Introduction
* Emotions are powerful when it is expressed rightly and freely.
* <Ecc 3:4>: There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.
* A spiritual person knows how to express himself rightly and clearly through his emotions.
* To a certain extent, our emotions tell us that we’re worshipping God.
* Because of sin, we fall into “Emotionalism” – Arguably one of the greatest enemies of the church today.
* It can be self-deceptive or used as a manipulated skill.
* Wrong teachings and doctrines are even invented through what one felt strongly in his emotions.
<Psalm 12:1-3>
Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.
<Proverbs 5:3-4>
For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.
<2 Timothy 4:3>
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Why is emotionalism on the rise?
1) Because there is a demand for it.
– No one can be healthy and normal faking or suppressing his emotions.
2) Man increasing sees everything centered upon emotions.
– Giving rise to wrong practices in the church nowadays.
3) More believers are making judgment based on emotions rather than the careful understanding of God’s word.
– Can end up doing the opposite of God’s will.
– Deceptive emotions can be more dangerous than negative emotions.
How do we deal with emotionalism?
1) Try not to have a knee-jerk reaction to everything that is emotional.
2) Do not use emotions as a condition for fulfilling our Christian obligations (i.e. Obedience).
* <Mat 7:24>: Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
* Christian belief starts from the renewal of our mind, not having great or empowered emotions.
3) Learn to speak the truth in love.
4) Learn to use your emotions well for your own edification.
5) Learn to use your emotions for the gospel (i.e. others’ edification)
