Feelings Sometimes Do More Damage Than Good!
Yes, mankind is made in the image of God. And the Lord has feelings; hence so do we. In God’s case, His feelings are ALWAYS appropriate and have a positive result. Feelings could work for the good in human beings as well…but not always!
Scripture warns…
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5)
Do you know where feelings come from? Thoughts. Once you think, then comes feelings. Once feelings are birthed, then actions typically follow. Hence why a controlled thought life is of the utmost necessity in the true child of God. As per this 2 Corinthians passage above, we are commanded to take ALL of our thoughts (and corresponding feelings) captive and align them to the Word of God. No wonder the Bible says over and over again we must meditate on God’s Word (Josh 1:8; Psa 1:2) and walk and live by the Spirit continually (Gal 5:16, 25). That will prevent unrestrained thoughts and help stop ungodly feelings – as well as subsequent unrighteous actions.
Our thought life, feelings, and actions are kept under control if we allow the Lord to apply the divine weapon, the Sword of the Spirit (the Word of God; Eph 6:17) to the inner man. It is a divine two-edged Sword (Heb 4:12). It is the PERFECT scalpel to cut out all ungodliness. No wonder the Bible says we are to hide its text in our hearts. When we do, we will not sin (Psa 119:11). The psalmist said rightly, “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day…Your testimonies are my meditation…because I have observed Your precepts… I have restrained my feet from every evil way.” (Psa 119:97-101). In the future, the New Covenant says God’s Word will be placed permanently in the true believers heart and mind, never to be removed (Jer 31:33; Heb 8:10) – that is once the covenant is fulfilled (see Rev 20)…praise Him!
Take heed lest there will be anyone taking you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the principles of the world and not according to Christ. (Col 2:8)
A watch out…when worldly thinking drives our feelings, it will result in sin. In the passage above, it specifically says we need to stay obedient to Christ, which is the word of God (John 1:1,14) and the Truth (John 14:6). But sadly, many suffer from uncontrolled and unbounded feelings, making their ungodly feelings their idol in which they follow. These idols often result in disastrous behaviors. The world often tells us things like, “go with your gut” or “follow your heart” (a.k.a. to be feelings driven). That is a thought pattern that Scripture diametrically opposes (Rom 12:2). Worldly influence adversely affects feelings…there is no doubt about it. And as King Solomon said (the wisest man to ever live): worldly wisdom does not compare to divine wisdom. Worldliness is meaningless!
’Vanity of vanities’ says the Preacher, ‘all is vanity!’…The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. (Eccl 12:8,13-14).
Keeping the Lord’s commandments is equivalent to taking every thought and feeling captive and making it obedient to the Word of God. You will be judged for this on Judgment Day!
Here’s something else the Bible says about the world…
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
Worldly people will be driven by idolatrous lusts, and the result – ungodly feelings (and subsequent ungodly actions). Essentially these feelings become a god, which go against the will of the Lord. The idea of following ungodly feelings versus the Truth of God’s Word can be eternally problematic.
Another big problem with feelings driven people – some become deceived and start re-labeling ungodly feelings as being “led by the lord” or “hearing from god.” I have personally seen it many times. What they should be doing instead is taking those ungodly thoughts and feelings captive and making them obedient to the Word. Sadly, these types of people often do not do the required sifting. Ultimately they become duped, disguising this “led-ness” as a form of godliness, when it truly lacks the Lord’s influence. It is a great deception. It often falsely claims to be a hyper “closeness with God.” It is closeness with something; that is for sure. Sadly it is not with God, but rather with evil. No if’s, and’s or but’s. Anything that causes you to sin and breaks the Bible’s teaching has absolutely nothing to do with the Lord. Belief in feelings and acting on them over God’s instruction…don’t do it!
Accordingly, it is of the utmost importance that local bodies of Christ equip true children of God with the Bible only (Eph 4:11-16). That is the main God-given objective of the ekklesia (a.k.a. church); to assist in the Holy Spirit sanctification process of God’s called out ones. It is what we are saved for (Rom 8:29)! Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth (John 17:17). This is the strong guard against deception, including the rampantly and growing “feelings driven” false truths that are unrighteously spreading throughout the world, and even in many places called “churches.”
Feelings driven behavior results in feel-good, ear-tickling, and lawless environments (2 Tim 4:3; Jude 4), which is from the devil. Satan rejoices due to this infiltration. Unbridled thoughts and feelings will often produce chaos and disorder, which also is not from God (1 Cor 14:33). The spiritual forces of evil run amuck and devour people under these ungodly conditions. Congregations are ripe for this if they do not fully believe, preach/teach and practice the Scriptures, or when the Word of Truth is not rightly divided. Being emotions driven is NOT being spiritual. It is a great and evil sham!
We need to “cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion” (2 Cor 7:1). That includes all thoughts and resulting feelings/actions that do not align to Truth. If “unbounded by Scripture” thoughts and feelings keep controlling people, the people affected from this will head down the road to destruction. Ironically, ungodly “feelings” driven people will even plead with the Lord on Judgment Day. They will be sent to the everlasting lake of fire for eternity, thinking their feelings drove them to Godly obedience, but find out something very different after it is too late. The voice that they think they heard from God – oh how deceived they were. Up to the last moment their feelings will even cause them to argue their case; that the Lord should declare them righteous due to their own demonstrable works.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ (Matt 7:21-23).
This scenario is so sad, but nonetheless true.
God’s Word is a lamp unto or feet and a Light to our path (Psa 119:105)…not our feelings! If your feelings go against Truth, repent and be driven by the Word of Truth. The rewards for doing so are eternal and priceless! Therefore, “dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is True” (Phil 4:8a)!!