Are most people______

[LifeHiscost]

______pursuing after "feel good" theology? Such as, "Is what is said or read making me feel good, and therefor must be from God. Or if it makes me feel bad it must be from satan or his minions."

Please move to the appropriate forum if this is too delicate for those who find it difficult to believe that heaven's enemies mustn't be mentioned among the realism of life.

God blesses!

[Naomi]

IMHO, I believe that is just plain old backward, stinkin thinkin

[olger]

Interesting post. We are witnessing a migration from objective thought to subjective thought.

Adventist self-identity once rested on adherence to external truths found in and accepted from the word of God. The experiential element always has been there, but it was used to define my reaction, my surrender to a new birth, my response to the call of Christ. The submission of all my desires and plans and habits and perspectives and goals and hopes—before the majestic truth that Christ has revealed to me. That’s an objective relationship, friends. The transaction was objective. There was a subjective element which dealt with my method and my surrender, but not with the elements of truth. The spirit leads me to accept God’s ways, whether it is convenient or not.

Today’s Adventist church has moved measurably from the description I have just given you. Emphasis falls rather incidentally apart from objective truth (True because it was revealed by God). The stress today is falling on a relationship that relies no longer on revealed truth as it does on inner emotional experience. Hence we have all this feel-good preaching that’s coming from our pulpits, folk. It’s an effort on the part of our pastors to meet the needs that they perceive. At its popular level relationship suggests the coming together of mere equal parties, in a format suggesting negotiated agreement of some kind. Almost missing from this formula is the sense of awe — what it means to come into the presence of the Master of the universe.

`G

[Naomi]

Excellent summation of the elements associated with the transition.

And, I for one, do enjoy the 'feel good' messages as long as we do not veer too far from the truth.

Quote:

Almost missing from this formula is the sense of awe — what it means to come into the presence of the Master of the universe.

Herein, lies the core of the issue.

[M. T. Cross]

I think it comes down to what a person expects out of their religion. There are 3 basic reasons people choose religion.

1. A crutch - these people indeed will tend to go for a feel good type of thing

2. Power - these people will as well, so long as it helps them hold some sway over others.

3. Seekers of Truth - these types will accept the hard and difficult along side all that makes them feel good.

This applies to every religion that I know of. You will find all 3 of these in them from Christian to Buddhist to the various Pagan religions.

I wish that I could say there were more of number 3 than 1 and 2 but sadly there does not seem to be.

I think that has a great deal to do with our Western Culture where there is so much pressure and stress in our every day activities. People need room to breath and for many a feel good religious experience is just that for them - an escape.

[Naomi]

Good analogy EC

Somehow, if we can get past 1 & 2 perhaps and can grow closer to our Lord, and #3 will follow.

As a PS ... the anchor available in #3 is really the greatest stress reducer that I have found. Pressure in business or careers, or life in general seem to create the reasons for shades of gray/compromise. The Black & White of fundamental take away some of the hard choices we are called to make.

Just knowing that in all things God is in control.

I do believe that is the basis for all the various religions which you mentioned. To release our basic selfish human nature to our higher power... for me HE has many names, but God works well. :)

[M. T. Cross]

Exactly Naomi!

And there we find common ground! Letting go of Ego, letting go of Self.

The rest I will pm you cause this is getting dangerously close to religious discussion in this forum

[Naomi]

Oops I forgot where we were posting. Thanks.

email works well in this case LOL

[phkrause]

One of our major problems is we've given into greek thinking instead of Hebrew thinking. To much philosophy with greek thinking.

[Naomi]

[LifeHiscost]

I'm impressed, Og. I feel( I've got that old feelin') you've hit the nail on the head. LoL

God blesses!

[LifeHiscost]

One of our major problems is we've given into greek thinking instead of Hebrew thinking. To much philosophy with greek thinking.

While I'm not sure of this, it seems Greek thinking has separated the understanding of the Old Testament from the New, whereas the Jewish believer knows the one is almost totally deficient without the other.

Although I still believe John 3:16 has never been unacceptable to me, in the deepest sense, without another Word from the Scripture, despite the naysayers who believe that one Word without context is a pretext.

God blesses!

[Dr. Rich]

Actually, I thought this was a great question, one for all ages. Didn't they kill Christ because He did NOT make them feel good? After all didn't Jesus say He did not come here to bring peace, but the opposite?

If one wants to feel good, then join Osteen's church or one of the many feel good churches. But just remember the warning about the narrow gate and the few in Rev. 3:4, as the truth cuts both ways. ALL of those warnings in the book of Revelation are for real, especially Rev. 21:8 and 22:15.

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

But just remember the warning about the narrow gate and the few in Rev. 3:4

Putting that warning in perspective is important and gratifying for those who know Jesus.

"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,

Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,

Be to our God forever and ever.

Amen.”"Revelation 7:9-12 NKJV

God blesses!