Emotions & The Spirit

[Socialite]

Is everytime you are feeling emotional in a spiritual setting also the presence of God?


How can you tell the difference?

People who weep in a worship service -- is this always the presence of God, or sometimes human emotions extended in gratitude toward God?

Musing about emotions and the Spirit and how we maintain a distinction.

[ILG]

These are good questions...

[Pressing-On]

How do you praise and worship God without any emotion involved?

I believe, as human beings, we are emotional people and that our sincere emotions connect with His Spirit. There are times something (a word, a thought, a song, etc.) touches our heart, blesses us, thereby, connecting us with His Spirit. Then there are times His Spirit draws connecting with us and our emotions causing us to reach for Him.

[onefaith2]

Is everytime you are feeling emotional in a spiritual setting also the presence of God?


How can you tell the difference?

People who weep in a worship service -- is this always the presence of God, or sometimes human emotions extended in gratitude toward God?

Musing about emotions and the Spirit and how we maintain a distinction.

Yes I don't think worship without emotion can exist. How we express ourselves to the Spirit of God is always emotional. That doesn't answer your question though because you are asking how do you know if its the Spirit of God moving on you or emotions.

If something is taking you to Jesus, like the Spirit does, it is most likely not just emotion.

Something like Westboro Baptist church, I would say emotion.

[RandyWayne]

A very wise man once said "Your emotions can deceive you. Don't trust them."

http://afcmin.org/ateam/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ben-kenobi-ghost2.gif

[NotforSale]

Emotion is a HORRIBLE guide to understanding God's Will. So many people have fallen into this trap, making bold claims of promise, hope, and prophecy while intoxicated by feelings. Emotion is the number one cause of broken vows.

This also creates the Front Row Wonder, and these are usually nothing more than "Attention Getters". Because the fired up preacher is looking for the loudest "Amen!”, this fuels radical emotion by irrational people, leading to a message that is dripping with human desire.

I've seen this emotion put holes in the wall, injure people, and create false prophecies. Emotion has caused excess volume to the point people won’t even go to our Services. It can get so loud at Church, people can’t think or concentrate and visitors think we are crazy.

Emotion has also caused phony “Spirit Infillings” by this strange coaching at the Altar. Rubbing backs, yelling in people’s ears, cranking up the music, this all leads to a manufactured environment that is totally Unbiblical. People speaking in Tongues is done out of pressure, and people are dancing over something that is false.

If Authority will truly stand back to see what’s really going on, I honestly think they would be embarrassed how Churches are driven by this sentimental, religious drunkenness.

[Cindy]

I am not sure how to answer this. As God created us with emotions, I guess we have to be very intimate with Him. If He is guiding us, I think we experience His presence and that is awesome. And sometimes we have an emotional response to His presence.

[Austin]

God gave us a soul where our emotional center is located. I would guess that this was placed in our being for the purpose of fellowship with him under proper experience. I use to use mine when I was in the world a lot. Every time I made decisions with my emotions it seemed like I got into trouble or did the wrong thing. After time goes by you learn one thing, make logical decisions with fact attached and not to base your decision making on how you feel.
The same is true with God and worship. Emotions can be tricky, most of the time they have a tendency to relate to something that you have a mental picture of. If that picture is incorrect then the emotions will also be incorrect.
The bible says " the joy of the Lord is our strength" joy is an inner feeling based upon a outer fact of something. So emotions are a part of our service to the Lord just make sure what your identifying with is the truth of the Lord's word.

[Socialite]

Maybe I was unclear, because some of you are seeming to respond as if I was suggesting worship sans emotions is being proposed.

I agree emotion is a part of the way we worship God, or are affected by His good deeds for us. But often times, we are quick to point to someone crying, and say "see the Spirit is all over them."

Can our worship be emotional without being it being supernatural and that still be okay?

[Pressing-On]

Maybe I was unclear, because some of you are seeming to respond as if I was suggesting worship sans emotions is being proposed.

I agree emotion is a part of the way we worship God, or are affected by His good deeds for us. But often times, we are quick to point to someone crying, and say "see the Spirit is all over them."

Can our worship be emotional without being it being supernatural and that still be okay?

Anytime we are in sincere vertical praise/worship, it can't harm anyone. What it will do is lead you into His presence. That is always a good thing.

I don't believe I have ever cried before I have felt His Spirit tugging at my heart during a song or message. I have cried over circumstances beforehand in prayer, and then He has met me where I was at.

Now, I have been in services where I have seen people being insincere where it is obvious they are trying to fit in or just to act spiritual. That doesn't fool anyone.

And I have been in services, especially with the youth, where God is obviously touching the person and the other youth don't like it because they know what that person did in the dark. We have to teach that God is merciful and there is a difference in God reaching for someone out of the way and someone being insincere in their spirituality.

Then there are some that start out in the spirit and take it further in the flesh. I've known a very few that you could not teach them not to do that. They wanted to take it further than God and were going to do that regardless of how much you instructed until you were blue in the face.

Most of my experiences have been positive, emotional moves of God. Not so much the negative aspect. Although it can be there, it doesn't override the sincerity of God.

[Socialite]

Anytime we are in sincere vertical praise/worship, it can't harm anyone. What it will do is lead you into His presence. That is always a good thing.

I don't believe I have ever cried before I have felt His Spirit tugging at my heart during a song or message. I have cried over circumstances beforehand in prayer, and then He has met me where I was at.

Now, I have been in services where I have seen people being insincere where it is obvious they are trying to fit in or just to act spiritual. That doesn't fool anyone.

And I have been in services, especially with the youth, where God is obviously touching the person and the other youth don't like it because they know what that person did in the dark. We have to teach that God is merciful and there is a difference in God reaching for someone out of the way and someone being insincere in their spirituality.

