I don’t feel very Christian.

I don’t feel very Christian. This phrase has been on my mind a lot recently. So, I questioned, what does this actually mean? Why is christianity a feeling? Why am I associating it with a feeling? And why have I started feeling discouraged when I don't feel very christian? I hear songs and sermons stating they feel God's presence, they feel Him near, I've even felt what they have described, but there is something I've noticed in today's christian culture. We tend to focus more on our feelings than our God.

Over the past few years, I have seen the dynamic of the church change. Suddenly, churches were focused on the feelings of the people rather than the content of the sermon. As a society, we've evolved to focus more on how we feel or how something makes us feel that we have thrown truth out of the way. There are a lot of people in the church disagreeing with other Christians based solely on how they feel. We have started taking our anger and judgement out on people of the church that think differently than the "norm". In return, the church has started walking on eggshells to not hurt someone’s feelings.

Now, the church has stopped hurting people's feelings entirely. They have started accepting sin as normal instead of teaching correction. People who disagree with the church will use phrases like "only God can judge", and "God is love" as means to do what they want, and to tell the church that we must accept them for their sin because God loves them anyway. But Jesus did not accept sin into His temple, so why must we? Jesus extended love by correction, not by acceptance. We must correct out of love, not shame someone for believing something differently. We must accept the person, but never accept the sin, and no sin is above another. Our feelings are liars. Our emotions lie to us about people and situations, and yet, we use them to make major decisions in our lives. We use them as truth.

Galatians 5:16-21 says (paraphrased), to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh, so that you do NOT do the things that you wish. Then in verse 19 it starts listing off a bunch of fleshly desires, which several are emotions, hatred, anger, malice, lust, jealousness, selfishness, envy. It goes on to say that those who practice such things WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God.

In Colossians 3:1-12 (paraphrased), Paul is talking to the new church and telling them to not be of the flesh, but of God, and then lists several fleshly desires.... passion, evil desire, covetousness, anger, wrath, malice- I see a trend here, these would be characterized as feelings or emotions.

I'm not saying having emotions are sin, emotions are not sin. The practice of what you do when you feel these emotions can lead to sin. You should never allow your feelings to dictate what you do, especially when it goes against the word of God.

John 17:17 states, Sanctify them by your truth, Your word is truth.

The only 100% truthful thing in this world is God's word. Take it in it's entirety, do not disregard something because you disagree or it hurts your feelings. Have you read the Old Testament? God didn't play around, He hurt the Israelites feelings more than once, out of correction.

Emotions aren't sin. Feelings aren't sinful. When we put our blinders on and only focus on those feelings, that's when we mess up. God isn’t a feeling, God is a person. God is truth, and sometimes, the truth hurts, but you accept His truthfulness. Extend love by extending correction, not tiptoeing around someone's feelings. It is better to be someone who corrects a wrong, than to be someone who stands on the sidelines watching chaos take over. Be truthful. Explore God's word and accept it as fact. I challenge you, if you are questioning your feelings and the things you hear in the church, research it. Put it next to the word of God. See what God says. You can do it, I promise.

So, I don't feel very Christian, but I am a Christian. God is Who I serve, and God's words are factual. I may not feel Him, but His word tells me that He is there. I may not feel happy, but God's word tells me that there is joy coming in the morning.

Thanks for reading,

Em