Emotionalism and Existentialism Have no place in Christianity
Proper biblical interpretation is some what of a lost practice among the
black church. It saddens me to say this, but we are behind in almost every way possible. Especially when it comes to proper exegesis of scripture. But I believe I know why….
Early in my walk with Jesus I studied the word of God with a sense of pride. One way I did this was to study God’s word to receive a revelation from Him that would be fresh and completely original. Meaning, I would study the word to come up with my own spin on the scripture. Not studying the scriptures to have a better understanding of Christ or to lead others to Christ, but studying to lead people to me and my so called “Good Preaching”.
Instead of studying the word, and then comparing my notes with the early theologians who had labored in the word to make sure I was not in left field, my prideful self was more interested in what I got from the scriptures. BIG MISTAKE!
For example one day (a long time ago) I was studying this scripture:
“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:19
When I read this I was elated with joy. Why? Because I just knew that God was telling me that if I went with a friend (in agreement) and touched whatever I wanted, that the Father in heaven would be compelled to give it to me. Because Jesus (in the bible) said He would.
Now don’t laugh ok. This is where I was at the time. I had come from a life of being in church but not being in my word. Like I’ve stated many times on this blog I have only been saved 4 years now. The rest of those 23 years I was Pimp Brother “B”. But that’s another post :-)
Thank God I went and compared my new-found revelation in a bible study with my grandmother. She quickly rebuked me and then explained what the text of scripture truly meant. But notice I went and asked her if I was right. If I had not asked who knows, maybe I would have been the next Benny Hinn. Slapping folks on the face and back, because when I studied scripture, what ever I felt was right, I took it as God confirming the scripture to me.
Emotionalism is the ruler of the pentecostal movement. Emotionalism and existentialism. Two words that have nothing to do with orthodox christianity. Two words that are responsible for much of the chaos and bad teaching within the movement today. I call it Charismatic Chaos! Here’s what they mean:
An emotionalist-”Someone whose thoughts and actions are governed by their emotions rather than by logic; Someone who is abnormally emotional.”
An existentialist-”Someone who argues that “existence precedes essence,” that individuals must choose, decide their “essential” nature rather than having it given from some transcendent source.”
Now the logic would be the word of God that has been given unto us. The pentecostal church overrides the word of God and places an emphasis on feelings, visions, out-of-body experiences and anything else that will grant them the feeling of the god they seek. You might ask “Brandon why did you use the word god, instead of God?” Well because the bible doesn’t tell us to seek the true God in that way.
Jesus had a conversation with His disciples towards the end of His earthly ministry:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:1-6
In this exchange between Jesus and His disciples, the way to God is made clear and understandable. There is no confusion or words that Jesus speaks 
that might cause the disciples to lose their way. There are no claims of emotional experiences or out-of-body transitions needed to get to God. Jesus makes it clear. I am the way!
So then Philip asks Jesus a question which I thought was rather bizarre.
“Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” John 14:8-10
Now, with all the miracles and healings that Jesus had done Philip still sought after another experience or vision of God the Father. Jesus rebuked him, letting Philip know that if you have seen Me, then you have seen the Father. You do not need to seek after anything else but Me. Jesus reiterated his earlier statement. I am the way!
This type of wanting more is prevalent in our churches today. Jesus told us what we should do in order to know Him:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said learn of ME. So here is my question: How do we Christians learn about Jesus? By reading and correctly studying the word of God. That’s it! There no experience or feeling. No new revelation or word. The word of God is complete. And in it we will find the truth about our Savior.
The problem is we don’t want to come to God in the way His Son made possible and the word confirms. We want the word to come from God, but we don’t want to read or follow the word of God. Our existentialistic view of life has us seeking other ways to God. But in actuality we are only doing what the pagans do. Creating our own ways to heaven. Simple faith in the work of Christ on the cross is the only way to God. Stop adding all these pagan rituals that only confuse and block the way to God. This stuff is of satan. For He dwells in confusion and loves to cloud the way to God.
We were never told to seek after a baptism of the Holy Ghost. There are no scriptures which tell us, the structured body of Chirst, to seek after something else. But there are scriptures that tell us that when we believe we receive the Holy Spirit….as a gift!
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 1:13
Paul tells us we are sealed when we believe. PERIOD! Somebody show me any other scriptures that tell us to seek anything else. People who have been taught incorrectly will take scriptures, out of context, and tell us that you must tarry. And that you must be in a trance state to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. But this stuff is exactly what pagan worshippers do. They are all about the feeling or the experience. BIG MISTAKE!
