Mood:
brightTopic: No Brainer Theology
In the 18th century a movement formed that emphasized using reason to examine the previously accepted doctrines and traditions. Humanitarian reforms came out of that period of time. Many saw the social injustices, and inequality of treatment for the poor, as well as the mistreatment of children, and did something about them to change such inhumane actions. God is not opposed to "reasoning" because He stated, "Come let us reason together" and Paul "reasoned" with those he spoke to in the marketplace. But most of the reasoning involved at that time was human reasoning.
Despite the fact there were social awakenings, there was a dark side to the "Age of Enlightenment." There was a rise of mysticism, and new age thought. There was also an increase in false prophets and teachers bringing in their false theology, like Joseph Smith of the Mormons. People were ripe for something new and exciting in the spiritual realm. The "traditions" and "doctrines" of the churches became lifeless and cold (and even boring), so people sought out other forms of thought to entertain. The doctrines and traditions didn't become lifeless on their own. The people stopped believing them and being "doers of the word" as the Bible commanded. They became a generation of miracle seekers. People began spiritualizing emotional thrills & chills, and calling those feelings experiences with God. They thought it had to be God because "every good and perfect gift is from above." However, what we deem as good may not be good for us, because God's "ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts".
Human nature is basically the same and our habits are predictable. We have come full circle and currently people are shedding the traditions and doctrines of Biblical churches, and grasping onto new age theology through Holy Laughter, Purpose Driven Life, The Emerging Church, and Spiritual Formation. The newest fad of prayers such as Lecto Divina, Labyrinth Prayers, and Contemplative prayer are all part of the new age (which is not anything new), mystical, humanistic thought. All these movements do not bring true "enlightenment" but real deception. No one will find any "spiritual or intellectual insight" to God by following these false doctrines. The book of 1 John dealt with that kind of high-minded gnosticism. The Biblical Christian doctrines established by Jesus Christ, Paul and the other Apostles are where you will find true "enlightenment".
Just because something makes you feel better, or gives you a sense of "euphoria" (which more than likely, is a false and a temporary sense of peace), it doesn't make it right. We cannot rely on what we feel, because our feelings lie to us. There are a lot of people who won't understand that statement, because they live by their feelings everyday. They are "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine" because they follow their feelings rather than the ultimate and final wisdom of the Word of God. Even human intellect and logical reasoning cannot surpass the wisdom of the Bible.
I know of a woman who claims that beating up people makes her feel better. She justifies it by saying that it helps her "release" her anger. I don't doubt one bit that it brings a sense of release, temporarily, until the next time she gets mad and beats up someone else. Her feelings of euphoria come from her endorphines and adreneline pumping through her body, as well as the sinful pleasure of controlling someone else, not from releasing her rage on another human being. She's deceived by those feelings of euphoria and sense of release and power, and associates those "good" feelings with violence. She thinks that the more she commits the physical act the more good feelings she'll have. We have the same improper association with sexual sins. I believe that sexual sins are one of the strongest delusions of all because they involve such personal, intimate feelings. Sex was designed to be very pleasurable, but for the marriage bed only. God ordained marriage between one man and one woman only. But our feelings (including what we call love) tell us to go ahead and sleep with anyone or any gender we choose, and engage in that sinful pleasure despite what God says is right. Our feelings then become our god rather than God's word being the plumbline for our feelings. Our feelings MUST line up with God's truth, in order for them to be truthful-- otherwise they are a lie. Mormons always talk about a "burning in their bosom" to convince people their cult is right, but I think they should take some Pepto-Bismol for that condition, then repent of believing the lies of a pathalogical liar.
The way to control sin is to crucify our selfish nature. The way to overcome sin is to deny the flesh. But psychology lies to us by saying that we 'are bottling it up, and we'll eventually explode on someone' if we don't 'follow our heart (i.e. feelings)'. Only those who believe the lie that their feelings tell them, like the woman I mentioned, will explode. Only those who do not exercise self-restraint, forgiveness, and mercy will continue the hate and anger. Now, this cannot be accomplished without being saved and having the Holy Spirit of God in our lives teaching us God's truth. But Paul said love "bears all things" and that includes wrongs done to us.
