A personal Biblical and Theological view, By Darrell Pollard

In all my years of pursuing God, I’ve walked through some high-highs and some low-lows. I sometimes joke like the Farmers Insurance guy: “I know a thing or two, because I’ve seen a thing or two.”

I don’t claim to have it all figured out. My daily walk is in complete dependence on God’s Word and the guidance of His Spirit. I rest in Paul’s humble reminder in 1 Corinthians 8:1–2 (NKJV): “Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.”

God has rescued me from the false teachings of extreme legalism, extreme Pentecostalism, and even a form of dead Calvinism. I believe He desires that we all find rest in the balance of who He truly is, and who He declares us to be in Him.

This reflection is written with both Charismatics and Calvinists in mind. These two communities, though committed to Christ, often find themselves in opposite errors. Charismatics are tempted to elevate experience above Scripture, while Calvinists are tempted to cling to Scripture while neglecting the Spirit’s empowerment. Both groups love God, but both risk falling into imbalance. The goal here is not to condemn, but to call all believers to the biblical center — worshipping and walking with God in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24).

The Christian life is like walking a narrow road. On one side is the ditch of exalting experience above God’s Word. On the other side is the ditch of clinging to the Word while neglecting the Spirit’s power. The safe path is not in either ditch, but in walking faithfully down the middle — worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth.

Balancing the Christian Faith: Spirit and Truth

Part 1: Experience-Driven Theology vs. Scripture-Driven Theology

This is a significant issue that helps explain why some Charismatics find it difficult to embrace the authority of Scripture and the structure of systematic theology. When their personal experiences are not confirmed by the Bible, they tend to dismiss even the clearest and most essential truths. A good example is Charles Ryrie’s Basic Theology, which is often disregarded simply because it does not affirm the idea of a “second baptism” or validate certain spiritual gifts.

1. Why Charismatics Often Reject Foundational Truth

Charismatics often build theology top-down from experience instead of bottom-up from Scripture. They begin with what they feel or believe they’ve experienced—tongues, visions, “second baptisms”—and then search Scripture for support. If theology doesn’t fit their tradition, they dismiss it. The experiential becomes the test of truth rather than the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

2. The Heart of the Issue: Authority

Scripture vs. Experience: Foundational truth rests on the sufficiency of Scripture. Charismatics often elevate experience to equal or higher authority.

One Baptism (Eph. 4:5): The Spirit baptizes once at conversion, but “second blessing” theology creates the illusion that something extra is needed.

Gifts vs. the Giver: The focus shifts from Christ and the Spirit’s sovereign work to chasing manifestations.

3. Why It’s “All or Nothing”

When works like Basic Theology leave out what they hold sacred (second baptism, tongues), they reject the whole work. It’s not about Ryrie—it’s about the refusal to submit cherished beliefs to Scripture. I know personally, because I once stood there, and I would have argued and defended it against Jesus Himself.

4. What This Teaches Us

Foundational truth is not fragile. Its refusal to bend to novelty proves its sturdiness.

Patience in discipleship. Only the Spirit can break walls of tradition — I am living proof (John 16:13).

Keep pointing to Scripture. We must remain anchored in passages like 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:5; 2 Pet. 1:3.

A Personal Reflection: Isn’t it striking — and I can say this because I’ve been there — that many Charismatics, in their confusing and inconsistent theology, will gladly elevate quotes from men like Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Charles Stanley, Adrian Rogers, or even Billy Graham from their pulpits. They admire their words, retell their stories, and use them to stir emotion in their sermons.

Yet, if you hand them a book of systematic theology — like Charles Ryrie’s Basic Theology — and walk them through its foundation of grace and truth, they will often reject it outright. Why? Because when they don’t find teachings like the “second baptism” or the emphasis on certain spiritual gifts, they conclude the entire work is untrustworthy.

It’s a picture of confusion. They’ll quote the voices of faithful men, but dismiss the very doctrines those men stood on. They’ll embrace the inspiration, but reject the foundation. And that, to me, shows just how easily experience-driven theology drifts from clarity into contradiction.

Key Question: Who or what has the final authority in your faith — the Word of God or your experiences?

Part 2: Calvinist Fear vs. Biblical Freedom in the Spirit

On the other end of the spectrum, many in the Calvinist community embrace the authority of Scripture and value theologians like Ryrie. Yet, in reaction to charismatic abuses, they often shy away from experiencing the Spirit’s empowerment. Words like power, anointing, filling carry suspicion, leaving many Christians cautious, even fearful, of the Spirit’s work in daily life.

1. The Issue of Authority

Calvinist Fear: The authority of Scripture is rightly upheld. But in guarding truth, some react so strongly against error that they neglect the Spirit’s ongoing, active work in the believer’s life.

Biblical Freedom: Scripture and the Spirit are not enemies, nor are they identical. The Spirit is the One who inspired the Word (2 Pet. 1:21), but He also continues to illuminate and empower believers to live it out (John 14:26; Acts 1:8). Without Him, we may know the text but lack the power to obey it.

2. The Experience of the Spirit

Calvinist Fear: Avoids emphasis on the Spirit’s power to guard against excess. But this can result in a Christianity of knowledge without expectancy.

Biblical Freedom: Scripture commands us to walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18), and live in His power (Acts 1:8).

3. Worship and Daily Life

Calvinist Fear: Worship can drift into being purely intellectual — accurate in doctrine, careful in form, yet lacking heart engagement. In daily life, the Christian may lean heavily on discipline and knowledge while quietly neglecting dependence on the Spirit’s strength.

Biblical Freedom: True worship is both in spirit and in truth. The Spirit takes the truth of Scripture and sets it aflame in our hearts, stirring real affection for Christ. In daily life, He empowers our obedience beyond what discipline alone can produce, even helping us when we are weak or do not know how to pray (Rom. 8:26–27).

4. Foundation for Growth

Calvinist Fear: Growth is reduced to theological depth alone.

Biblical Freedom: Growth is both doctrinal and experiential — truth and Spirit together (2 Cor. 3:5–6).

Key Question: Has fear of misuse kept you from seeking the Spirit’s filling and power?

Conclusion: The Balance of Spirit and Truth

Jesus declared, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). This isn’t a suggestion, but the divine balance for the Christian life.

Balance is the biblical road between two extremes:

1. Charismatics err by exalting experience above Scripture.

2. Calvinists sometimes err by exalting Scripture without room for the Spirit’s power.

Biblical faith embraces both: Scripture as our unshakable foundation, and the Spirit as our present power.

When we live by the authority of Scripture, we stand on unshakable truth. When we live in dependency on the Spirit, we walk in God’s power. The Spirit was sent to us as Helper — to illuminate God’s Word, to strengthen us in weakness, and to empower us for God’s calling and purpose in this life, and to prepare us for the life to come. To miss either side is to fall into a ditch: truth without Spirit becomes dry and lifeless; Spirit without truth becomes unstable and misleading. But when held together, Spirit and Truth form the balance of authentic Christian faith — the narrow road that leads to fruitful worship, effective ministry, and eternal joy in Christ.