The word emotion comes from the Latin word "emovere" which means to stir up or agitate. It was adapted into Middle French as "emotion" which referred to a social disturbance or agitation. So emotional would be an adjective describing a person's state mind and being. When a person is emotional, they are very passionate about what they are doing and /or saying to get their point across. Emotions are and should be high when one is performing (I'll get back to the word performing later in the article) in sports, singing and acting on stage or on the big screen. Emoting in these arenas is essential.
Now, let’s talk about emoting in the pulpit. Is there a place for it or no? Or should one be stoic and melancholy? We all are emotional beings. The good Lord made us that way. But with anything, a healthy balance is the key right?
I have always been a keen observer of people. And since I am a Christian, I definitely have my focus on the Church - all the time everyday. What I am observing now is sad. 1) The Church is too feminized - we have women in positions they have no Biblical right to be in. They are claiming they are Apostles and Prophetesses, Pastors and Co-Pastors with their husbands. And because of this unbiblical leadership we have )2 false prophecies running amuck and silly women along with weak men co-signing this foolishness in the congregations. What is the tragic result: emotional gospel.
We are definitely hard headed people. God help us!
Tickle Me Elmo!
Elmo is a Muppet character from the children's television program Sesame Street. In 1996 a plush toy was made of the character named "Tickle Me Elmo." When squeezed Elmo would belt out his silly little laugh. Unfortunately, I liken this seeker sensitive Church cult we are experiencing like that toy from the nineties. The "preacher" in the pulpit are saying ticklish things that parishioners can laugh and emotionally cry about, but not much else. We are in the church era of good feelings. These are TED Talks in the pulpit; its reality TV. It may sound and look good, but it’s spiritual diabetes - it’s poison to the soul.
This is what Paul commanded Timothy to do:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears (emphasis added) they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
If you are keeping a pulse on what is going in the Church, this is where we are right now! Many have walked away
from the truth and sound doctrine, and have decided to dis-engage their minds and are paying for false teachers to tell them what they want to hear. This is typical of the rebellious heart of humans to push God aside and to put an idol on their hearts instead of the liberating truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is the result of this?
"Tickle-Me-Elmo!" Emotional Gospel.
Come Get Your Tickets!
Numerous mega churches have a concert atmosphere. The false teacher is the main attraction not the Lord. There seems to be a dying breed of sound Bible expositors men like: Billy G. Ingram, Voodie Baucham, RC Sproul, John MacArthur, Charles Stanley all who have gone on to glory. Fortunately we still have Allister Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, Stephen Nichols, Chuck Swindoll, Justin Peters, Paul Washer, David Jeremiah, Todd Friel, Darrell Harrison and Virgil Walker, et al.
In these performing art centers there is super hyperactive music that will obviously produce an overload of dopamine levels. But in order to keep the party going, the performer in the pulpit has to keep-the-needle-on-the-record with the music going in the background in order to keep the attention of the dupes in the audience. How does he or she do this? Ignore sound doctrine, but at the same time sprinkle in some Bible verses they always, and I mean always use out of context so as to appear they have fidelity to God and His word when in actuality they are building a monument to themselves like Saul did when he claimed he obeyed God when commanded to destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:12).
These are not teachers / preachers of the gospel, they are hypnotists casting spells on the undiscerning.
Like Paul said in Galatians 1 these false teachers are preaching a different gospel. Paul also said if anyone teaches any other gospel other than the true gospel let them be accursed (Galatians 1:6-8). Translation, let them be condemned to destruction! Paul also commanded that we mark and avoid those who cause divisions by teaching false doctrines and thus disrupt the unity of the body (Romans 16:17-18).
Paul gave Titus who was a Pastor this charge:
For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should appoint elders in every city as I commanded you - if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God. not self-willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober minded, just, holy, self controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict (or rebuke) who contradict (speak against the word of God) Titus 1:5-9.
God refuses to be mocked (Galatians 6:7).
I have said this before and I am saying it again, the most dangerous person in the world is a false teacher. Why? Because they are wolves in sheep's clothing; they appear as preachers of righteousness. They have the Christian lingo, cadence and charisma. They know enough Bible verses to give the illusion they are genuine. The mega church atmosphere, the clothes they wear, the money they have, the beautiful family provide the optics of success and holiness. Looking at all of that, they can sell the idea that they are blessed of God because they are rich - but not in spirit.
True witnesses of Christ never put the focus on what they have because that is not what a real shepherd does. Neither do they puff themselves up like false teachers do. The Apostle Peter commanded the following of elders / bishops / pastors:
So I exhort the elders among you. as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed; shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain (emphasis added), but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears (Jesus Christ), you will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Peter 5:1-4).
Those that do not heed the words of Peter and Paul that I have cited in this article and continue to minstrel God, the Church and the gospel will sadly give more material to comedians like Druski to parody and lampoon the God we serve. Proverbs 25:26 says, “A righteous man who falls before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.”
Many are making God look foolish to the world. Either live right or stop calling on His name.
So, to those women who are rebellious and out of pocket; pastoring churches when God has clearly forbidden you because God has charged qualified men with headship of HIS Church, not yours (1 Tim 3; Titus 1). Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Stop usurping authority over men and obey God. Do you think the Lord is blessing “your church” because it’s large and filled every week? You’re just as valuable as men in the Church, but you’re not supposed to share the same authority. Just as the man is the head of his wife in the home, the man is also the head of the woman in the Church. Women can teach women and children, but not men in a Pastoral capacity.
This ordinance did not disappear after the first century. It also is not misogyny for me to say these things either. It’s the Word of God. It does not matter if a woman has her DDiv or MDiv. This is one of the main reasons the Church is dysfunctional; once again unbiblical leadership- silly and rebellious women in charge and weak men who are simping for them.
Jesus died and shed his precious blood to redeem us. He deserves far better than what many of these Churches are doing.
For the Churches that are apostate, I implore you, repent, love God, teach the Word faithfully so that souls are saved. Leave the worldly culture out where it belongs, in the streets.