Emotional Experience Is No Substitute

[Amisk]

"Emotional experience is no substitute for the knowledge of the true and living Lord Jesus. He can be known only by obedience to His Word. That is the ultimate test of truth." ---W. Philip Keller ***** Predators in Our Pulpits ( A book that every Christian must read.)

[Zecryphon]

"Emotional experience is no substitute for the knowledge of the true and living Lord Jesus. He can be known only by obedience to His Word. That is the ultimate test of truth." ---W. Philip Keller ***** Predators in Our Pulpits ( A book that every Christian must read.)
Amsik,

The only book a Christian must read is the Bible. The sad fact about the Bible is that the number of copies sold, far outnumbers the number of copies actually read.

[Siderite]

I think emotional experience and knowledge work hand in hand. I am often wary about such comments as they have the tendency to appear pharisitical (is that the correct spelling?).

Simple having knowledge and following the word of God without emotion (love) is not enough.

[Janester]

I can agree that emotional experience can be misleading. However, I've experienced great joy at being obedient even when it took everything in me to actually do it.....the joy coming from realizing in the end that He was providing the desire, changing my heart and will, and even the obedience was Him doing it through me.

I've laughed heartily many times afterward at just how amazing it is to think I'm the one who is 'obedient'.....when all along my seeking Him has led to Him doing the work in me. I realize that I can't take credit for any of it and the more these 'experiences' happen, the easily it becomes to trust Him to do the work in me as I seek to know His will for my life and follow Him.

When I read a book by a fellow follower of Christ, I realize it's their particular experience and it's great that it brough them into a closer relationship with Him.. However, their experience may not be mine and I can't attempt to get their experience.

[linssue55]

"Emotional experience is no substitute for the knowledge of the true and living Lord Jesus. He can be known only by obedience to His Word. That is the ultimate test of truth." ---W. Philip Keller ***** Predators in Our Pulpits ( A book that every Christian must read.)Emotion is one of the christians downfall (when used wrong). The Lord speaks of KNOWLEDGE all of the time, through knowledge we grow and honor our precious Lord.

[JTLauder]

Indeed knowledge is important. But so are emotions. They go hand-in-hand.

Without emotions, knowledge is empty. Without knowledge, emotions are chaotic. Knowledge needs emotions for practical application. Emotions need knowledge to understand them so they don't control us.

Prime example of this was the Pharisees in the Bible--people full of the law (knowledge) but had no compassion (emotions).

But Jesus held all the knowledge of both the law and God, but was not afraid to exhibit his emotions--he wept when his friend died, got angry with opportunist vendors, and had compassion for those in need.

[BereanTodd]

Emotions are very important, and I am sadened for those Christians who react so strongly to some of the charismatic movement that they can never get off their hands in church, they can never get deeply involved in pouring out their heart to God.

Emotions I feel are an important part of the Christian walk. The problem comes when emotions, or experiences are used as the rule of faith, or when they are used to validate things that are not Scriptural. Our only rule and guide for faith is the word of God. If an emotional experience (or even a miracle - remember we are warned of false antichrists who will come with wonders and powers) is used to validate something unscriptural then there is a problem.

Our goal should be to be like the Bereans (hence my screen name) in Acts 17, who accepted the apostles teachings freely, but they checked the Scriptures daily to see if they were true or not.

We may FEEL something, we may even witness miracles and amazing things - but if it does not line up with the word of God then it is to be thrown out.

[linssue55]

Emotions........



Philippians 4:10 Now, I have received much inner happiness by means of the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your concern or thinking for me; indeed, you also were thinking about me, but you lacked the opportunity to express it.


The Greek verb for concern or care is phroneo, which does not have an emotional connotation; it connotes a system of thinking rather than feeling. This verb is used in the realm of thought in other passages such as Mat 16:23 ("your mind"), Act 28:22 ("your viewpoint"), Rom 12:3 ("your thoughts"), Rom 14:6 ("your observation"), Phi 3:15 ("your attitude").


It is important to note the difference between what you feel and what you think, especially since your feelings and emotions can deceive and misguide you. Compassion and concern have to do with the thought content of the soul, Col 3:12. All virtue come from the right lobe of the soul, where you do your thinking-not from your feelings.


Emotion is part of the essence of the soul, which resides in the brain. The emotions are designed to respond to what is in the mentality of the soul. But the way we feel is never the issue in the spiritual life. Emotion is the "female" part of the soul, designed to respond to the right lobe, the "male" part of the soul. Pro 14:30 says, "A sound mind makes for a robust [vigorous] body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones."
In the divine order, the emotion is to respond to the thoughts in the heart, as the right woman is to respond to her right man. What is inside the right lobe of the soul should dominate emotion, so that emotion acts as an appreciator and responder, rather than reacting. Allowing one's feelings and emotions to rule will result in disobedience and rebellion against the Lord Jesus Christ.


