Considering answers to those faith-questions we all ask…
Tag: FEELINGS
Feelings are not faith, and as Paul declared, "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23). That's not to say that all feelings are sinful, but depending on them is. Feelings can be sensual, physical, temporal and fallible. They can be useful and wonderful tools and a great blessing, but they can also regularly get us into trouble. The antidote to this uncertainty is the Word of God.
How did Lazarus feel as he laid at the rich man's gate suffering, day after day? No-one cared for his condition or for his broken heart. What was going through his mind? We can safely assume that he had thoughts such as these: "Nobody cares about my suffering". "Where is God? If He cared He would help me". "I'm alone. My life isn't worth living".
A large number of Christians are dependent on feelings as a measure of their walk with the Lord. If they have warm, fuzzy, tingly feelings, or if they're losing control of their bodies, they think the Holy Spirit must be present. The corollary, then, is that if they're not losing control, and if they don't have those feelings, the Lord is not there. This, dear readers, is not the fulfilment of faith: it's the opposite of faith.
I fully recognize that I'm no better a person than anyone else inside the church walls. In fact, I may be more of a hypocrite than anyone there. Having said that, as anyone who read my last post will realize, there are a number of things about the professing Church today that annoy me, offend me, and even sicken me. This post addresses those things, in no particular order.
I know nobody likes whiners, but once in a while it's nice to know that someone feels the same way as you do about some things. Somehow it helps you to feel better-right? So here's a little whine-a little letting off of my own steam...
