Human
emotions play important roles in our lives. This is natural and may be quite
wholesome. But we all realize that sometimes emotions cloud people's thinking,
so they do things they should not. Emotions can be confusing, uncertain, even
dangerous.
The
purpose of this study is to consider the role emotions have in religion and to
consider some ways that emotions cloud people's thinking in religion.
By
"emotions" we mean inner feelings, sensations, moods, and thrills,
such as excitement, anger, fear, sorrow, hate, etc.
Consider
the influence emotions may have and the problems they may cause in some areas
of religion:
I.
Emotions as a Religious Guide
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A. Many
People Accept or Reject Religious Beliefs on the Basis of Emotion.
========================================
They
may believe in a church, preacher, or doctrine, because they "feel
good" about it, regardless of whether or not they have found convincing
evidence that it is true.
Some
almost rebel against the need for study and evidence in religion. They view
faith as a "leap in the dark" based on feelings. A popular song said,
"It can't be wrong when it feels so right." That expresses the
approach some take to determining their religious views.
Consider
some specific examples.
Better-felt-than-told"
religious experiences
***********************************
Some
people had emotional experiences that convinced them they were saved. Maybe
they attended a "revival" with rhythmic music, hypnotic preaching,
clapping, excitement, and people claiming to "feel the Spirit
moving." Perhaps emotional appeals brought them to the "mourner's bench"
where they tried to "pray through."
Or some
may have experienced guilt or some other deep emotional need, and they prayed
to God for help. Then maybe they have heard some religious teaching and assumed
this was God's answer. Maybe they received a deep sense of peace and warmth, so
they just "feel sure" they are saved. Asked to describe this feeling,
they say, "It's better felt than told, but if you ever feel it, you'll
know it." Others have said, "I wouldn't trade this feeling for a
stack of Bibles."
Others
may pray for healing or some other great blessing. Perhaps someone tells them
to "expect a miracle." Maybe they speak sounds they had never spoken
before, so they conclude they "spoke in tongues." This may give a
deep emotional conviction that God has accepted them or that they are "led
by the Spirit" to do certain things.
Some
teachers tell people to pray to know the truth and God will answer in the form
of a feeling of warmth, peace, conviction, etc.
*****************************************************
Some
call this a "burning in the bosom." Such feelings often come
naturally, as when your ball team wins or you meet a pretty girl. But when it
happens after a preacher suggested that you watch for it, people conclude God
is telling them that the teacher and his message were from God, etc. The result
is that beliefs are accepted on the basis of feelings, not evidence.
Strong
emotional appeals are used to justify certain practices, regardless of what the
Scriptures say.
*****************************************************
People
may accept a doctrine because "my dear mother (or other loved one)
believed this, and I just can't believe she is lost." Or some programs and
organizations make emotional appeals for money to help needy people or to save
lost souls, despite the fact the program or organization itself may be corrupt
or unscriptural. Many such examples could be given.
B. Are
Feelings a Reliable Guide in Religion?
===========================
Can we
be sure we are right religiously just because we feel right, or because we
prayed and had an emotional experience?
Are
feelings a reliable guide outside religion?
************************************
All of
us know instances where feelings have led to serious mistakes. Movies, books,
and songs urge people to "follow your heart." The Star Wars
characters said, "Reach out with your feelings," and "What do
your feelings tell you?" It makes good entertainment, but many people who
try it in real life have lived to regret it.
* Young
people "feel sure" they are in love, so they marry on impulse, then
regret it for the rest of their lives.
*
People become afraid and "feel sure" they hear a thief, so they shoot
and kill a family member.
*
Strong emotions may lead to adultery, killing, stealing, and other evils.
Are
these acts right just because our emotions led us to do them?
Where
does God's word say that feelings will show us right from wrong?
*****************************************************
The New
Testament is filled with examples of people who needed to know right from
wrong. Where were such people ever told to trust their feelings or to pray for
a "burning in the bosom" to tell them whether a church or belief is
right or wrong?
2
Timothy 3:16,17 - The Scriptures provide us to "all good works." If
we ought to trust our feelings to tell us right from wrong, then the Bible
should say so. Where does it say this?
If this
approach is good, why do people who use it end up contradicting one another?
*****************************************************
When
questioned, Mormons, Pentecostals, Catholics, Baptists, and Charismatics often
tell about their emotional experiences. They may tell how they prayed to know
what was right or had an experience that gave them peace and assurance that
they were right. There is not a nickel's worth of difference in their stories
that would convince you which one believes the truth. Yet they thoroughly
contradict one another and many believe the others are wrong. Do the feelings
really prove they are all pleasing to God?