There is a temptation, especially in this generation of psycho-babble, to turn to human beings for our help. Even that is a delusion of sorts. Therapists claim that therapy helps release the negative feelings, but it encourages gossipping and talebearing. The book of Proverbs is full of dealings with the mouth and talebearing. When we get angry or hurt we are to turn to the Holy Spirit for comfort, not a psychologist. God is the only One who truly knows our hearts and minds, and only He can help us. But we are impatient, and we want the pain or negative feelings gone, now. We want to feel good all the time, but if we don't have the painful, negative feelings, we won't appreciate the good times, nor will we have any compassion on those who are suffering around us. The Bible states that Jesus learned obedience by the things he SUFFERED. Even though Jesus was sinless and perfect, He willingly suffered along with us. I know that when I have waited on the Lord to take me through something difficult, and then I see someone else going through the same thing, my heart goes out to them, and I have a greater compassion on them than if I hadn't gone through the same struggle. It compels me to pray for them and try to minister Christ to them.
If our Master had to learn obedience by the things He suffered, who are we to think we are greater than He is? That's pride. Jesus never had a psychologist and even His disciples desserted Him in His greatest time of need. He didn't send a messenger to Dr. Moshe Levi, Ph.D. frantically saying, "They're going to put me to death! Please come console Me or send someone to fight for Me in the courts! I'm innocent!" But His confidence was in His Father not His friends, nor any "professional" therapist. He didn't even have a lawyer. But He suffered death, so we could have life. Our "greater good" came out of His suffering. Sometimes our suffering brings about a "greater good" or is for the good of others. It also can bring out the true nature of others, but even if they continue hurting us, or rejecting us, we are not to begrudge them or retaliate in any way. Everything we suffer is for the glory of God in some way. We may have to suffer because God is rebuking us for our own stupid decisions, or our suffering may bring out God's glory in us in another way. "His strength is made perfect in our weakness".
There are those who claim that Jesus doesn't want us to suffer pain for very long, or a need for any length of time. They negatively condemn the suffering person with the statement, "You don't have faith." That is so cruel, and they obviously have not suffered in the same way, or they are in denial (i.e. lying). I honestly believe those people don't know the true and living God of the Bible, but serve the god of their own making. That's another delusion of people's feelings that blinds them to the truth. They do not want to believe God would make them suffer, so they serve the God of non-suffering -- an idol they've created in their own heart. They have made unto themselves a god of their own liking and in THEIR own image. But again that is not the God of the Bible.
Those who claim that "God is not the God of lack" obviously didn't understand when Paul said he suffered, NEED, nakedness, shipwreck, homelessness, sickness, and etc., all for the glory of Christ. They also apparently don't understand where Paul said that he is content in whatever state he is in, whether it be in abundance or LACK. God blesses people in all walks of life, with different gifts and abilities, and places them where He pleases, for His glory only. I believe that is why Paul said that we shouldn't judge another man's servant. Not everyone is called to be prosperous. Jesus said that "the poor will be with you ALWAYS". And, not everyone is called to be completely healthy, either. I know a pastor who has to go through dialysis, but he determined a long time ago to witness to every person who hooks him up to those machines. There was an opportunity for him to get a kidney, but God asked him, "Haven't I taken care of you this long?" So, he turned it down. That man still is on dialysis, but God has sustained him and kept him alive to be a light to those working in the hospital and those SUFFERING the same condition. Everything we do here, is for eternal reward, not temporal rewards. The "eternal weight of glory" is what matters the most, not the "light affliction" we have here.
Despite what the false teachers are saying, the Bible is not always a "feel good" book nor is it a "self-help" book. The Bible is all about glorifying God, doing God's will, and obeying His truth, as it was in the beginning before the fall. Will we be perfect at it? NO, because we still have to contend with our flesh everyday. But when our feelings are lined up with God's word, we will have true and lasting peace. (Jesus is our peace, not having an uneventful, easy life.) But it all begins with salvation, and the repentance of our sinful lusts, impulses, and feelings. We must renounce those false doctrines I mentioned before, renounce mystical experiences that are not Biblical, agree that God is right, and embrace the simple truth of the Bible. We must align our feelings with what God says is right, since He cannot lie, and we are children of the father of lies (the devil). Choose you this day whom you will serve (believe), your feelings and this world's philosophies, or God and His word. Who's right?
