TODAY'S 'CHRISTIANITY' -
NOTHING MORE THAN FEELINGS
By Paul
Proctor
This may come as a shock
to most Christians, but if you do a search of the less contemporary translations
of scripture, the word “feelings” is virtually nonexistent. Where it does
appear, it is cited as more of a superficial, even negative attribute than a
positive; and yet, as we watch and listen to many from today’s churches, be they
leaders or laymen, not only do we see a clear fixation on feelings, both
physical and emotional, we notice that those feelings have by and large become a
replacement for faith.
In fact, if you
substitute the word “feelings” wherever you see the word “faith” in those older
Bible versions, it will become clear to you what motivates and guides the
average “Christian” today – point being: most of us are not following the Living
Word of God by faith, we’re simply following our feelings and calling it
“faith.”
This doesn’t require a
Bible.
When one considers the
sobering words of the prophet Jeremiah, who said: “The heart is deceitful above
all things, and desperately wicked…” it should cause us to take a discerning
look at what moves us. If our worship and service to Jesus Christ is measured by
mood, then may I suggest our “Christianity” is more theatrical than theological?
Could it be those
laughing and crying masks taken from Greek comedies and tragedies that once hung
in old movie theaters now belong on the walls of today’s churches? Honestly, is
that not what many of us come to church for these days – to hopefully experience
a good laugh or cry with friends, aided by mood-altering music, motivational
speakers, movie clips, drama and sugary snacks? Is this not what many modern day
preachers, teachers, pastors and worship leaders attempt to facilitate among
their congregants and class members through emotional presentations and
elaborate productions… strong feelings that generate laughter, tears and
applause?
And, if you haven’t
noticed, leading the charge are people who are very “passionate.”
You see, “passion” is a
buzzword that is commonly used among contemporary Christians to give assorted
“ministries,” however abstract and bizarre, a perceived legitimacy. If a
Christian is “passionate” about something, it is automatically assumed and
accepted by the brethren to be God-ordained, in spite of what the Bible
teaches.
As flesh, we are
naturally drawn to whomever or whatever gratifies us; but that does not mean all
people, places and things that make us feel good are good for us. Feelings are
easily manipulated, especially in group settings where consensus is king; and
those feelings can become obstacles in our obedience to Christ when we make them
our primary motivation and navigation through life.
We know that drugs,
alcohol, food, sex, entertainment, recreation and career can all be addictive
and destructive when misused and abused. Add wealth, fame, power and influence
to the mix, where pride becomes an accelerant, and you have an explosive
combination. What most of us, even Christians, don’t realize though is that at
the heart of it all is the subtle setting-aside of God’s Word in order to feel
good.
Some of us do it for
results, and others, for relationships.
Eve was deceived by the
serpent’s seductive words and took of the forbidden fruit to get results and
thus feel good about herself. Adam accommodated her because of their
relationship in order to sustain the connection and good feelings between them.
She chose results and he chose relationship – both chose to feel good at God’s
expense; and it backfired.
This is the 21st century
church.
Mind you, the objective
here is not to feel bad, but to hear, obey and proclaim the Word of God
regardless of how it makes anyone feel. When we ignore His Word to spare our own
feelings, we resist the Holy Spirit. And, when we withhold the Word from others
to spare their feelings, we stifle our witness and demonstrate to one and all
that we are more interested in gratifying goats, seducing sheep and running
rampant with the herd, than submitting to the Shepherd.
This is why the church
is in such decline – because we are going out of our way and sparing no expense
to accommodate people and their passions instead of God and His Word.
Do we really expect the
Lord to bless and multiply that?
“I charge thee therefore
before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at
his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the
time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they
shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” –
2nd Timothy 4:1-4
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