1
Corinthians 1:10-13 - God rebukes religious division and contradictions. Yet
such division is inevitable if we follow our feelings, because feelings vary so
much from person to person and from time to time.
Following
feelings to guide us in religion results in division, but God condemns
division. Therefore, God does not want us to follow our feelings in religion!
[1 Cor.
14:33; John 17:20,21; Ephesians 4:3-6; Galatians 5:19-21]
How do
you know which feelings come from God and which come from Satan?
*****************************************************
2
Corinthians 11:13-15 - Satan is a deceiver, liar, and counterfeiter. Everyone
knows that Satan and evil may inspire feelings like anger, hate, etc. So why
can't they inspire us to feel sure certain doctrines are true, when really they
are not true? (2 Cor. 11:3; Matthew 24:24).
I read
of a Buddhist monk who felt he should have other monks kick him down a flight
of over 250 stairs. They did. Afterward he said he "felt a great sense of
peace with God." Did his feelings prove God was pleased with him? Should
we all do the same?
Hosts
of other people tell experiences that led them to "feel sure" they
were right, but their practices thoroughly contradict the Bible. How do you
know when a feeling does or does not really tell you God's will? How can you be
sure your feeling is really from God?
The
Bible expressly teaches us to control our feelings, not vice-versa.
*****************************************************
Some
emotions we are told to control are:
Fear -
2 Timothy 1:7 (cf. Joshua 1:9; Revelation 2:10)
Anger -
James 1:19,20 (cf. Proverbs 16:32; Matthew 5:22)
Hatred
(1 John 3:15; 4:20)
Love (1
John 2:15-17; 1 Timothy 6:10; 2 Timothy 3:2-4)
Joy (1
Corinthians 13:6)
These
emotions are not necessarily bad, but they can lead to serious error if we let
them control us. If we cannot trust these emotions to guide us, how can we
trust any emotions? How could we know which to trust and which not to trust?
The
Bible specifically warns that the feelings of our hearts may lead us into
error.
Jeremiah
17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things and is exceedingly corrupt. Who
can know it? Would God use something so unreliable to lead us to truth? [Matt.
15:18-20; Prov. 4:23]
Proverbs
14:12 - There is a way that seems right to man, but the end thereof are the
ways of death. How can this be harmonized with the idea that "it can't be
wrong if it feels so right"?
Proverbs
28:26 - He who trusts in his own heart is a fool. Why? Because the urgings of
the heart are unreliable and often lead to error! Poets may say to "follow
your heart." But the Bible confirms what we all really know: trusting your
feelings can lead to tragic error.
Acts
26:9 - Saul of Tarsus really thought that he ought to do many things contrary
to Jesus. He felt sure he was right. But he was really the chief of sinners (1
Timothy 1:12-15).
Jeremiah
10:23 - Proper guidance in how to live is not found inside man. It comes from
outside man. Clearly we cannot expect to find assurance of truth in our
feelings.
Emotions
are neither good nor bad of themselves, but God never intended for them to
guide us or to reveal what is good or bad. We should control them, not let them
control us. They are followers, not leaders. To follow them is to get the
"cart before the horse."
To
believe that we can know right from wrong by praying for a feeling or by
following our emotions is to pervert the purpose of feelings and to expose
ourselves to all sorts of false practices.
(Study
also Matthew 7:21-23 and 2 Corinthians 10:18.)
C. What
Guide Can Tell Us What Is True in Religion?
================================
If we
cannot know right from wrong by following our feelings, how can we know? It was
exactly to meet this need that God gave us the Bible, the Scriptures.
Consider
these passages:
********************
Romans
10:17 - Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Faith does not
come by feelings or by praying for emotional experiences.
Psalms
119:105 - God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. The Bible
(not feelings) shows to us the proper way to go. (Cf. Psalm 19:7-11.)
Acts
17:2,3 - How did the apostles convince people what is right or wrong? Did they
say to pray for a feeling of peace and assurance? Did they arrange emotional
meetings with exciting music, shouting, clapping, and prayers at the mourners'
bench? No. They just reasoned with people from the Scriptures! (See also Acts
28:23; 18:28; 17:17; 18:4,19; 19:8,9; 24:25.)
