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 “People
don’t ask for facts in making up their minds. They would
rather have one good, soul-satisfying emotion than a dozen
facts.” (Robert Leavitt)
Without
a doubt, emotions do motivate the masses. Whatever their cause
and whether they be good or bad these strong personal feelings
are intensely powerful movers of men. Emotions have influenced
all; dominated many. As strength is measured by its conquests,
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. Even those who escape
its inordinate influence elsewhere succumb to it here — and
with the worst possible consequences. Truly, emotionalism is a
popular and compelling power in religion; one that needs to be
recognized and reckoned with.
But
this is not to say that all emotion is wrong, or even that it is
wrong in religion. 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 Cor. 7: 10) Are we not to rejoice
and weep with one another? (Rom. 12:15) This sort 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 “seemeth right” (Prov. 14:12).
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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 oft heart 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 one has more
confidence in his feelings than in the word of God. The man who
trusts anything more than what God says insults the
veracity of God!
However,
others honor their feelings in less obvious ways. While God
promises to save only those who do His will (Matt. 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 “everyone
is going to hell except your bunch”, whether one church is as
good as an— other, 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.
All
important decisions, especially those affecting one’s standing
with God, ought to be based on something more substantial than
emotions. Feelings of the moment, no matter how strong, can
never be more trustworthy than God’s word which will judge
all. The slave to emotion cannot be the servant of
Christ. Dan S. Shipley
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