It Feels So Right

Humans have an interesting propensity. They tend to think with their feelings. "Hey, that doesn't make sense!" you might say. You're right. It's a contradiction in terms. But it's very common today. What I think isn't true; how I feel is.

Look, as an example, at the economy. There is a standard, popular measure of the economy that is driving all sorts of things. It's called "Consumer Confidence". They have an index for it. They measure it. They use it to decide which direction the market will go. What is it? It asks, "How does the consumer feel about the current economic conditions?" That's a powerful feeling.

I remember a song years ago made popular by Debbie Boone entitled, You Light Up My Life. What a warm and fuzzy love song! Made you feel good inside. And there is that classic line: "It can't be wrong when it feels so right." You could almost hear my mental brakes squealing with that line, but I'm largely alone in that. "If it feels good, do it." Of course it can't be wrong if it feels right. How could I question it? In fact, that is perhaps the majority argument for the truth of Christianity. "How do you know that Christianity is true?" "Because it feels right." There are likely lots of variations on that. "I got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart." "My gut tells me it's right." "Because I feel so close to God." It's all the same root. "It can't be wrong when it feels so right."

Why, do you suppose, Obama is viewed today by so many with such favorable perspective? Is it because his sharp reasoning has convinced so many? No. His call is for "change," and he's the guy to do it. Of course, he hasn't done it so far. It's really hard to trace much of anything he has accomplished in his political career thus far. And how exactly his change is going to be a good thing isn't very clear. "I'm in favor of people having income and being healthy." Is that change? No, Mr. Obama is gaining such popularity because he makes people feel good. I can't tell you how many times I've heard supporters say, "He's the guy that can bring us all together." Are they unaware that there are many of us that are concerned about what he'll do to America? And the answer to my question is, "Yes, they are unaware." He's making them feel good with his language, demeanor, and attitude. That's what it takes.

We've redefined love to be the feelings that are associated with the choice. We've redefined the attitude of joy to be the same as the feeling of happiness. We've redefined peace as something that is purely a feeling. It seems as if we're in the business of redefining basic commands and necessities (like "the fruit of the Spirit") into feelings instead of choices we make. That's a problem.

These are examples. They just scratch the surface, but they run the gamut. Evil people operate on how they feel. Good Christians operate on how they feel. Good Christians, for instance, view worship as "feeling good toward God." The command, however, is that "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). Yes, emotions are in there. But so are your will and your mind. We are called to be "ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you." "It can't be wrong when it feels so right" isn't a defense.

Feelings are an important aspect of human beings. Solomon says there is a time to laugh and a time to cry (Eccl. 3:4). Paul said we should rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15). We are commanded to "be angry, yet do not sin" (Eph. 4:26). Lots of emotions. They are valuable and they are part of being human. Let's just not allow them to substitute for the minds that God gave us to use. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord (Isa. 1:18).