Feelings, good or bad, can be very powerful. They can move us to action or leave us in a stupor. But as important as they are they cannot take the place of facts and faith. Christians are to live by faith, not feelings. Sadly many make decisions based on their mood rather than God’s message. For them religion is more theatrical than theological. They are feelers rather than followers. As such they are always looking for that which provides what they like. For some it is an emotionally packed service like a rock concert. For others it might be more like eastern mysticism, or a formal gathering where even a hearty “Amen” is out of place. But whatever direction it takes it is all about one thing–the feeling they get. They are more concerned about gratifying the flesh than they are about glorifying God. They want to leave the service with the words of James Brown ringing in their ears–“I feel good!”.
We live in a day when a pastor can use any version of the Bible, ignore the fundamentals of the faith, never denounce sin, and preach any kind of non-sense imaginable and it matters not to most people as long as they get the feeling they long for. Consequently they worship self rather than God. Instead of seeking to conform to the will of God they create an atmosphere that appeals to their carnal desires. As I said, “They are feelers rather than followers”.
Leonard Ravenhill said, “The early church was a lifeboat for rescuing the perishing.Today’s church is a cruise ship for pampering the prosperous….Entertainment is the devil’s substitute for joy. The more joy you have in the Lord, the less entertainment you need.” Far too many pastors today are nothing more than religious hucksters who are willing to give people whatever they want so they can attract a big crowd and make a name for themselves. And sadly there are those who buy what they’re selling. We are in desperate need of a revival that will transform our lives and cause us to return to the old paths. That would bring a feeling like some have never had before! For the child of God the best feeling in all the world is that which comes from knowing you are doing the will of God and that He is pleased by it. The surest way to a miserable life is to make it your purpose to please yourself. Those guilty of such folly are never pleased.– HDS
