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We think Mr. Jenkins regards emotional responses in church as a bad thing, but he doesn't explain why. He doesn't give parameters for what constitutes "excessive" emotionalism. He doesn't tell us how emotionalism can be differentiated from a real touch from God.
Although emotion is a natural physical expression, for most reformed/ conservative Christians it is a unholy. This is what the author's case is built upon, an assumption.
The author neither quotes nor references any Scripture at all. None. We wonder how a supposed Bible teacher manages to completely avoid the Bible.
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Many Christians have likely experienced emotionalism - the moments at various worship services and events when excessive focus is placed on a person's emotions. (We wonder what he considers "excessive.")
Often, you will see it in places where “decisions” or “worship experiences” are elevated above proper worship of God or, quite frankly, above the gospel. ("Often." Will the author cite examples?)
In its ugliest forms, the leader attempts to manipulate the congregation’s emotions to meet whatever their end goal is. and emotional atmospheres are dubbed “a move of the Holy Spirit.” (Yet again the author offers a loose accusation. Will he back it up?)
Let me continue to be frank – it is blasphemous to call something that is not the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit. (We can certainly agree, but what specifically constitutes blasphemy when it comes to emotional expression?)
The Holy Spirit does not “flood the atmosphere” in fuzzy feeling sort of way. (What this might mean is anyone's guess. His summary denial that the Holy Spirit influences the physical realm is left undocumented.)
The Holy Spirit indwells believers. But that is beside the point. (It seems the author believes that the Holy Spirit is present only in believers and not anywhere else. Again we wonder if the author will document his statements.)
In its lighter forms, although usually unintentional, pressure is often applied to respond to the music or message in a certain way, whether it be raising hands or coming forward to kneel and pray. (By this definition, a pastor's call to repent, or be saved, or respond to his sermon is manipulation.
If a worship leader cannot ask people to respond in worship, then a pastor cannot have a call to salvation.)
Of course, there is nothing wrong with raising hands in worship or kneeling in prayer – so long as there is not emotional pressure applied to do so. (What is "emotional pressure?" What kinds of pressure are acceptable? Further, is asking the people to respond in worship really some sort of emotional pressure?)
Some Christians enjoy those aspects of an event, but others do not and may feel a bit uncomfortable if pressured to participate in that way. (Are people really that weak that their discomfort is a guideline for church practices? You can see where this would go if applied universally and not just with worship.)
One of the problems with this lighter form of emotionalism is that leaders expect everyone to have a preferred outward response. (Undocumented claim. Quite the contrary, we've almost always found that leaders ask people to respond as they choose.)
These environments often make the person who wants to stand with his or her hands in their pockets less spiritual than everyone else. (Another undocumented claim.)
This should not be so. The gospel frees us to stand with our hands in our pockets. The gospel demands repentance of sin and faith in Christ, not a particular emotional response. (Category Error and a false choice.)
In extreme cases, leaders have exchanged the power of the gospel for the deficiency of emotionalism. (Hmm. The author persists in leveling vague charges and unspecified violations of the Holy Spirit. Will he actually cite any of these "extreme cases?")
Leader, the gospel frees you from forcing emotions. The gospel is the power of God to save. You may be able to force an emotional response, but you are utterly incapable of forcing a heart or life change in someone. And that’s freeing. When you trade the gospel for emotionalism you lose the very power of God. Trade in the tricks of the trade for the all-powerful, all-surpassing glory of Jesus Christ in the gospel. The gospel of Jesus does not need that perfect worship atmosphere to be effective; it just needs to be declared. When you try to add your slickness or expertise to the gospel, you lose it altogether. The gospel is the power to change hearts and lives. (The author creates a false binary choice between the Gospel and emotion.)
As a congregant, you are free from the pressures to act in an unnatural, emotional way. (How are emotions unnatural?)
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Many Christians have likely experienced emotionalism - the moments at various worship services and events when excessive focus is placed on a person's emotions. (We wonder what he considers "excessive.")
Often, you will see it in places where “decisions” or “worship experiences” are elevated above proper worship of God or, quite frankly, above the gospel. ("Often." Will the author cite examples?)
