"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" (Prov. 14:12).
This same point is repeated in Proverbs 16:25, and certainly the principle is taught throughout the Bible. The principle is this: don't follow your heart!
Jeremiah 10:23 says, "I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps." The prophet makes a similar point in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" Also, Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. On that day, many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you, depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.'"
Sadly, too many people today base their spirituality on feelings. They do what feels right and what makes them feel spiritual. Nowadays, religious people are searching for tingly feelings and sensations. If it feels right, it must be right. If my heart is telling me that this is right, then it must be right. Wrong!
Solomon tells us that we cannot trust our feelings. Jeremiah says that man cannot guide himself (which is basically what we're trying to do when we rely on our feelings). Our Lord tells us that salvation comes when we do the will of the Father, not when we feel spiritual.
Softly strummed guitars during prayers. Dimmed lights. Sermons with feel-good stories and little Bible teaching. Charismatic activities that tug at the heartstrings and create excitement but accomplish nothing in the area of spiritual edification (which comes from the word of God). Innovative worship activities that are not found in the word of God...but hey, it sure sounds cool. Light shows. Artificial fog. Rock and roll bands in worship. And I could go on and on and on.
Instead of following our heart's every desire and whim, we need to start seeking Bible authority for all that we do. If we follow our heart, we may end up alienated from God. Our heart cannot be trusted. Our feelings aren't reliable. But if we do things according to the New Testament pattern, we can rest assured that what we're doing is acceptable to the Lord.
John 4:24 says that we MUST worship God in spirit and in truth. To worship in truth is to worship according to God's word, for God's word is truth (Jn. 17:17). Matthew 15:8-9 says, "This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." When we incorportate the commandments of men into worship, the result is vain worship, worship that is unacceptable to God.
Where is the New Testament authority for instrumental music in worship? I know that it feels good and we want to object by saying, "What could possibly be wrong with it?" but where is the book, chapter and verse authorizing it in the church? Where is the New Testament authority for monthly, quarterly or yearly observances of the Lord's Supper? Where are we authorized to mandate tithing today? Friends, we need to start thinking about these kinds of things.
I am not saying that emotions are always wrong, or that we shouldn't feel what we do in our worship to God. Certainly, our heart should be in it. We MUST worship God in spirit! But these feelings and emotions must be kept within the confines of what is authorized.
What about you? Are you following your heart or can you confidently assert that all you do in worship to the Lord is divinely authorized?
Feelings cannot be trusted. But the will of God, the Bible, can absolutely be trusted.
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