.
More Questions
Which should come first, doctrinal grounding through faith or experience?
Christians must first become doctrinally grounded by their faith and only then work toward experience; the order cannot be reversed.