Emotion vs. Spirituality

Understanding Faith

Defining the meaning and purpose of faith can be challenging. The Bible of course defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1, NASU). However, in a practical sense, explaining this in quantifiable terms can be difficult.

A Problem of Extremes

Dry “systems”

In discussing faith there is always a temptation to lean upon one particular extreme between the realms of intellect and emotion. In years past, it was quite popular to describe the facets of the Christian faith in terms of a system, by breaking down the Christian faith into intellectual ideas and forms. While this approach has great value, it can also be somewhat dry. One can choose to stand upon doctrine with intellectual certainty, but without a heart one risks losing their “first love” (cf. Rev. 2:4).

Substance-free emotionalism

In more recent years a different approach has grown in response to what is seen as the “wooden” intellectual systems of the past. This approach at first sought to “breathe new life into old truths” has grown to be something truly dangerous instead. By drawing on the lack of emotion found in some examples of the “old”, proponents emphasize emotion as the driving force behind spirituality.

This is both greatly appealing to many and dangerous for the same reason: it is highly subjective. By following the intellectual extreme, one is forced to stand upon logic and reason. Within the emotional extreme, such considerations are nonsensical. It is more about “feeling” God than “knowing” Him. Adherents to this approach will describe their worship as being more “spiritual” because of the emotional energy of those involved, never mind the method by which the worship was offered.

In this post-modern age, such an approach will have a greater following than the intellectualism of the past. People will seek out more feeling for their heart, than knowledge for their brain. This is greatly troubling, for while feelings can be a great cause for obedience, they provide no definition of what obedience is meant to be. How can you confront someone with the truth of God’s Word when their standard is: “I feel I am doing what is right so I must be right”?

A Necessary Choice

We must choose to remember that while emotion has its place in faith it is not a replacement for true spirituality. A faith which is built solely upon emotion alone is lacking the very foundation of truth to rest upon. When the fleeting emotion of the hour has past, what is left? For many who simply want to “feel good” before God, absolutely nothing.