I Feel Funny?!
About seven years ago, I found myself at a farm house outside of Ashland, Ohio. There was a square dance going on in the barn and I was invited. It was sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Ashland University. As the students danced in the barn,I found myself outside in the cool autumn night standing around a small fire with a philosophy professor from the University. This professor was also a pastor of a small non-denominational church in the area. For an hour, we stood and talked about how existentialism affected the modern church. I have never enjoyed a square dance anymore than this one.
Existentialism is a philosophy founded by a 19th century philosopher named Soren Kierdegaard. It is extremely hard to define or explain, but I will do my best to try to make it simple. It basically means that each person must develop and comprehend their own existence. That human beings are completely free and are in control of choices that direct their lives. If this philosophy is carried out, it tends to become very feeling based. The experience of life becomes very valuable to the existentialist. For me, this is where the problem starts.
To make matters simple, from this point on in the post I will deal with the topic of feelings. Over the last 50 years, feelings have become more important than facts and truth. In my opinion, this is the rational outgrowth of existentialism. People are so concerned with how they feel, that reason and rationale have gone out the window.
As a pastor, I am often called into a marriage crisis with the hope that I can help bring reconciliation. Sad to say, when I am called it is often too late. The pastor becomes the last resort. Because of this, I spend much of the time helping one or the other pick up the pieces.
When a marriage is in crisis, the first thing I normally hear from one of the participants is, "I don't feel like I used to." My response has always been, "I don't feel like I did yesterday."
A few years back, my wife had a friend that decided to divorce her husband and move in with another man. My wife received a letter explaining her friends actions. The woman basically justified her behavior by writing that she believed God wanted her to be happy. She is now happy with her new man.
A few years ago, A woman called me to talk about church. She let me know that the church where she was attending wasn't meeting her spiritual needs anymore, and she was wondering if it was time for a change. I asked her what Spiritual needs was the church no longer meeting. Her reply was she just didn't feel good in worship anymore.
I am about to write something that sounds awfully mean, but I believe it to be awfully true. God has never based his decrees and his judgments on the basis of human feelings. As a matter of fact, God is not all that concerned about your feelings. However, He is very concerned about your obedience.
Worship in the modern church is often about feelings. I hear songs about feeling the presence of God. I hear sermons on feeling the Holy Spirit. In my opinion, we are missing the mark. Worship services are not for you. If you receive something out of them, then good, you have been blessed. We worship God. The service is for Him. When we worship, we should make certain that God is the center of all that we do. It is not about us, it is all about Him.
I think it is time that American Christianity return to its Biblical roots and stop feeling for God. The Apostle Paul did not say, "I know what I feel". He said, "I know what I believe". When we do our marriage vows, we do not promise to love, honor, and cherish as long as we feel like it. We make a decision to do it. It is a covenant agreement based on knowledge not feelings.
I know that there is much more on this topic that I could deal with, but I FEEL like finishing and eating dinner. Thus, I will finish this post with one closing thought. Your feelings are probably wrong. Go base your life on the things you know. You may not be as happy, but at least you will be right.
Existentialism is a philosophy founded by a 19th century philosopher named Soren Kierdegaard. It is extremely hard to define or explain, but I will do my best to try to make it simple. It basically means that each person must develop and comprehend their own existence. That human beings are completely free and are in control of choices that direct their lives. If this philosophy is carried out, it tends to become very feeling based. The experience of life becomes very valuable to the existentialist. For me, this is where the problem starts.
To make matters simple, from this point on in the post I will deal with the topic of feelings. Over the last 50 years, feelings have become more important than facts and truth. In my opinion, this is the rational outgrowth of existentialism. People are so concerned with how they feel, that reason and rationale have gone out the window.
As a pastor, I am often called into a marriage crisis with the hope that I can help bring reconciliation. Sad to say, when I am called it is often too late. The pastor becomes the last resort. Because of this, I spend much of the time helping one or the other pick up the pieces.
When a marriage is in crisis, the first thing I normally hear from one of the participants is, "I don't feel like I used to." My response has always been, "I don't feel like I did yesterday."
A few years back, my wife had a friend that decided to divorce her husband and move in with another man. My wife received a letter explaining her friends actions. The woman basically justified her behavior by writing that she believed God wanted her to be happy. She is now happy with her new man.
A few years ago, A woman called me to talk about church. She let me know that the church where she was attending wasn't meeting her spiritual needs anymore, and she was wondering if it was time for a change. I asked her what Spiritual needs was the church no longer meeting. Her reply was she just didn't feel good in worship anymore.
I am about to write something that sounds awfully mean, but I believe it to be awfully true. God has never based his decrees and his judgments on the basis of human feelings. As a matter of fact, God is not all that concerned about your feelings. However, He is very concerned about your obedience.
Worship in the modern church is often about feelings. I hear songs about feeling the presence of God. I hear sermons on feeling the Holy Spirit. In my opinion, we are missing the mark. Worship services are not for you. If you receive something out of them, then good, you have been blessed. We worship God. The service is for Him. When we worship, we should make certain that God is the center of all that we do. It is not about us, it is all about Him.
I think it is time that American Christianity return to its Biblical roots and stop feeling for God. The Apostle Paul did not say, "I know what I feel". He said, "I know what I believe". When we do our marriage vows, we do not promise to love, honor, and cherish as long as we feel like it. We make a decision to do it. It is a covenant agreement based on knowledge not feelings.
I know that there is much more on this topic that I could deal with, but I FEEL like finishing and eating dinner. Thus, I will finish this post with one closing thought. Your feelings are probably wrong. Go base your life on the things you know. You may not be as happy, but at least you will be right.
posted by Foundes Community Church @ 1:14 PM
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