1 Peter
3:15 - We too should persuade people, not by telling them to follow their
emotions, but by giving them reasons: evidence from God's word.
John
20:29-31 - The Scriptures were written to provide the evidence people need in
order to believe and be saved. Bible writers did miracles to prove their
message was from God, but now their message and eyewitness testimony of their
miracles is recorded in Scripture. So we do not need to see miracles today; we
believe on the basis of the testimony in the written word.
Acts
17:11 - To know whether or not some teaching is true, we should search the
Scriptures daily, not pray for an emotional experience.
Galatians
1:8,9; 1 John 4:1,6; 2 John 9-11 - Many false prophets are in the world. How do
we know who speaks the truth? Not by feelings, but by comparing what men teach
to the true gospel recorded in the New Testament.
2
Timothy 3:13-17 - The Scriptures are the guide God provided so we can avoid
being deceived. What we need is, not an emotional experience, but a knowledge
of the Scriptures that teach, correct, instruct, and provide us to all good
works. (Cf. 4:1-4.)
1 John
2:3-6 - How can we know whether we know God and are in fellowship with Him? Not
by emotions, but by whether or not we keep His commands. And the commands are
recorded in the Scriptures - 1 Corinthians 14:37 (cf. 1 John 3:7-10).
This is
why the Bible so frequently tells us to study diligently and meditate on God's
word - 2 Timothy 2:15; Joshua 1:7,8; John 8:31,32; Psalm 1:1,2;
119:11,42-48,97-99. People go into error, not because they lack an emotional
experience, but because they lack knowledge of the Scriptures (Matthew 22:29;
Romans 10:1-3; Hosea 4:6).
When
people rely on emotions, they often end up in error because emotions are
fallible and changing. The Scriptures, however, are infallible and can never be
wrong (John 17:17; Psalm 119:128; 33:4; 19:8; Romans 3:4). But we must study
the Bible diligently with an honest heart, or we will misunderstand it and
still be wrong.
Someone
may point out that we should pray for wisdom and knowledge (James 1:5-8;
Colossians 1:9,10).
*****************************************************
True,
the passages do say to pray for wisdom. What they don't say is to pray for a
"burning in the bosom" or a feeling! To conclude that a prayer for
wisdom will be answered by a feeling is to assume what is nowhere taught in
Scripture and in fact contradicts the many passages we have studied.
In
order to properly understand Bible teaching, we must consider other passages
about the subject (Acts 3:22,23; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 4:5-7). Specifically,
to understand how God answers prayer for wisdom, we must remember that God
answers prayer only if we pray according to His will (1 John 5:14; Matthew
26:36-46).
To
illustrate, the Bible says to pray for bread (Matthew 6:11), but other passages
says we must work for food (2 Thessalonians 3:8-10). This shows that the way
God answers a prayer for food, is to help us obtain a job so we can work for
it.
Likewise,
God will answer a prayer for wisdom and knowledge in accordance with His will,
not contrary to it. But we have already learned what His will says. It says that
the truth is revealed in the Scriptures, and in order to learn what is true we
must study. So the prayer for bread is answered when we work, and the prayer
for wisdom is answered when we study God's word. To pray for God to tell us
right from wrong by a feeling, would be an unscriptural prayer.
So the
Scriptures are our God-given guide in religion. If we trust our emotions to
show us right from wrong, we pervert the purpose of emotions and show a lack of
faith in the Bible.
II.
Emotions and Worship
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A. Many
Churches Design Their Worship to Excite Emotions.
====================================
People
often mistake emotional feelings for true spiritual-mindedness. When they get
excited, they "feel close to God" or claim they "feel the Spirit
moving." Some people will only attend churches where they get this
emotional "high." So some churches appeal to such thinking by
deliberately arranging activities that provoke excitement and emotional
stimulation. They intentionally use such emotionalism to draw crowds. Consider
some examples:
Beautiful
cathedrals with fancy artwork to create a "mood" that people enjoy
Exciting
preachers with dramatic eloquence or dynamic speaking rhythm that arouses and
excites
Thrilling
music with instruments and special singing groups or with hypnotic rhythms that
arouse, excite, entertain, and "move the audience" (emotionally)
External
rituals such as lighting candles and dimming lights to create a mood
"Tongue-speaking"
and "healing testimonials" that excite people emotionally - Often it
is the emotions involved that lead people to desire these gifts, regardless of
what the Bible says about the true purpose and use of the gifts (1 Corinthians
12-14).
