Being Slaves To Emotions

There’s no doubt that emotions motivate the masses. In fact, we see impressive evidence of just how strong emotions can be when such things as truth, right, justice, and good judgment are often made subordinate to their prompting. But perhaps nowhere is the narcotic-like effect of emotionalism more prominent or persuasive than in the spiritual realm.

From the example of our Savior, we can see that not all emotion is wrong (cf. John 11:35; Luke 19:41). What sincere person can read of the crucifixion of Christ and not be moved? Is not the godly sorrow associated with repentance a strong feeling of remorse for having sinned against God? (2 Corinthians 7:10; cf. Matthew 26:75) Are we not to "rejoice" and "weep" with one another? (Romans 12:15). This kind of emotion is altogether right and appropriate, being expressible within the bounds of divine truth.

But there is a subtle and dangerous kind of emotionalism which leads many in the broad way that “seems right” (Proverbs 14:12). These are the feelings that men come to trust and rely on — even above the word of God. This attitude is well-exemplified in the often heard expression, “I wouldn’t trade the feeling in my heart for all the Bibles in the world!” — which is just another way of saying that an individual has more confidence in his feelings than in the word of God. The man who trusts in anything more than what God says, insults the veracity of God (cf. 1 Peter 4:11).

However, others honor their feelings in less obvious ways. While God promises to save only those who "do His will" (Matthew 7:21), many persist in feeling that sincerity and good intentions are sufficient. With many, the matter of eternal torment becomes another emotional issue in which the word of God is made subordinate to feelings. Questions dealing with the religion of parents, whether one is “judging” another, whether one church is as good as another, or whether the Lord’s church can scripturally support an orphan’s home, can easily become more emotional than scriptural issues — and the big problem with this is that not everyone appreciates scriptural answers to emotional arguments.

Dear reader, in affecting our standing with God, our decisions should be based on something more substantial than simply emotions alone. Feelings of the moment, no matter how strong, can never be more trustworthy than God’s word which will judge all (John 12:48). Those who are enslaved to emotions alone, cannot be the servant of Christ.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets