THINK ABOUT IT 10-9-23
notte::This is the latest post on the Pastor’s Blog. For others go to our website.
Several years ago I just happened to be reading Jay Adams’s blog and found it very interesting. It touched on a matter that has long been a serious problem. Too many folks depend on their feelings rather than the facts. Adams gives us this food for thought:
“I FEEL IT’S SO”
Can you give me even one good reason?
“No, I don’t need reasons—I just feel it’s so.”
That short exchange might take place many times a day between Christians. But it never should.
You may be wondering what the subject is that the two parties are discussing. It doesn’t really matter. I left it out for a good reason—to show the bare outlines of the issue.
The issue being, of course, how we know anything about God to be true or false.
There is no biblical precedent for basing the truth or the falsehood of any belief upon how one feels; yet many do so.
Our faith is one that can be objectively set forth—and has been—in a Book from which God expects us to learn what is/isn’t true.
What Jesus told us that Abraham said to the rich man suffering in hell was that people won’t believe even if someone rose from the dead (which, of course, He did). Experience and feelings won’t cut it! Instead, if a person wants to discover the truth he should turn to the Bible: “they have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them” Jesus said (Luke 16: 29).
It’s the same today-to learn the truth, and benefit from it—one must turn to the Scriptures. Stop listening to feelings; start listening to truth.
Following up on my comments about “feelings” as a guide, I’d like to make one other point.
When I taught in the doctoral program at Westminster West, there were students—pastors, I should note—who would ask, “Prof., what do you feel about so and so?”
Often, to make the point, I’d say (with a smile), “Lousy.” Or, if the response seemed appropriate, “Great!”
Invariably, they’d go on to say something like, “No, you don’t understand. What I’d really like to know is what you feel about. . .” entirely missing my point, or unable to express themselves in any other way.
So, I’d continue, “You got my feelings. I’d like to give you my opinion, or belief, or conviction. But what you asked for is feelings.”
People today use weak language—pastors ought to be the last to do so. No one ever nailed another to the door for expressing his feelings. It’s when you state your convictions that they do!
When pastors are willing to speak in such a weak, namby-pamby way, no wonder the members of their congregations have few, if any, strong convictions. Let’s learn TO STAND UP AND PLAINLY DECLARE WHAT WE BELIEVE OR—BETTER STILL—WHAT GOD SAYS!
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