Clapping,
shouting, continual "Amens" and "Praise the Lord" - Such
activities are often deliberately used by preachers to stir up emotions and
excitement.
Some
people think these activities are highly "spiritual," but honest
observation shows that they are just natural emotions, which appeal to man's
carnal, physical desire for excitement and thrills. They are not truly
spiritual at all, but are mere externals. They motivate people by means of
emotional excitement very similar to what attracts people to ball games, rock
concerts, and pictures of pretty girls. People seek "a good time,"
enjoying the mood and excitement. But excitement does not equal spirituality.
Outside
religion, such desires are often used to lead people to participate in immoral
conduct. When done in the name of religion, such motivations often lead to
unscriptural beliefs and practices, which are justified as being the will of
God but which really do nothing but satisfy fleshly desires.
Is God
really pleased by such motivation in worship?
B. What
Is the Purpose of Worship?
======================
The
primary purpose of worship is to honor and praise God.
************************************************
Revelation
4:9-11 - We worship in order to give God honor, glory, and thanks.
Hebrews
13:15 - We "offer the sacrifice of praise to God..., the fruit of our lips
giving thanks to his name."
Isaiah
55:8,9; Luke 16:15 - But what pleases us and what pleases God are often two
entirely different things. We must determine what we do in worship, then,
according to what God wants, regardless of whether or not it excites us or
gives us enjoyment.
Sometimes
people say, "I just don't get anything out of worship," meaning that
it does not please them like they expect it to. But this is no excuse for
failing to worship, or for changing the worship so that it does please us. The
purpose of worship is to please God, not to please the worshipers. We should
participate, not for the feeling we "get," but for the honor we can
give to God.
(See
also 1 Chron. 29:10-13; Neh. 9:5,6; Psalm 148).
Another
purpose for worship is to teach people God's will and to encourage them to obey
it.
*****************************************************
Hebrews
10:24,25 - We assemble to "provoke one another to love and good
works" and to "exhort one another." Note that it does not say to
provoke one another to excitement and a "good time."
Colossians
3:16 - We sing to "teach and admonish one another" as well as to
express praise to God.
2
Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 - Scriptural teaching may, at times, rebuke
people and lead them to sorrow for sin. This may not be enjoyable or pleasing
to the people, but it is still an essential part of worship.
(See
also Acts 20:7; 11:26; 1 Corinthians 14:19-26; 1 Thessalonians 2:4).
To be
sure our worship accomplishes these purposes, we must practice only what is
authorized in God's word.
*****************************************************
Matthew
15:9 - Worship based on human invention is vain. We must avoid things that
people invent or choose to participate in, either because of human wisdom or
because of human feelings.
Colossians
3:17 - Everything we do must be in Jesus' name (by His authority).
2 John
9; Galatians 1:8,9 - We are separated from God if we participate in any
practice that cannot be found in God's word.
So we
should not design acts of worship or choose to participate in them simply or
primarily because they give people a certain feeling or emotion. We must
determine what we practice or participate in wholly on the basis of what God's
word says to do.
Now
when Christians worship as God instructs, they surely will often experience
emotions. This is good. But again the point is that we must control our
emotions, not let them control our decisions about what we do.
All
people have emotions. But emotions are cyclical. People have highs and lows.
Some go way high and then way low. Others vary relatively little. But everyone
has times when we are emotionally up and times we are down or "blue."
If the purpose or success of worship were to be measured by our emotions, there
would be no standard for how to worship or what constituted acceptable worship,
because it would vary so much.
So the
standard God set is an absolute one, not determined by our emotions. We must
choose to do what God says to do, motivated by our devotion and trust toward
Him, regardless of what our emotions would encourage us to do. As we obey God
in this way, we will develop a true and abiding sense of joy, not based on
natural thrills or artificial excitement, but based on our conviction that we
have pleased God according to His will. This is true spirituality.
(See
also Phil. 4:4; Psa. 122:1; 1 Chron. 16:29-31.)
C. Do
We Convey a Message that We Mean and People Can Understand?
============================================
When
emotions are the emphasis, many things may be done that excite and thrill,
regardless of whether or not they are reasonable or easily understood. For
example, instruments, clapping, shouting, and strong musical rhythms arouse
feelings, but convey no understandable message. Continual repetition of
"Amen," and "Praise the Lord" may lead to excitement with
no thought of the meaning of the expressions.
