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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Right thinking on emotions

There is a crying need for some common sense answers about emotionalism. Some Baptists write about emotionalism from a radical reaction to the opposite extremes. Their statements are not correctly tempered with truth.

First, let's consider what emotionalism is and is not. Shouting, loud amens, crying, and rejoicing, etc. are not emotionalism. Baptists have been shouting nearly 2000 years. In fact, Baptists are just about the only ones that have anything to shout about. :-)

Emotionalism is the undue indulgence in and display of emotion. It is evidenced in those who deliberately try to incite an emotional response, and see that response as an end in itself. Emotionalism revels in the outward expression while downplaying the inward response. Emotionalism seems to regard the development of an aroused state of feeling (joy, sorrow, etc.) as the chief aspect of worship.

Shouldn’t we oppose emotionalism as a religious schism without opposing all emotional responses? Certainly. Showing emotion is not wrong. We are emotional beings. We laugh & cry, shout & scream. If humans are emotional beings, and if our religion should generate in us a response (it should), then would it be unusual to think our worship should sometimes be expressed in emotional responses? Of course not!

Each person is different. Each has a different emotional makeup. Some laugh easier than others. Some cry quicker. Some shout louder. Some sit quieter. Since each individual differs emotionally, we cannot expect the same emotional responses from all. No doubt you have seen two people respond differently to the same event — one by crying, the other by laughing. Often we tend to judge how others should respond by how we would respond in the same situation. There is no "one response fits all".

Those who decry all emotion are very inconsistent. Some think it alright to be emotional about things other than religion. When we are angered by politics, shout at ball games, cry over the death of a pet, and laugh at stupid jokes, why are we unable to respond emotionally to our God and in our relationship to Him? I am suspicious of the Christian who can get all worked up over a ball game, but is indifferent to a Bible message, a gospel song, or a conversion testimony.

There are specific outward emotional expressions that are often attacked. We must be careful here. Just because something is abused does not mean it should be abandoned. We have heard unscriptural sermons, but should we stop hearing all sermons because of that? Many unscriptural baptisms have been performed; should Baptists stop baptizing? Many unsound songs have been sung; should we stop singing? The acceptance of radical anti-emotionalism drives us to abandon something simply because it has been misused.

Notice two emotional actions I will defend. I do not personally indulge in or particularly care for either one — clapping and raising hands. But these have been unfairly attacked by the radical anti-emotionalists. Clapping is certainly inappropriate at the wrong time and for the wrong reasons, yet the Psalmist says, ‘O claps your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice or triumph.’ (Psalm 47:1). Who can argue with that? Can I honestly condemn one who claps to the time of a song, when I tap my foot or rap my hand on the back of the bench for the same reason? As for raising hands, it seems like an unusual response to which I have never felt compelled — but the Apostle Paul admonishes, ‘I will therefore that men prey everywhere, lifting up holy hands...’ (I Tim. 2:8).

In the scriptures, we see that even Jesus responded emotionally. He was moved with compassion (Matt. 14:14; Mark 1:41), was angered (Mark 3:5; Matt. 21:12), cried (Luke 19:41; John 11:35), etc. Solomon indicates that emotion has its proper place (Eccl. 3:4). Let's not 'kick out of the traces' and allow personal feelings and opinions override scriptural sense.

On the other hand, we must realize that many churches indulge in emotionalism in an unscriptural manner, leading to extremism. A problem with any type of external action or reaction is that it can be duplicated. If we judge only the external, we will be led astray. Anyone can shout, sing, cry, lift up hands, clap, etc., but what good is that if the heart is not right? If outward emotional responses are not of themselves wrong, then the right or wrong is determined by the inner motive of the heart. Was that shout real or worked up? Did you mean that ‘amen’ or just say it for show or because someone else did? Do you truly sorrow or is that crying for attention? Real emotional responses due to the unseen work of God should be neither shunned nor condemned. All put on and show must be completely condemned and absolutely avoided.

Often the chief excuses against emotional responses may come from a desire to not appear "charismatic" or "pentecostal". We should not let others drive us from our shouting ground. Baptists should stand stand firm and say, "I shall not be moved" from the truth, but I will move when the Spirit moves.

Adapted from the original printing in The Baptist Waymark

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