The current rash or tongue-speaking, miracle-sanctioning, and the far more common errors concerning direct Spirit indwelling, that infects many institutional churches of Christ, was not brought to earth in the Apollo 11 moon dust. It sprang from causes within the ranks. Last month we suggested that reaction to coldness may have triggered some of this error. As an interrelated cause, some sought to promote “genuine worship” with material props, such as dimmed lights, mood music (a cappella, of course), and other “devotional” clap-trap; and the resulting emotionalism was glibly assigned to the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n
Serving God “from the heart” involves the emotions, to be sure – but such emotions as proceeds from a knowledge of God’s will, and desire to serve Him. The “artwork” and parties of the popular Young People’s Classes produce only a superficial knowledge of the Bible, (“doctrinal” studies, you know, are no longer “relevant”) so churches that have gone along with the modern trends are poorly equipped to combat “direct Spirit” errors.<\/p>\n
But the underlying cause of this and practically every other “brotherhood” problem is subjectivism – looking within ourselves for authority. When brethren no longer feel the need for Bible authority (external authority – going to the Bible for their faith –\u00a0Romans 10:17) they look inward, to human reason, practical experience, or “feelings” for the answers. This may begin with their feelings about instrumental music (I like) or the care of orphans (Surely that is good) or other church-hood projects (proven right by “mainstream” acceptance) until finally, demands for Bible authority become most distasteful.<\/p>\n
Subjectivism takes many forms. The rank modernist makes God’s word subject to his approval – divine truth becomes “relative” to his understanding, or so he thinks. But the same error is at work among those who say God’s word can be understood only by the Spirit-endowed elect. And those who believe they are cut by the Holy Spirit (apart from His sword, the written word) are but a step away.<\/p>\n
When Pat Boone says that God communicates with Him “in a way that maybe you wouldn’t understand except inwardly and in a spiritual way” – this is subjectivism. The product of the communication is put upon exactly the same ground as the feeling, or “still small voice” of the sectarian, that he offers as proof of his salvation. Neither can be proven by the external authority of God’s word, as revealed to the Apostles and Prophets (I John 4:6;\u00a0Ephesians 3:3-5;\u00a0I Corinthians 14:37).<\/p>\n
Conservative brethren, who have steadfastly demanded Bible authority for faith and practice, are little affected by the current Spirit craze. It is the brother who has been softened by earlier forms of subjectivism who now “feels” that the Holy Spirit helps him to find a parking place. I feel no joy in stating this. I am saddened by the defection of Pat Boone and all the others. But my sadness began long before they got this far. It began years ago, as they took their first steps in institutionalism and the social gospel movement.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Robert Turner via\u00a0Plain Talk, April 1970 The current rash or tongue-speaking, miracle-sanctioning, and the far more common errors concerning direct Spirit indwelling, that infects many institutional churches of Christ, was not brought to earth in the Apollo 11 moon dust. It sprang from causes within the ranks. Last month we suggested that reaction to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[727,506,546],"class_list":["post-27273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-emotionalism","tag-emotions","tag-feelings"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6619,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/emotionalism\/","url_meta":{"origin":27273,"position":0},"title":"Emotionalism","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 21, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Acts 20:18-38 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When we look at the various denominations around us, it is hard to miss their enthusiasm and the emotional quality to the things that they do. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They really get involved in their worship. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The bigger churches services are large productions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A friend once\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":59484,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-contagion-of-emotions\/","url_meta":{"origin":27273,"position":1},"title":"The Contagion of Emotions","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 24, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton At Ephesus, there was a stirring of emotions causing the idolatrous people to start a long series of chants and emotional outbursts of \"Great is Diana of the Ephesians\" (Acts 19:34). This constant chant went on for two hours. There was a contagion of emotions, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/revival-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14966,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-ex-girlfriend-is-caught-up-in-emotionalism-how-can-i-get-her-to-see-the-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":27273,"position":2},"title":"My ex-girlfriend is caught up in emotionalism. How can I get her to see the truth?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 27, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I just wanted to know if you had any advice to assist me in dealing with this particular situation. I have tried to approach my ex-girlfriend about allowing emotions to lead you to follow false doctrine and learned that she has a new boyfriend, who apparently she believes is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61203,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/worship-the-emotional-component\/","url_meta":{"origin":27273,"position":3},"title":"Worship: The Emotional Component","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 8, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Warren E. Berkley \"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,\"\u00a0(John 4:24). Every element of true worship involves some emotional component. The emotional component is not driven by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit (as in Calvinism) or \"getting the Holy Spirit\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58855,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-problem-with-emotions\/","url_meta":{"origin":27273,"position":4},"title":"The Problem with Emotions","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 8, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"by Stan Cox Do you feel good about yourself? Your relationship with God? Do you feel good about those with whom you have spiritual fellowship? Do you have joy without measure? A peace which passes understanding? Does a smile invariably crease your face when you contemplate your eternal welfare? It\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11850,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-found-the-sermon-on-emotionalism-uplifting\/","url_meta":{"origin":27273,"position":5},"title":"I found the sermon on emotionalism uplifting","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 29, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I just got done reading\u00a0the sermon on emotionalism.\u00a0 I found it very uplifting; not because of the language that was used, but because of the message.\u00a0 I am somewhat of an itinerant preacher but have settled down recently to work with a small congregation that is not more than\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27273\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}