Quote:
Originally Posted by MissBrattified
Emotions can be evidence of sincerity. I tend to doubt sincerity if there is no emotion attached to it. When my husband says "I love you", or "I'm sorry", I expect there to be some emotion attached, and which one IS attached determines whether or not I believe him.  Humans are emotional creatures. Show me an emotionless worshiper and I will show you someone who isn't very passionate about God. If God doesn't cause some kind of response--ANY kind of response--then...well.... That's just how I see it. I do concede that we all respond differently, but there should be a response to God. Furthermore, I don't place singing, dancing and praising God for the sheer joy of it in the category of "emotionalism", and many do. I strongly disagree with that, at least represented in a negative light.
As for the congregation--I think I would go with "naive", because those of us who have been around Pentecost all our lives can see through the "candy stick" in two seconds--but a new convert isn't necessarily going to sense that--they're just going to respond to someone else who is or seems to be excited about the Holy Ghost or Jesus' Name or the Alpha & Omega, Our Deliverer...etc.
I have seen my children genuinely respond to things I would never be moved by--so I guess I'm not so ready to label the congregation as insincere just because the leader is insincere or a closet narcissist. Maybe ignorance is bliss? |
I agree that "naive" is a much better choice of word than "ignorant".
As to the new converts being the only ones that are not aware of the "candy stick" mentality. You are probably right, BUT......
Let me share the story first. You may remember me telling this.
Brother Billy Cole was preaching at BOTT some years ago. He, in a normal tone, said, "God is doing great things."
The audience does not respond.
He elevates his voice. "GOD IS DOING GREAT THINGS!!!"
Loud clapping and verbal response. He talks a little longer and does the whole thing again, beginning with the normal tone of voice. Same exact response.
He then goes on to say, "Do you see what you did? You did not respond to what I said. You responded to how I said it! Someday we will learn."
I have observed through the years that the congregation, largely, is waiting for instructions on when to respond and how to do that. I think it is unfortunate that this occurs.
So, really, the "candy stick" kinda sweeps over the new converts and grabs the seasoned saint. JMHO.
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