In its ugliest forms, the leader attempts to manipulate the congregation’s emotions to meet whatever their end goal is. and emotional atmospheres are dubbed “a move of the Holy Spirit.” (Yet again the author offers a loose accusation. Will he back it up?)
Let me continue to be frank – it is blasphemous to call something that is not the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit. (We can certainly agree, but what specifically constitutes blasphemy when it comes to emotional expression?)
The Holy Spirit does not “flood the atmosphere” in fuzzy feeling sort of way. (What this might mean is anyone's guess. His summary denial that the Holy Spirit influences the physical realm is left undocumented.)
The Holy Spirit indwells believers. But that is beside the point. (It seems the author believes that the Holy Spirit is present only in believers and not anywhere else. Again we wonder if the author will document his statements.)
In its lighter forms, although usually unintentional, pressure is often applied to respond to the music or message in a certain way, whether it be raising hands or coming forward to kneel and pray. (By this definition, a pastor's call to repent, or be saved, or respond to his sermon is manipulation.
If a worship leader cannot ask people to respond in worship, then a pastor cannot have a call to salvation.)
Of course, there is nothing wrong with raising hands in worship or kneeling in prayer – so long as there is not emotional pressure applied to do so. (What is "emotional pressure?" What kinds of pressure are acceptable? Further, is asking the people to respond in worship really some sort of emotional pressure?)
Some Christians enjoy those aspects of an event, but others do not and may feel a bit uncomfortable if pressured to participate in that way. (Are people really that weak that their discomfort is a guideline for church practices? You can see where this would go if applied universally and not just with worship.)
One of the problems with this lighter form of emotionalism is that leaders expect everyone to have a preferred outward response. (Undocumented claim. Quite the contrary, we've almost always found that leaders ask people to respond as they choose.)
These environments often make the person who wants to stand with his or her hands in their pockets less spiritual than everyone else. (Another undocumented claim.)
This should not be so. The gospel frees us to stand with our hands in our pockets. The gospel demands repentance of sin and faith in Christ, not a particular emotional response. (Category Error and a false choice.)
In extreme cases, leaders have exchanged the power of the gospel for the deficiency of emotionalism. (Hmm. The author persists in leveling vague charges and unspecified violations of the Holy Spirit. Will he actually cite any of these "extreme cases?")
Leader, the gospel frees you from forcing emotions. The gospel is the power of God to save. You may be able to force an emotional response, but you are utterly incapable of forcing a heart or life change in someone. And that’s freeing. When you trade the gospel for emotionalism you lose the very power of God. Trade in the tricks of the trade for the all-powerful, all-surpassing glory of Jesus Christ in the gospel. The gospel of Jesus does not need that perfect worship atmosphere to be effective; it just needs to be declared. When you try to add your slickness or expertise to the gospel, you lose it altogether. The gospel is the power to change hearts and lives. (The author creates a false binary choice between the Gospel and emotion.)
As a congregant, you are free from the pressures to act in an unnatural, emotional way. (How are emotions unnatural?)
Those outward acts of emotionalism don’t save you. They do not validate your spirituality. The sign of someone who has been transformed by the gospel is obedience to Christ in the routines of everyday life. You’re free from playing games. You are free to stand still in Christ. (Are we free to respond emotionally as well?)
The wonder of being free from emotionalism is that the gospel itself actually excites the emotions. There is nothing more thrilling to a sinner’s heart than knowing they stand justified before a just and holy God. There is nothing that makes a sinner more sustainably happy than knowing he has the righteousness of Christ. There is nothing that makes a sinner cry a gospel tear more than knowing that God approves of you. And there is nothing more exhilarating to a sinner than knowing you are Christ’s and He is yours.
(The author supplies us with a word salad with no documentation, no examples, no references, and no Scripture verses. We hope he's not someone's pastor.)
The wonder of being free from emotionalism is that the gospel itself actually excites the emotions. There is nothing more thrilling to a sinner’s heart than knowing they stand justified before a just and holy God. There is nothing that makes a sinner more sustainably happy than knowing he has the righteousness of Christ. There is nothing that makes a sinner cry a gospel tear more than knowing that God approves of you. And there is nothing more exhilarating to a sinner than knowing you are Christ’s and He is yours.
(The author supplies us with a word salad with no documentation, no examples, no references, and no Scripture verses. We hope he's not someone's pastor.)
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