By Bob Vaughn - uca@uncommonanswers.com
"Contending for the faith once delivered to the saints"
Uncommon Answers Home Page
EMOTIONS
I would like to share with you my understanding of the place of emotions in the assembly of the
saints.
The question is not so much what is right, as when and where it is
right. The answer is found in I Corinthians 14:26-- "Let all things be
done unto edifying". Worship can bring about almost any expression of
emotions. Emotions are good, but like any good thing they can be
misused.
A church service without expression of emotions is dry and unappealing to say the least. We worship a good and living Savior. Knowing Him cannot help but bring about an emotional response of praise, awe, and thankfulness. It is difficult for those who don't know Him to understand the emotional worship of those who do.
In an assembly an overly
emotional Christian often is a hindrance. His emotions edify only
himself and can cause confusion. This type of Christian needs to be
less concerned with getting a
blessing and more concerned with being
a blessing.
These three points are generally good guidelines:
1) Emotions are good.
They are God given. Almost any expression of emotions is good--weeping,
laughing, shouting, raising of hands, etc. (Psalm 35:27; Psalm 132:9; I
Timothy 2:8; Luke 6:23; I Corinthians 12:26; Psalm 134:2; Psalm 100).
There is a proper time and place for all of it.
2) In church we need
to function as one body, doing all things unto edifying--building up,
blessing the body. If we feel ourselves moving differently than the
congregation, we should retreat to the privacy of a prayer room. We
should not hinder the ministry of the body or cause confusion by our
personal worship (I Corinthians 14:23). All things should be done
decently and in order (I Corinthians 14:40).
3) We should never
feel we can't or shouldn't worship. We come to church, not only to be
taught the Word, but also to express ourselves to God in worship and
praise. We can worship God anywhere and anytime, but when
with a congregation we worship as one.
Let mature love for God and others guide your worship. May we grow in truth and in grace and in love for God and others.
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