"Tongue-speaking,"
as practiced today, never of itself conveys an understandable message, and
often no effort is made to "interpret." Some preachers preach with a
sing-song, hypnotic rhythm, often interrupted by interjections from the
audience, to produce excitement with little emphasis on the meaning of the
message.
Consider
these passages:
********************
Mark
7:14; Ephesians 5:17 - The intent of our teaching should be to convey a message
that people can understand (see also Colossians 1:9; Ephesians 3:3-5).
Nehemiah
8:8 - The Levites taught Israel by reading God's law and then giving the sense
so as to cause people to understand.
Acts
17:2,17; 18:4,19,28 - Faithful teachers taught people by reasoning with them.
While emotions may have been produced as a side effect, they were never the
main emphasis. People's convictions must be based on evidence and on the
meaning or content of the message, not on emotion. (See also Acts 19:8,9;
24:25; 28:23; etc.)
1
Corinthians 14 - This chapter discusses spiritual gifts in the age when they
existed, prior to the completion of the Scriptures ("that which is
perfect" - cf. 1 Cor. 13:8-13 to James 1:25; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; etc.).
However, the principles discussed would apply to all things done in worship assemblies
(vv 26,40). All is to be done for the purpose of edifying by means of conveying
an understandable message (vv 6,9,12,19,26).
Specifically,
singing and praying must be understandable (vv 15-17). Unbelievers will not be
persuaded and converted unless they hear a message they can understand (vv
23-25). God is not the author of confusion (v33), so worship must be decent and
orderly (v40).
When
they emphasize emotions, people depart from proper concern for an
understandable message. Much of what is done is confusing at best or even
completely incapable of being understood. The emphasis is on feeling, not on
reasoning and understanding. This is clearly rebuked in 1 Corinthians 14.
Specifically
consider phrases like "Praise the Lord" and "Amen."
***************************************************
Surely
such expressions have a proper place in a Christian's vocabulary. But consider:
Matthew
6:7 - Jesus taught His disciples to not use "vain repetitions." Vain
repetition refers to repeating words or phrases without seriously considering
the meaning. We are just mouthing words. In their desire to stir up emotions,
some preachers and audiences repeat "amen" and "praise the
Lord" so often that they become vain repetitions.
I have
heard audiences "amen" a preacher so much that they said it even when
he made completely meaningless statements. One preacher got tangled in the
microphone cord so he made some insignificant comment about the cord, and
several people said "Amen"!
I have
talked with charismatic folks who used the phrase "Praise the Lord"
for everything. We would discuss a practice they participated in, and I would
give a Scripture to show why I believed they were wrong. Even when they could
not answer or explain their practice in harmony with the passage, they said,
"Oh well. Praise the Lord!" Surely these expressions have lost their
true meaning to these people. They are "vain repetitions."
"Amen"
("so be it") is used Scripturally at the end of prayers (1
Corinthians 14:16; Matthew 6:13), at the end of songs (Psalm 41:13; 72:19;
etc.), or at the end of a book or sermon (Matthew 28:20; Romans 16:27; 2
Corinthians 13:14; etc.). It is sometimes used when there is a logical break in
thought in a lesson (Romans 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; Ephesians 3:21; etc.).
But
never in the Bible is "amen" used in ways that repeatedly interrupt
the train of thought, even in the middle of sentences. Such a practice hinders
the ability of the speaker to reason with the audience. And continual use of
the word causes it to lose its significance and become a "vain
repetition."
The
word "Amen" is used less than 80 times in the whole Bible (King James
Version). That amounts to about one occurrence in every twenty pages! Yet some
preachers and audiences use it that often in ten minutes of a sermon!
Conclusion
=======
We have
learned in this study that we should avoid the abuse of emotions. At the same
time, we should not overreact by concluding that all expression of emotion is
bad and should be suppressed. The truth is that emotions can be good, but only
when we are in control so that we are doing what is scriptural, understandable,
and edifying.
It is
only good and natural for Christians to feel and express emotions as they serve
God. But we must not let emotions determine for us what we will believe or what
we will do in worship, nor may we let them hinder people from understanding the
meaning of what is done in worship.
What is
the basis for your beliefs and your practices in worship?
Note:
We have many other articles on our web site related to this topic. If you would
like to have further information, please note the links below.
*****************************************************
(C)
Copyright 1979, 2000, 2009, David E. Pratte - You are free to keep copies of this material on computer and/or in printed form for your own further study. If you have any other requests about the use of this material, please read our copyright guidelines at www.gospelway.com/copyrite.htm.
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