Emotions Emotions inin

Church WorshipChurch Worship

Understanding EmotionsUnderstanding Emotions• SUBJECTIVE—subject to change.SUBJECTIVE—subject to change.

• People react differently to stimuli because they People react differently to stimuli because they have conditioned themselves in different ways. have conditioned themselves in different ways.

• Not always the same with everybody, nor the Not always the same with everybody, nor the same with the same person.same with the same person.

• With so much variety in emotional make-up, With so much variety in emotional make-up, whose level of emotion should be the standard? whose level of emotion should be the standard?

• Since emotions are subjective they cannot be Since emotions are subjective they cannot be used to gauge true worship to God. used to gauge true worship to God.

Many want emotions without truth. Many want emotions without truth. • Lost love for truth. Lost love for truth. 1 Tim 4:1-21 Tim 4:1-2, , 2 Tim 4:2-52 Tim 4:2-5

2 Th 2:9-122 Th 2:9-12

• Wrong definition of emotion in worship, Wrong definition of emotion in worship, 1 Cor 4:61 Cor 4:6

• Don’t know enough truth to know that truth has its Don’t know enough truth to know that truth has its own emotional elements. own emotional elements.

Emotions God WantsEmotions God Wants• Neh 8:1-18Neh 8:1-18, emotions from understanding truth. , emotions from understanding truth.

• Psalm 1:1-2Psalm 1:1-2

• Psalm 40:8Psalm 40:8

• Psalm 37:4Psalm 37:4

• Psalm 94:12-19Psalm 94:12-19

• Psalm 119Psalm 119

• Acts 2:37Acts 2:37

• God wants emotions that are the result of a faith based on God wants emotions that are the result of a faith based on understanding and loving the truth. He does not want a understanding and loving the truth. He does not want a faith based on stirred emotions. faith based on stirred emotions.

Sundry ThoughtsSundry Thoughts• An honest search for truth in God’s word will involve An honest search for truth in God’s word will involve

emotions. emotions.

• If one goes to God’s word looking for emotional arousal as If one goes to God’s word looking for emotional arousal as evidence of spiritual strength, he risks distorting truth to evidence of spiritual strength, he risks distorting truth to satisfy emotional longings.satisfy emotional longings.

• Emotions in our faith can only be as valid as the truth that Emotions in our faith can only be as valid as the truth that stirs them. We cannot reason beyond the truth simply stirs them. We cannot reason beyond the truth simply because our emotions are leading us in that way.because our emotions are leading us in that way.

• Emotions experienced without truth create a faith based on Emotions experienced without truth create a faith based on emotions. emotions.

• Sober mindedness is lost when emotions are allowed to run Sober mindedness is lost when emotions are allowed to run free. free.

Sundry ThoughtsSundry Thoughts• Don’t go to the Bible to seek emotional thrill. Go to it to Don’t go to the Bible to seek emotional thrill. Go to it to

learn what God wants you to know. Our emotions will be learn what God wants you to know. Our emotions will be touched by what he tells us combined with our desire to touched by what he tells us combined with our desire to believe and obey his word.believe and obey his word.

• The atheist may know the same information, but not be The atheist may know the same information, but not be touched by emotions, since he has no intention of touched by emotions, since he has no intention of submitting to those truths. submitting to those truths.