Then there are some that start out in the spirit and take it further in the flesh. I've known a very few that you could not teach them not to do that. They wanted to take it further than God and were going to do that regardless of how much you instructed until you were blue in the face.

Most of my experiences have been positive, emotional moves of God. Not so much the negative aspect. Although it can be there, it doesn't override the sincerity of God.

So for you, tears are always a sign of the Spirit?

I don't think tears are insincere if they aren't Spirit-induced... do you?

[Pressing-On]

So for you, tears are always a sign of the Spirit?

I don't think tears are insincere if they aren't Spirit-induced... do you?

No, I don't think tears are "always" a sign of the Spirit. I'm just saying that I usually cry when I feel His Spirit tugging at me. Sometimes I feel His presence in the service, but not necessarily a "personal" tug at me, if you understand my point. IOW, I can feel His presence fill the place and other times, He is directly wanting my attention. That doesn't mean He is not ministering to others as well, you understand. But, it's like when we say, "He showed up just for me!" LOL! Sometimes it feels that way. It's very personal, and at that point, it's very hard for me not to cry.

No, I don't believe tears are insincere if not moved by the Spirit. But, I do believe there can be insincere tears. Crocodile tears, if you will.

[Pressing-On]

And let me say that the NT Church is an awesome work of God. His plan for it is very detailed, laid out and awesome!! That is why I am thankful for what He did on the cross, but I know the resurrection was the beginning. He transferred His power and authority on the NT Church.

I am not only content to watch Mel Gibson's, "Passion of the Christ", so to speak. I want to talk about the Resurrection! That is Acts 2:38 to me. It means everything! It is the power of God unto salvation! It is why I am where I am today. And it never has had anything, whatsoever, to do with standards. Even when not agreeing on some things, I won't walk away from what Peter preached. It is my salvation.

[Austin]

Maybe I was unclear, because some of you are seeming to respond as if I was suggesting worship sans emotions is being proposed.

I agree emotion is a part of the way we worship God, or are affected by His good deeds for us. But often times, we are quick to point to someone crying, and say "see the Spirit is all over them."

Can our worship be emotional without being it being supernatural and that still be okay?

There can be a lot of different emotions going on with a christian. They can be travailing in the spirit for someone, themselves. or something else. Anything a child of God is having some kind of emotion going on Jesus is interested because he is inside that believer. If a person is in church service and is crying then someone needs to go over put their arm around that person and pray that God will lead in what ever it is. God does not always expose others problems because they are of a private nature.I personal don't see there are any restrictions with emotion and church unless it's something that is way out there in left field. If that's the case the pastor should be picking up on that.

[Pressing-On]

There can be a lot of different emotions going on with a christian. They can be travailing in the spirit for someone, themselves. or something else. Anything a child of God is having some kind of emotion going on Jesus is interested because he is inside that believer. If a person is in church service and is crying then someone needs to go over put their arm around that person and pray that God will lead in what ever it is. God does not always expose others problems because they are of a private nature.I personal don't see there are any restrictions with emotion and church unless it's something that is way out there in left field. If that's the case the pastor should be picking up on that.

I agree with your post, except, in the bold, I still would want to feel after the Spirit to see if I felt the praying/crying was so personal that they didn't want someone to touch them. It can interfere in their communication with God, and I would want to be careful with that. JMO.

If you feel the person would do very well having a supportive arm around their shoulder, then by all means, follow that lead. :thumbsup

[RandyWayne]

There can be a lot of different emotions going on with a christian. They can be travailing in the spirit for someone, themselves. or something else. Anything a child of God is having some kind of emotion going on Jesus is interested because he is inside that believer. If a person is in church service and is crying then someone needs to go over put their arm around that person and pray that God will lead in what ever it is. God does not always expose others problems because they are of a private nature.I personal don't see there are any restrictions with emotion and church unless it's something that is way out there in left field. If that's the case the pastor should be picking up on that.

This is exactly why I stopped praying with others, or at least showing as little emotion as possible when doing so. I do not need any other overly emotional person to feel like they need to swoop in like a super hero and help "pray me through!".

[Pressing-On]

This is exactly why I stopped praying with others, or at least showing as little emotion as possible when doing so. I do not need any other overly emotional person to feel like they need to swoop in like a super hero and help "pray me through!".

I think that is a leadership call. One time, a women who gets......., well, I gently laid my hand on her shoulder to indicate she needed to stop. After all, she was praying with my son. Not having that going on. :nah

[Austin]

I agree with your post, except, in the bold, I still would want to feel after the Spirit to see if I felt the praying/crying was so personal that they didn't want someone to touch them. It can interfere in their communication with God, and I would want to be careful with that. JMO.

If you feel the person would do very well having a supportive arm around their shoulder, then by all means, follow that lead. :thumbsup

And I very much agree with you. I have been in services where this was going on and I myself did not feel lead to touch or even pray for that person. When dealing with complex emotions in people it's a risky adventure and sometime difficult to discern.

[RandyWayne]

I think that is a leadership call. One time, a women who gets......., well, I gently laid my hand on her shoulder to indicate she needed to stop. After all, she was praying with my son. Not having that going on. :nah

Do you refer to her as Mrs Robinson in private? LOL

[RandyWayne]

And I very much agree with you. I have been in services where this was going on and I myself did not feel lead to touch or even pray for that person. When dealing with complex emotions in people it's a risky adventure and sometime difficult to discern.

<-----the most complex person with equally complex emotions you are ever likely to see in a church. :) I will start wearing a t-shirt with "Pray with at your own risk! You've been warned...." on both front and back.

[Pressing-On]

Do you refer to her as Mrs Robinson in private? LOLNo. LOL!

And, BTW, I came back to add that it wasn't because she was a woman praying, it was how she was going about it.