1. Emotionalism
Matthew 7:21-23

2. The Difference Between: “Emotional” & “Emotionalism”
EMOTION: "An intense mental state that arises subjectively rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied by physiological changes; a strong feeling: the emotions of joy, sorrow, reverence, hate, and love.” (American Heritage Dictionary).
Two
Extremes
“Feel Good” Religion
Cold, Heartless Religion

3. Emotion Is Proper Part Of Life

4. Natural Progression with Age: Emotion to Reason
Babies cry & throw temper tantrums when they want something (emotional display)
Expect older people to control desires
Same process of raw expression to control is seen in other realms of life
General Rule: Maturity brings control as thought & reason precede & direct emotion

5. Jesus Displayed Emotion
Wept at the grave of Lazarus (Jn. 11:33-36)
Wept as He approached Jerusalem (Lk. 19:41-44)
Strong crying & tears in Gethsemane (Heb. 5:7-8)
Compassion on the lost & confused (Matt. 9:36)
Often had compassion on the diseased and afflicted
Showed tenderness towards little children (Mark 10:13-16)
Was angered at hardened hearts (Mark 3:5)
Showed emotions in driving out the money changers from the temple (Jn. 2:13-16)

6. Men of God Showed Emotion
Gen. 45:1-4 Joseph revealing self to brothers
Josh. 7:5-7 Joshua in defeat of Israel at Ai
Acts 8:2 Lamented over Stephen
Acts 9:39 Widows wept over Dorcas
Acts 17:16 Spirit of Paul provoked by idols
Acts 20:37 Ephesian elders wept over Paul
2 Cor. 6:10 Sorrowful & rejoicing in labor
2 Cor. 11:28 Anxiety for all the churches

7. Emotion in Response to Gospel
Acts 8:39 Ethiopian rejoiced after obeying
Acts 16:34 Jailor rejoiced having believed
Phil. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always”
1 Jn. 1:4 Revelation given to give full joy
2 Cor. 7:10 Godly sorrow before repentance
Acts 2:37 Gospel pricks the heart
In each case, proper emotion is preceded and directed by the truth believed & obeyed

8. Improper Emotion in Scripture
1Kg 18:26f Prophets of Baal
1Kg 22:11 Zedekiah in giving false vision
Acts 7:54f Crowd angered to kill Stephen
Acts 19:23f Demetrius & crowd for Diana
Matt. 13:20 Rocky soil hearers & emotion
Improper emotion seen in rejecting truth whether before or after hearing the message

9. Reception of Holy Spirit Never Tied to Emotion in Scripture
Acts 2 - Apostles received H.S. at Pentecost
Never told how the apostles felt
Acts 10 - Cornelius received Holy Spirit
Never told how Cornelius felt about it
Acts 19 - Men at Ephesus received Spirit
Never told how they felt about it
No statement of preferring feeling over Bible
Spirit caused revelation (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

10. Truth Not Determined by Emotions or Feelings
Case of Jacob’s grief over Joseph (Gen. 37)
Brothers of Joseph sell him into slavery
Deceived Jacob into believing Joseph was dead
Mourning was just as real as if actually dead
Truth not determined by reality of emotion
Case of Job’s emotions during trials
Emotions were both real & intense
Reacted from feeling that God caused his trials
Truth differed from Job’s feelings & emotions

11. Truth Must Be Foundation for All Thought & Emotion
Not Emotions Based on Subjectivism
Jeremiah 23:16-22
Jeremiah 14:13-17
Ezekiel 13:1-3
Matthew 7:21-23

12. Applications for Today

13. Emotionalism in Denominations
Catholicism filled with emotion-based appeal in liturgy & tradition
Southern Baptist: “Rather go with feeling in my heart than whole stack of Bibles”
Methodists: Warm feeling of confirmation of Wesley & followers
Pentecostals: Confirm salvation by emotional display of ecstatic worship much like pagans
Emotional display & lifestyle often at odds

14. Emotionalism in Lord’s Church
Some profess great emotional feeling...
But emotion used to assist those engaged in sinful practices & those teaching doctrinal error
But willing to tolerate growing number of evils
But evidence moral decline in dress, drinking…
But show little growth in knowledge of truth
Takes on different forms at various times
Soul talks, burn candles, low lights, camp fervor
Emphasis is on style rather than substance

15. Danger Signs for Emotionalism
Change of worship style & content
Become enamoured with casual atmosphere
Imitate “contemporary” style of denominations
Seek more aesthetically appealing settings
Sunrise or sunset services, beach devos...
Songs with appeal not based on edification
Content of lyrics appealing to pop culture
Rounds which are not understandable
Musical complexity overwhelms message
Influence of “camps” becoming dangerous