While certain parts of the physical anatomy are used to represent parts of the soul in the Bible, it is not difficult to distinguish the essence of the soul from the physiological anatomy of the body. The Greek word kardia means "heart" and refers to the area of thoughts in the soul. In the kardia resides the frame of reference, memory center, viewpoint, norms and standards, and doctrine. None of these exist in the emotion, which is designed only to respond to these things. Emotions are stimuli and energy for action, and therefore must be regarded as a form of human power, Rom 8:5-8, "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."


Divine power and human power are mutually exclusive. The omnipotence of God is the spiritual energy for the spiritual life that God has provided. Our feelings must not dictate our spiritual life; we must rely on divine power and not the human power of emotion, Heb 12:3.


Most practices found in Christianity today are related to some system of human improvement and emotional stimulation rather than the omnipotence of God. There is great human power in personality, emotional appeals, various forms of human leadership, and physical appearance, but these things are not the power of God. God the Holy Spirit and Bible doctrine are the only energy whereby we are able to live a life that glorifies the Lord. If we are not led by the Spirit, we are functioning under a form of human energy, either emotion or arrogance. Now the Holy Spirit is "quenched" or "grieved" because we are not using His divine energy. Human power and emotion are a cheap substitute for divine power, and Christians get bored, weary, and frustrated when they try to live the spiritual life in human power. Many Christians live the Christian life under the human energy of emotionalism, which is pseudo-spirituality.


God uses prepared men and women for His work who are not governed by their emotions. If a teacher is not prepared, he will appeal to the emotions of the people. He will try to make them feel good or feel spiritual or feel guilty. Christians involved in emotional movements function under the energy of the flesh in Satan's cosmic system. Human power includes emotional revolt, personality improvement, the works of the flesh, change of behavior pattern, spirituality by works, etc. Since the emotions of the soul are not capable of properly governing the soul, wide emotional swings occur in the believer. We saw this in the Garden of Eden, which was perfect, until the woman took over and dominated the man, and the Fall took place. Emotional stress causes people to act on impulse. The emotional sin of fear causes flight, the emotion of anger causes violence, and the emotion of lust causes immorality. If the way you feel becomes the criterion for your spiritual life, you will never be able to execute God's plan.


Emotion is a complex biological and physiological process and a function of somatic expression or feeling. There is a battle that goes on inside our soul, between what we feel and what we know is right, Gal 5:17. Many times the emotions within us are at odds with the ministry of God the Holy Spirit. The emotions can become complex by tempting you to do things you do not desire to do. However, they can only tempt you; it is your volition that makes the choice to give in. Many times, when we give in to our emotions, we do those things that we regret, and this is the battle that Paul faced in Rom 7:14, "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of [belonging to the realm of] the flesh [old sin nature], sold in bondage to sin [old sin nature]." We were born slaves to the old sin nature, and the only time that we will ever be free from its slavery is when we perceive, metabolize, and apply Bible doctrine. Only truth can set us free, Joh 8:32.


Paul goes on in Rom 7:15, "For that which I am doing, I do not understand [I]; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very things that I hate." We all have a legitimate desire to please the Lord, which increases as we increase our intake of doctrine. Paul is saying he has a desire to advance spiritually and please God, but these good intentions are hindered by emotions, Rom 7:16, "But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do [let my emotions rule], I agree with the law [doctrine] that it is good."


Doctrine enables us to recognize our flaws and the control our emotions have over us, and it reveals our total helplessness. The purpose of the law and the commandments was to reveal our helplessness and therefore our need for a Savior. Rom 7:17 continues, "So now no longer am I the one doing it, but the sin nature which is indwelling me." Paul has received the Lord Jesus Christ, and he is no longer the one alive, but Christ is living in him. Therefore when he sins, it is no longer him (the new man or new creature), but it is the old man (old sin nature). If God's people could only understand this basic principle, they would be free from slavery to their old sin nature and their emotions.


Therefore, in Rom 7:18, Paul says, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh [sin nature], for the desire is present in me, but the doing of the good is not."
There are times when the sin nature controls the believer's will, and because the emotions are responders, they will also respond to the old sin nature, Rom 7:19-23, "For the good of intrinsic value that I desire to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil which I do not desire to do. [I] But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish to do [and I am], I am no longer the one doing it, but the sin nature which dwells in me. I find then the principle, that evil is present with me, the one who desires to do the good [virtuous, noble]. For I joyfully concur with the Law of God with reference to my inner man [doctrine in the mentality]."


