Scripture Reading: Acts 26:9-11
Emotions, not Emotionalism
Intro.
1. Emotions express our convictions & attitudes; whether right or wrong.
2. Emotions can deceive, Acts 26:9-11. We’ve told denominationalists this for years! (Feel saved vs. plan of salvation)
3. Two extremes regarding emotions among Christians:
a. Removal of all emotions, lest we be charged with emotionalism.
b. A push for more emotional responses in life & worship toward Christ that has led to unauthorized attitudes, doctrines & actions.
4. What is the role of emotions within the life of faith (2 Cor. 5:7)? How do legitimate emotions (in serving Christ) occur? What do we need to guard against when dealing with our emotions and our Christianity?
I. THE ROLE OF EMOTIONS IN THE CHRISTIAN’S LIFE.
A. Emotions do not Determine True Doctrine, 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
1. Revealed truth sets doctrine. (Faith from hearing, Rom. 10:17.)
2. Understanding from what is written, 2 Tim. 2:7.
B. Emotions do not Determine our Life of Faith, 2 Cor. 5:7.
1. Walk of faith is founded upon truth, not sight (appearance, senses).
2. cf. Obedience, 2 Cor. 10:3-6. (Matt. 7:21)
3. Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23: Our senses & emotions often deceive us.
-“I feel, therefore I know” vs. “I know, therefore I feel.”
C. Worthy Emotions Grow out of Convictions that are Based Upon Revealed Truth.
-(When emotions grow out of the truth, they help promote & prompt godly action, not merely external demonstrations.)
1. cf. Godly sorrow, 2 Cor. 7:10.
a. Comes from conviction of sin, Acts 2:37 (Peter, Matt. 26:75).
b. Result: Repentance, Ac 2:42; 2 Cor. 7:10 (Peter, Lk. 22:31-32).
2. cf. Joy & gladness, Phil. 4:4 (Jno. 16:22-23, 33)
a. Comes from conviction that all blessings are obtained in Christ, Eph. 1:3 (Matt. 5:3-12).
b. Result: Forbearance, no anxiety, prayer & peace, Phil. 4:5-7. (A way of life, not hyped-up demonstrations of emotion.)
3. cf. Provoked & grieved over the sins of others, Mk. 3:5.
a. Comes from knowing the value of the soul & the effect of sin, Matt. 16:26; Rom. 6:23.
b. Result: Compassionate, diligent evangelism, Matt. 9:36-38.
D. Emotions are Good & Beneficial when Produced by a Conviction that is Based upon Truth.
1. However, when the message is defective, emotions become misplaced & unreliable; cf. Gen. 37:33-35.
2. Emotions based on truth are the expressions of one’s convictions, attitudes & life of faith, cf. Acts 8:39.
II. THE RULE OF EMOTIONS: EMOTIONALISM.
A. When Emotions Rule Us, the Authority of God’s Revealed Word Becomes Clouded & Minimized:
1. Areas of doctrine:
a. Plan of salvation vs. “feel saved.” (Raise your hand, etc.)
b. Good people still lost vs. “feel they must be saved.” (Acts 11:14)
c. Filled w/ HS: Emotion vs. relationship of fellowship (1 Jno. 3:24).
-Eph. 5:17-18: Relationship via obeying truth.
d. Personal experiences (testimonies, witnessing, Acts 1:8) vs. being drawn by the gospel to salvation, 2 Ths. 2:14.
2. Areas of worship:
a. Emotional, external displays become the focus of worship (cf. dimmed lights, candles, swaying, clapping, etc.).
b. Worship is reverential homage to God & is based on truth (Jno. 4:24), not emotional displays which minimize the content of worship, while emphasizing the feeling of worship!
3. Areas of evangelism:
a. “Meet people at the level of their felt need” vs. Meeting sinners with their real need -- Salvation from sin through the gospel of Christ!
b. Woman at the well, John 4:
1) 4:7: She felt she needed water.
2) 4:10, 13-15: She really needed living water.
3) 4:16-18: Jesus confronted her with her sin. Her true need was to repent & receive the “water” (salvation) he, as Messiah, gives, 4:41-42.
c. “Must be an emotional tie w/ person before you can convert” vs. trusting that the truth of God will convert the lost.
1) Zacchaeus (Lk. 19:5-9): Saved because of repentance, not a prior friendship of Jesus.
2) Acts 2: No prior emotional ties, yet about 3,000 saved.
Conclusion
1. We must keep emotions in their proper place:
a. Let emotions result from the power of truth in your life (Acts 8:39).
b. Guard against letting our emotions rule us (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 9:25).
2. Obey the gospel & walk by faith, not by sight; never losing heart, but daily renewed in our faith (2 Cor. 5:7; 4:16-18).