Emotionalism - Is this a lie of Satan or are emotions something Jesus addresses

[PeterJens]

I got a post with these words "That is emotionalism - a lie of Satan"

Let me set the scene. Jesus said we are enslaved to sin.
Out of our hearts comes actions that defile us, or lead to sin.
In rebirth we are changed.

The world is driven by emotional feelings, but so are we. Emotions govern everything, they are the very expression of who we are, yet many repress and try to dominate their emotions but with little success.

One of the strongest emotions we have is love. It is what founds families, that makes men and women leave their families and make their own. It is part of our songs, our ambitions, it is what we die for, and live for, yet some would call this level of expression wrong.

What impressed me about Jesus was he had the emotions 100% appropriate, from anger, to joy, to weeping, to intimacy, to rebukes, to friendship, to mercy, to forgiveness. He seemed to promise freedom from the chaos to order.

As I grew I realised I was an emotional mess, shut down, locked out, hurt, alone. Slowly Jesus put things in order, helped me grow, establish good things in my life, and make me whole. It was his love and his spirit that brought this about through others and by spending time with him in obedience to his word.

So rather than something wrong, I think this is part of the gospel, the rebuilding of people into mature loving individuals.
So I wondered what others thought, and how they deal with this label - emotionalism?

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

One, as an aside, love is a choice, based on emotions. It isn't itself an emotion.

Two, emotions are neither good nor bad, they just are. How we think, behave, and suffer consequence or reward because of our emotions is based on a healthy or unhealthy response to our emotions. We base those responses on prior experience with those emotions, which has a great deal to do with how we are parented, our environment, and our own personality, which is 90% developed by the time we are three years old.

Learning these responses essentially dictates how we will react to our emotions for the rest of our lives, unless we manage to change our reaction. Christ puts in us His love, and as a result, we love in return -- and that love is to be afforded to everyone, family, friends, enemies and strangers.

It is about a change in how we view our emotions. Whereas we may previously have reacted negatively to a loud, obnoxious, arrogant person, through Christ we are able to love, and through that love we are able to moderate our own health, as emotions, mental health, world view and outlook all directly affect our health. We deal with emotions through Christ, just as we deal with both sin and righteousness through Him.

 

[MarcR]

I got a post with these words "That is emotionalism - a lie of Satan"

Let me set the scene. Jesus said we are enslaved to sin.
Out of our hearts comes actions that defile us, or lead to sin.
In rebirth we are changed.

The world is driven by emotional feelings, but so are we. Emotions govern everything, they are the very expression of who we are, yet many repress and try to dominate their emotions but with little success.

One of the strongest emotions we have is love. It is what founds families, that makes men and women leave their families and make their own. It is part of our songs, our ambitions, it is what we die for, and live for, yet some would call this level of expression wrong.

What impressed me about Jesus was he had the emotions 100% appropriate, from anger, to joy, to weeping, to intimacy, to rebukes, to friendship, to mercy, to forgiveness. He seemed to promise freedom from the chaos to order.

As I grew I realised I was an emotional mess, shut down, locked out, hurt, alone. Slowly Jesus put things in order, helped me grow, establish good things in my life, and make me whole. It was his love and his spirit that brought this about through others and by spending time with him in obedience to his word.

So rather than something wrong, I think this is part of the gospel, the rebuilding of people into mature loving individuals.
So I wondered what others thought, and how they deal with this label - emotionalism?

Emotions are very real and always present. Emotionalism is a word for the mindstate in which people are led by their emotions instead of reason or the Holy Spirit. The term often is misused because many people who use the term fail to rightly discern where we are really coming from, in terms of our thinking..

 

[Reborn]

Emotions are very real and always present. Emotionalism is a word for the mindstate in which people are led by their emotions instead of reason or the Holy Spirit. The term often is misused because many people who use the term fail to rightly discern where we are really coming from, in terms of our thinking..

Sums up the bulk of this world.




.....don't forget Idealism.

 

[Willie-T]

Interesting. Having read this forum quite a bit, I am somehow hearing..."Emotions", but only as a certain person, or group, deems them appropriate.

Too bad......

 

[Powemm]

First two commandments put many things back in order for me... practical application of gods instruction I was lacking..

 

[MarcR]

Interesting. Having read this forum quite a bit, I am somehow hearing..."Emotions", but only as a certain person, or group, deems them appropriate.

Too bad......

Willie,

I was only trying to clarify what the word 'emotionalism' means and how it tends to be used and mis-used in our time.

I can't speak for anyone else.

 

[notuptome]

Nothing wrong with emotions as long as they do not rule in one's life. Passion is an emotion and an emotion that motivates one to serve or obey Gods word. Jesus demonstrated emotions in this world. Jesus wept for Israel and that they would not come to Him and be saved.

Scripture speaks of the Holy Spirit interceding for us when we can only groan before the Lord because our emotions are so great we cannot bear them.

Emotions are not a substitute for faith based in biblical doctrine. No matter how ardent our beliefs if they are against the bible they are of no virtue and are sin. Far too often emotions are but a smoke screen for those who can only pretend to possess the Lord for they lack a biblical knowledge of Him.

The fields are white unto harvest but the laborers are few.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Willie-T]

Willie,

I was only trying to clarify what the word 'emotionalism' means and how it tends to be used and mis-used in our time.

I can't speak for anyone else.

But that is just what I am talking about. How is something "misused" unless we make a determination that someone else is misusing it?

For instance (and there are many more examples than just these) would a person be misusing emotions if they began dancing in wild abandon as King David did, till even their clothes began to come loose?

I see ridicule on here all the time of people falling under a supernatural influence, but it happened fairly often in the Bible..... but it better not today, because some of us "know" that would be misuse.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

But that is just what I am talking about. How is something "misused" unless we make a determination that someone else is misusing it?

For instance (and there are many more examples than just these) would a person be misusing emotions if they began dancing in wild abandon as King David did, till even their clothes began to come loose?

I see ridicule on here all the time of people falling under a supernatural influence, but it happened fairly often in the Bible..... but it better not today, because some of us "know" that would be misuse.

The problem with emotionalism is when we act on our emotions, most often, it is not in favor with God.

Even a mature christian can feel emotions, and get angry, it is in our flesh. It is not the emotion which is bad, it is how one reacts to the emotion.

As someone said, Love itself is not an emotion, but true love can spark emotion.

 

[MarcR]

But that is just what I am talking about. How is something "misused" unless we make a determination that someone else is misusing it?

For instance (and there are many more examples than just these) would a person be misusing emotions if they began dancing in wild abandon as King David did, till even their clothes began to come loose?

I see ridicule on here all the time of people falling under a supernatural influence, but it happened fairly often in the Bible..... but it better not today, because some of us "know" that would be misuse.

If I am in fact responding to my understanding of scripture; and someone mistakenly assumes that I am making an unreasoned response to my emotions; and lables my response as emotionalism: they would be mis-using the word.

NOT because I say so; but because words have defined meanings and if we use words outside their definitions, language ceases to function.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

If I am in fact responding to my understanding of scripture; and someone mistakenly assumes that I am making an unreasoned response to my emotions; and lables my response as emotionalism: they would be mis-using the word.

NOT because I say so; but because words have defined meanings and if we use words outside their definitions, language ceases to function.

Jesus, acting on his emotions, said, father if there be any way, remove this cup from me, nevertheless, not my will be done but yours.

Thank God Jesus did not act on emotions or we would all be lost with no hope.

 

[Willie-T]

If I am in fact responding to my understanding of scripture; and someone mistakenly assumes that I am making an unreasoned response to my emotions; and lables my response as emotionalism: they would be mis-using the word.

NOT because I say so; but because words have defined meanings and if we use words outside their definitions, language ceases to function.

So, it is none of my business how you respond in worship, and it is none of yours how I react in worship, right?

 

[ember]

Oh cheese whiz!

Emotions are the normal response...however, it appears the exception is in the awareness of the emotion

I think, perhaps, the actual thing being discussed is RESPONSE

Psychopaths are people who have their emotions skewed.

Many people are really not in touch with their emotions/'feelings' and therefore cannot put a finger on what ails them

I love...yes literally love...this verse from the Psalms:

Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8

Now if y'all can pour out your heart with no feelings....don't call me

 

[JesusIsAll]

Adrian Rogers said, many times, "God doesn't do the deepest work, in the shallowest part of our souls."

 

[MarcR]

So, it is none of my business how you respond in worship, and it is none of yours how I react in worship, right?

Willie,

Where did that come from? I was not discussing your worship or mine. I was discussing what a word means from what I hope was a purely lexical point of view.

As far as this question goes: I would agree that our individual responses in worship are indeed between us and God; unless or until our responses become disruptive to another person's worship.

 

[Willie-T]

Willie,

Where did that come from? I was not discussing your worship or mine. I was discussing what a word means from what I hope was a purely lexical point of view.

As far as this question goes: I would agree that our individual responses in worship are indeed between us and God; unless or until our responses become disruptive to another person's worship.

NO, No.... That wasn't intended to be a shot, at all. Please replace "me" with "Joe", and "you" with "Sam".

 

[MarcR]

NO, No.... That wasn't intended to be a shot, at all. Please replace "me" with "Joe", and "you" with "Sam".

Willie,

I didn't take it as a shot; and if it is impersonal i would answer the same way.

I simply couldn't understand how the question fit the conversation. I'm not saying that it doesn't fit the conversation; only that I honestly don't see it.

 

[PeterJens]

I wonder if we really have a proper language for emotions. Think about this chain of events.
A person comes to you with a description of a bicycle. He goes through the description and at the end asks what do you think?
Now as they describe each step you create a response, a note of agreement or a problem. At the end you would say, I am happy with that, or that is not quite right etc. It is like your emotion at that time is the summary of your response.
So I would suggest emotions are messengers of your experience which help us come with a response that is appropriate.

Some have said love is not an emotion, but if I "love" someone, emotion is very involved, or I love a song, or a colour, or a TV program. Now I can choose to love, to turn a positive emotional effect on someone or something.

We also have inappropriate emotions, which may just appear or be triggered without our realising. So I would say though most of our daily experience is automatic and emotional, it can also be an interplay of things we can bring to bear and change. So we are driven by our conclusions which often are emotional, but it is after a process of interactions.

Why am I saying this? Because people, christians especially ignore the value of the messages emotions are telling you, and the power Jesus provides through love to transform these programmed responses into a new set of things.

One thread introduced lady who literally overcame anxiety through taking control of her thought life and being honest about emotional responses and dealing with them appropriately. My life has changed when I realised many of the emotional realities in my life I was ignorant of, and I did not recognise the real needs I had to express and receive love, at basic levels.

But for some this is like so dangerous, they think it is not part of the gospel, when it is at the core of God loving us wholely, as we are, in the mess and problems we have, weeping and wiping our tears away. So I want us all as a community to discover the freedom this love brings as well as its power and responsibility. It is the power of the Kingdom.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I wonder if we really have a proper language for emotions. Think about this chain of events.
A person comes to you with a description of a bicycle. He goes through the description and at the end asks what do you think?
Now as they describe each step you create a response, a note of agreement or a problem. At the end you would say, I am happy with that, or that is not quite right etc. It is like your emotion at that time is the summary of your response.
So I would suggest emotions are messengers of your experience which help us come with a response that is appropriate.

Some have said love is not an emotion, but if I "love" someone, emotion is very involved, or I love a song, or a colour, or a TV program. Now I can choose to love, to turn a positive emotional effect on someone or something.

We also have inappropriate emotions, which may just appear or be triggered without our realising. So I would say though most of our daily experience is automatic and emotional, it can also be an interplay of things we can bring to bear and change. So we are driven by our conclusions which often are emotional, but it is after a process of interactions.

Why am I saying this? Because people, christians especially ignore the value of the messages emotions are telling you, and the power Jesus provides through love to transform these programmed responses into a new set of things.

One thread introduced lady who literally overcame anxiety through taking control of her thought life and being honest about emotional responses and dealing with them appropriately. My life has changed when I realised many of the emotional realities in my life I was ignorant of, and I did not recognise the real needs I had to express and receive love, at basic levels.

But for some this is like so dangerous, they think it is not part of the gospel, when it is at the core of God loving us wholely, as we are, in the mess and problems we have, weeping and wiping our tears away. So I want us all as a community to discover the freedom this love brings as well as its power and responsibility. It is the power of the Kingdom.

I still think it is dangerous.

It is easy to love a family member or brother in Christ. But not easy to love an enemy, or neighbor who always treats us wrong, that is where emotions will get us into trouble.

Again Agape love is not an emotion, it is a state of mind.