Feelings and Obedience
By
Mark Chatfield
Those of us who call a local church of Christ our place of worship have no doubt noticed an undercurrent of aversion to emotionalism. It seems understandable and maybe even reasonable. After all, there have been too many too loud “halleluiahs” and fainting eye rolls at Pentecostal events. Now it seems that Christians are so afraid of being too emotional, that worship services have in some cases become sanitized intellectual exercises -- library sessions where the Bible is opened and read and commented on, but no one dares to express feelings; not the speaker or those in the audience. Some folks seem to seek salvation only by knowledge and pious obedience. They completely avoid any feelings they may have about religion. It is as though they have forgotten the emotionally filled time when they were baptized. It is as though they have lost their first love (Rev. 2:4)
I’ve seen congregations overdo their concern for the sick and go on to manipulate people into sensations of guilt over sin, but when was the last time you heard a preacher suggest that you explore your feelings about God? When was the last time you examined yourself from the perspective of your Christian emotions? Yes, God expects us to consider both our minds and our hearts, Ps 26:2 “Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; Try my heart and my mind.”
Christian emotions?
I remember attending a group psychological session many years ago where the doctor was trying to get folks to express their emotions. It seems that for some people it is almost impossible to say how they feel. They would start out saying, “I feel like . . .” and the counselor would say, “No! Not what you feel like. What you feel – the emotion you have.” Finally, after several unsuccessful attempts, the fill-in-the-blank technique was brought out:
I feel ____________ [angry, frustrated, joyful, giddy, etc.]
about ____________ [describe what happened that made you feel that way]
because __________ [tell the reason that you felt that way]
For example, “I feel uplifted about your sermon because you gave me some easy points to remember that will help me live a more joyous life.”
Once a person can fill in the blanks, they can begin to be a little more creative and less formal. “The points you gave us to remember really uplifted me – made me happy.”
So, what’s the need for all this touchy-feely stuff?
None at all, if all you want in life is to be able to regurgitate scriptures. None at all, if all you want in your relationships is for people to know how smart you are. None at all, if your goal is just to show up at services and act as though you are learning.
However, most of us are trying to be closer to God. (Ps 73:28 “But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.”) Most of us are trying to be like God to the extent we can be like Him . . . . and God is Creative. God has feelings. God has in the past and continues even now to divulge his care and sadness and joy and anger and peacefulness. We in churches of Christ can do better to more accurately reflect the God of our salvation by expressing our feelings more openly and honestly. (Jas 5:16 “Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.”)
The value of expressing Christ-related feelings is manifold.
First, the feelings you had been holding inside you are suddenly released. The pressure they were creating by being withheld is relieved. The tendency to let the pent up emotions overflow into and outburst of anger or tears is alleviated. Furthermore, the emotions are no longer hidden, but are available for others to see and to learn from and to use to help themselves and you. (Ac 20:37 “And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,”)
Second, the ability to love is enhanced. How can you love any one you do not know? In order to share and care and help another, you must know how they feel about things. By the same token, when you share your feelings with others you permit them to love you. You say, in effect, “Here is what I am going through and by letting you know, I am giving you permission to show your love for me.” (Ruth 2:13 “Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.”)
Third, you are emulating God. One of the characteristics of God that is undeniable is His willingness to let mankind know how He is feeling. Psm. 78:40 – God was grieved. Gen. 6:6 -- God was sorry. Heb. 13:16 -- God is pleased. Psm. 60:1 -- God was angry. Hardly a chapter is finished in your daily Bible reading where God does not show how He feels.
Fourth, you can be a more effective light. How can a Christian hide his light (Matt. 5:15)? By failing to show how he feels when he encounters peer pressure, temptation, and the consequences of sin. God does not want callous Christians (Matt. 13:15). The family and friends whom you would influence cannot read your mind to see that their filthy language upsets you. People cannot divine that you are joyful at their interest in Christ. Put a little feeling with your words and your actions and allow those you encounter to see that part of God in you (Col. 4:6).
Finally, you can accomplish things you never thought possible. When you can project your feelings into the future, you can anticipate problems before you encounter them. You can emit a positive emotional energy related to your efforts that will ensure success. Go ahead. Get excited about teaching your next Bible class. Cultivate a positive happy image of the students being enlightened and lively and willing to contribute and learn. Let yourself feel the pleasure that God has in your study and work. (Heb 13:16 “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”)
To be an obedient Christian is to be a Christian who is able to capitalize on his or her feelings. Let’s not ignore or diminish the role of emotions in our efforts to do God’s will.