Growing up years ago, and even into the early years of my preaching the gospel, it was understood if you were discussing matters of faith with others, Scripture would be the basis on which decisions would be made. People came prepared to open up their Bibles and examine verses in their context. While not every person was willing to acknowledge what Scripture taught, others would, and souls who came determined to understand what it taught often obeyed the gospel, and rejoiced in learning the truth and having a new life in Christ.
That was then, but things have changed. Gradually, over time, the search for the truth of God was replaced by how one feels. Despite consideration of Scripture that warns how one’s feelings can be led astray, feelings have become the de facto source for what one believes and how one lives. I remember speaking with an individual regarding a spiritual matter, and we both agreed that the Bible would be the arbiter in our search for truth. It didn’t take long, however, during the course of discussion, when a Scripture that contradicted her desires was read, the response was, “But I feel it in my heart!” This has become the mantra for those seeking spirituality today.
It is unfortunate this is true in the Lord’s church as well. Certainly, we are not denying the importance of feelings, as God gave them to us. It isn’t wrong to have feelings, but we must be sure about what shapes those feelings. Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9). Jesus added, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person” (Matt. 15:18). Apart from the word of God, our feelings tend to be governed by sin instead. With the word, we can live pleasing lives to God. “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected” (1 John 2:3-5). “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
It is so very difficult to convince people today, that how they feel may not be how God thinks. God has defined his will for us in a clear and understandable way. The problem isn’t that God can’t be known, but in bypassing Scripture, we put ourselves over God, and in doing so, we invalidate Scripture. We must recapture the concept that our role is to be in submission to God, if he is to bless us. “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” (Rom. 9:20).
I am well aware, in this day and age, there are those who, if they hear, or are told, their desires, their emotions, are out of alignment with the will of God, they become upset. They close their minds and hearts, rejecting Scripture to cling to their concept of reality. In the face of such a philosophy, we must continue to preach the word of God in truth (1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Tim. 4:2; Eph. 4:15). Our goal in preaching the truth isn’t to upset people, but to save souls. If someone is distressed over what Scripture teaches, I am sorry, but I would rather them be challenged to examine themselves in light of Scripture, than to coddle them in their misplaced feelings all the way to hell. Jesus is the source of eternal salvation, to those who obey him (Heb. 5:9). God’s way in Christ is still the right way, the only way, if one is to find the abundant life today (John 10:10), eternal life following judgment (John 5:28-29). “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Cor. 13:5).
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice.”
Robert Johnson