[This is a positive believer who now sees that doctrine has provided him with standards which now teach him.] But I see a different Law [principle] in the members of my body, making war against the law of my mind [putting me in bondage], and making me a prisoner to the law of the sin nature which is in the members [cell structure] of my body."

[Koey]

I can agree that emotional experience can be misleading. However, I've experienced great joy at being obedient even when it took everything in me to actually do it.....the joy coming from realizing in the end that He was providing the desire, changing my heart and will, and even the obedience was Him doing it through me.

I've laughed heartily many times afterward at just how amazing it is to think I'm the one who is 'obedient'.....when all along my seeking Him has led to Him doing the work in me. I realize that I can't take credit for any of it and the more these 'experiences' happen, the easily it becomes to trust Him to do the work in me as I seek to know His will for my life and follow Him.

When I read a book by a fellow follower of Christ, I realize it's their particular experience and it's great that it brough them into a closer relationship with Him.. However, their experience may not be mine and I can't attempt to get their experience.
Emotions are a part of our makeup and are a necessary part of true faith. However, emotions are also deceptive. We can "feel" like God has abandoned us, when he hasn't. We can "feel" like a preacher was really great, when we are being deceived. We can "feel" like the devil is winning, when he is always a loser. We can "feel" like we are doing God's will, when we are deceiving ourselves.

The great strength of the charismatic movement is that they desire to listen to the Holy Spirit. The great weakness of the charismatic is that they often deceive themselves by their emotions that something is of the Holy Spirit, when it is not.

[tturt]

We can't get caught up and focus on the emotional aspect; however, there is nothing like experiencing the presence of the Lord.

This verse explains it to me -

Joh 4:24 God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

[Nadiine]

I think emotions can be deceiving to us.

I know I've felt discouraged, hurt & defeated when standing in God's truth and for doing the right things in this life - when my BAD feelings should actually be a JOYOUS feeling instead.

Doing the right things comes at a price in a corrupt, fallen world that's hostile to God & His truth.
I've also been decieved by GOOD feelings that I've gotten when doing or saying the wrong things...

Emotions are normal to have & I have a full range of them - but when our emotions are operating in a fleshly body that hasn't been fully renewed yet by Christ (in a fallen world), they can also be a hinderance to us in many ways.

Walk by FAITH not by sight. :holy:

[mysterychristian]

"Emotional experience is no substitute for the knowledge of the true and living Lord Jesus. He can be known only by obedience to His Word. That is the ultimate test of truth." ---W. Philip Keller ***** Predators in Our Pulpits ( A book that every Christian must read.)
hello

[AllTalkNoAction]

"Emotional experience is no substitute for the knowledge of the true and living Lord Jesus. He can be known only by obedience to His Word. That is the ultimate test of truth." ---W. Philip Keller ***** Predators in Our Pulpits ( A book that every Christian must read.)I agree, but these guys aren't in pulpits, they are ON STAGE, jumping around & shouting, whipping up the congregation.

Of course many groups, including the one you are a member of, go to the other extreme, they don't have the operation of the spiritual gifts as detailed in the word of God - see 1 Corinthians 14.

[wmc1982]

Emotions are nice, but they are not a neccessity. I think some Christians put too much emphasis on emotion, and some put too little.

BALANCE is the key in my opinion.

[Nadiine]

I agree, but these guys aren't in pulpits, they are ON STAGE, jumping around & shouting, whipping up the congregation.

Of course many groups, including the one you are a member of, go to the other extreme, they don't have the operation of the spiritual gifts as detailed in the word of God - see 1 Corinthians 14.

While others have far TOO MUCH focus on those gifts from 1 Cor 12-14.

[wmc1982]

While others have far TOO MUCH focus on those gifts from 1 Cor 12-14.
yes, I believe in those gifts, but I agree, many churches put way too much emphasis on them. I believe that some people go to church just to get an emotional high, instead of focusing their attention on giving Glory to God, as they should.

[Nadiine]

yes, I believe in those gifts, but I agree, many churches put way too much emphasis on them. I believe that some people go to church just to get an emotional high, instead of focusing their attention on giving Glory to God, as they should.
Absolutely - it goes right back to one of my favorite words, BALANCE.

Using any portions of scripture to an excess (or lack of use) will cause an imbalance and wrong emphasis. The message of truth ultimately gets distorted in some way.
:holy: