Does the Bible teach a “feel good” religion?
We sing,
He lives, He lives,
You ask me how I know He lives.
He lives within my heart.
That is a “feel good” song. What happens when we have a bad case of indigestion? Will it seem as though the Lord does not live since we don’t feel so well.
Dr. Charles Ryrie once said that this hymn had terrible theology and it was much better to sing with the children,
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so.
The Bible is an objective foundation for faith. The Bible says that faith comes by reason, and that reason is based on the Word of God. There is nothing wrong with feeling good about our faith and enjoying it. That enjoyable feeling is not the foundation of faith, but rather it is the fruit of faith. This is in the same way that James says that we demonstrate our faith by our works. We don’t go to heaven because of our works, but because we are on our way to heaven we practice our works down here. The works are the fruit of faith in the same way that the good feelings are the fruit of faith.
It is possible to smile, cry, jump up and down, raise our hands, shout out loud, hug one another, give big amounts of money, work many nights in a homeless shelter, serve up soup at the rescue mission, and do many other things while still being straight on the road to a Christless eternity. When you come to know the Savior then it is possible to do all of those things as an evidence of your faith. In that case you will feel good about where you are. It is also possible to be going through very great trials and rejoice. That gladness is not the result of a live of wealth, health, and ease, but comes from a heart that knows that God is at work and the faithful God still is just that. He makes you feel good through the trials.
If that is a “feel good” religion, then that is what a believer has, but don’t make the mistake of making that good feeling the basis of your life in Christ. We can’t say, “something good is going to happen to you today,” but we can say that we know that “all things work together for good to them who love God and to them who are the called according to His purposes.” That is pretty good. Just think of it. You don’t just have the good things to make you feel good, but you have all things.
We sing,
He lives, He lives,
You ask me how I know He lives.
He lives within my heart.
That is a “feel good” song. What happens when we have a bad case of indigestion? Will it seem as though the Lord does not live since we don’t feel so well.
Dr. Charles Ryrie once said that this hymn had terrible theology and it was much better to sing with the children,
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so.
The Bible is an objective foundation for faith. The Bible says that faith comes by reason, and that reason is based on the Word of God. There is nothing wrong with feeling good about our faith and enjoying it. That enjoyable feeling is not the foundation of faith, but rather it is the fruit of faith. This is in the same way that James says that we demonstrate our faith by our works. We don’t go to heaven because of our works, but because we are on our way to heaven we practice our works down here. The works are the fruit of faith in the same way that the good feelings are the fruit of faith.
It is possible to smile, cry, jump up and down, raise our hands, shout out loud, hug one another, give big amounts of money, work many nights in a homeless shelter, serve up soup at the rescue mission, and do many other things while still being straight on the road to a Christless eternity. When you come to know the Savior then it is possible to do all of those things as an evidence of your faith. In that case you will feel good about where you are. It is also possible to be going through very great trials and rejoice. That gladness is not the result of a live of wealth, health, and ease, but comes from a heart that knows that God is at work and the faithful God still is just that. He makes you feel good through the trials.
If that is a “feel good” religion, then that is what a believer has, but don’t make the mistake of making that good feeling the basis of your life in Christ. We can’t say, “something good is going to happen to you today,” but we can say that we know that “all things work together for good to them who love God and to them who are the called according to His purposes.” That is pretty good. Just think of it. You don’t just have the good things to make you feel good, but you have all things.