I am leaving you guys with a sermon video taught by John Macarthur on the issue of speaking in tongues. Please lose your pagan ritual views on Christianity and hear what thus saith the Lord!
brdavision
Bro. Brandon,
I am over here laughing like crazy. It seems your testimony was just like mine. I remember going down this same path and it took the death of both of my parents for my eyes to be opened. I remember right after my mother died how the church I was in wanted my to continue on with my duties as if nothing had happened. My father had just died exactly a year before. I was thinking to myself, “Is the only thing these people are concerned about is their conferences and programs going on?” I had already had reservations about leaving, but this just kicked me right out the door. I have been away from this “mess” for 3 years strong and seen my walk with Christ increase more and more…..
I have been off the emails for a while until I finish the studies on the attributes of God. I am learning that most people really don’t worship the One and True God. It is a “god” form out of their own hearts and minds and he looks more like a genie than Yahweh…..
@Mike-Wow man! Church before everything else is the motto! I have had friends who have put their wives on the backburner for the ministry, while the pastor drags them from church to church night after the night. And they ended up getting a divorce because they had a messed up view of ministry! It’s God then family then ministry! Any other order and you will be in trouble….All ministers would do themselves some good to take heed of that!
Maybe CP Jones had it right after all.
Some have said because he rejected tongues, dancing and all that he was the unsaved one. But maybe CH Mason should have just stuck with holiness without all the extra-ness.
@Gcmwatch-a simple bible based study of the books of Acts with a God centered mentality, as opposed to a man centered one, will show that for over 100 years COGIC and all other Pentecostal churches have been dead wrong. We embraced the experience and rejected the truth. Anytime experience overrides the truth there is only a consequence of great error. I believe this error is the reason why sexual immorality is so strong in the present day Pentecostal church. Bad teaching equals false converts and immoral living. Just like it did in the Church at Corinth.
Acts was never a book of instruction wherein we copied everything that happened back then. But it was a book of transition wherein we could see how the early church evolved from Judaism to Christianity.
To persuade the Jews back then God allowed signs and wonders because new revelation was given. To accept that the signs and wonders are still being given, must mean that new revelation is still being given as well. And we all know this is not true because the bible is complete.
Before I comment, i just want to say that i am not for all of this confusion I see in the Pentacostal movement.
I have heard that the Power gifts have ceased but have not found sufficient scriptural proof to suggest that. What references are there that say that they have ceased?
The issue I have with most of this teaching is that the same who teach this usually believe that God is the author of sin, though they may not say it. I have great issue with reformed doctrine. God tells all men to repent knowing God and well that He will not enable them to do so.
In that, I am apprehensive since my review of scriptures that they claim say one thing, say something different when I check them out. For this reason I just left a Church.
Help me out Bro!
Thanks!
knowing good and well…
enable some to do so….
@Brother Paul N.-I know exactly how you feel sir. I was raised church of God in Christ my entire life all I knew was speaking in tongues, shouting, slaying in the spirit, and all that other stuff. And that was the problem the church had put those emotional outburst and experiences over the word of God.
New converts were not happy with receiving the death of Christ on a cross as a completed perfect work of salvation. They needed to get the baptism to fully have power. This view is not of the scriptures at all. Now the reformed doctrine I am not familiar with to be honest. But I do know that there is no proof in scripture that tells us to do any of those things right now.
I could tell you in my own words but I wouldn’t be able to communicate it to you like John MacArthur can. He has a series on the error of the Charismatic Movement and I will post all the articles for you. Just click the titles and be enlightened.
Where Does the Bible End?, Part 1
Where Does the Bible End?, Part 2
What Does the Bible Mean by What It Says?, Part 1
What does the Bible Mean by What It Says?, Part 2
Is This the Age of Miracles?
Is the Church Still in Transition?, Part 1
Is the Church Still in Transition?, Part 2
The Christian’s Authority: Experience or the Word? Part 1
The Christian’s Authority: Experience or the Word? Part 2
The Issue of Spirituality, Part 1
The Issue of Spirituality, Part 2
Our Resources in Christ, Part 2: Is there Something More?
Please read them all Brother Paul. They are full of truth…..
John McArthur may have some good points but he is the same man who believes that there is no redemptive power in the blood of Jesus… please do research on all of a persons doctrine before posting anything to support a point you may have. That shows sound judgement on your behalf as well.
@Dara Gill-Why don’t you actually study the bible, and stop getting mad at sound bible teachers who crush your erroneous theology. The bible says the power to save men is in the death of Christ as the scriptures confirm.
The blood in Jesus body was not the magic. He had to die on a certain day and time to fulfill the plan of the Passover lamb. The blood of Christ refers to his sacrificial death. One can bleed and still not die but the Bible tells us he died for our sins- by crucifixion. If Jesus had been cut and someone were to physically contact his blood, touching it, there would be no transference of his holiness, power or healing.
1 Corinthians 15:3: “that Christ died (not bled) for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,”
Romans 5:8: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died (not bled) for us.”
Romans 5:10: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death (not the blood) of his Son….”
Philippians 2:8: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death (not the bleeding) on a cross.”
Hebrews 9:15 “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death (not a bleeding) has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant,”
God the Father accepted his death as his blood was spilled on the altar (the cross). It was completed when he died.
So you might want to take your own advice before you try to criticize someone else…..
At least know what you are talking about…..
Thanks Bro!
I believe I have listened to some of these before, I will check them out.
I think you should take a look into reformed teaching – calvinism for the most part. Many of teachers who I find teach very well Including John MacCarthur teach it. Then you have RC Sprouls, John Piper, John washer, Voddie Baucham and many many others. I question any doctrine that claims GOD randomly elected those whom He would save.
http://www.gracefamilybaptist.net/GFBC2/What_We_Believe.html
http://www.1689.com/confession.html
It is something I have been grappling with for while now.
Blessings on you!!!
You’re welcome Brother Paul! I have been researching the reformed movement since you last posted and I am still leaning but from what I’ve have gathered so far they seem to stay on the scriptures no matter what. I believe the bible is the final say all for all topics, matters, and discussions. It’s the very breath of God given to man that we may know Him and and His Son Jesus Christ. Everything else is traditions passed down from generation to generation.
I am familiar with Calvinism, but I definitely do not agree with everything he had to say. I am going to be praying and studying, but just to let you know I agree with what I’m hearing so far. Not because it appeals to brandon but because it’s what God has said. (in His word)
More to come soon…..
Another problem I see is people who take the pastor’s word as if it is the Bible.
I remember a young lady telling me one time she wanted to leave her church but she wouldn’t because she was afraid that she would believe what the pastor told her.
I say that to say this, every one who hears the word or reads the word is responsible for that word. The pastor is not responsible for your relationship with the Lord. He is to point you to Him and help you in your development. But these pastors are now trying to become God to keep control over their own people. If folks would take the time to break down scripture and stop running with the one verse they read (ex Joel 2:28) they would actually learn something. Too bad these spineless, garbage preachers don’t teach their own people how to rightly-divide, maybe they are afraid that if they did, the congregation would catch on to the false doctrine they teach.
“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15 That’s all I’m going to say……
I have visited this site often through exministries and gcmwatch. I represent everything you blog against.I have a Female Pastor,seeking for the Holy Spirit, and I tithe. I am re-reading scriptures and really seeking God through Christ(now) Jesus. I only commented this time because this whole entire blog is my life. I was immediatelly convicted; scared yet willing to allow God to get me right through Christ.
Well thanks for reading Bonita. I urge you to reconsider where you are spiritually in light of the scripture. I have plenty of info on the error of women in ministry, the error of tithing, and whether we are to seek for the Holy Spirit. All of which can be answered with simple bible study.
I grew up believing all of these things as well. But when I studied the scripture I found out this was a error. Please let me know if you have any more questions. Here are some links:
A Woman’s Role….
“The tithe Lie”: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3
Spirit Filled??
Bro Brandon, not that I disagree with everyting reformers teach but I doubt you will find one reforemd teacher who is not a calvinist today. I am not sure how you reconcile not agreeing with calvinists but with reformed teaching. From my understanding they are one and the same.
Reformed teaching seems to have started with Augustus and was popularized by John Calvin.
I think they use the word but I find context lacking (I went to a reforemd Church and had to bounce) in much of what I have heard and read. I find much of it imposes its view on scripture.
many have told me that you have to be regenerated before you can believe. Charles Spurgeon a great reformer disagreed with that and I have found no scripture that supports that.
Check out this article
http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/calvinism-isnt-enough/
now this man seems to believe that the Apostle Paul was the same as the early reformers and his doctrine was the same. So he must be saying that God has predestined some to heaven and some to hell for no apparent reason. Men are best puppets and have no choice in salvation. Ultimately every human being is doing the will of God, I can come to no other conclusion.
What I find troublesome is that before Augustus those who were closest to the disciples didnt teach reformed theology. If this was Pauls meaning, where they confused is my question.
Check out this vid. let me know what you think.
I must admit, the more I have read the more weary I become of it.
Blessings!
Paul N,
Not here to start any trouble or sway any opinions, but I just have a couple of statements/questions.
1. Could you possibly be mistaken concerning Spurgeon’s view of regeneration? Please see the below sermon:
http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0130.htm
2. I understand your rift with reformed theology, but please make the fair seperation between Historic Reformed Theology and Hyper-Calvinism. Some notes for assistance follow:
http://wscal.edu/resource-center/resource/horton-reformed-theology-vs-hyper-calvinism
http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/articles/hypercal.htm
Be well, and stay in His word…
Soli Deo Gloria,
R4C
Paul,
I have major issues with this video. First the guy uses quotes from people outside of the bible who I don’t know. If anyone wants to prove a christian doctrine false then they must do it with the word of God. This guy is unable to do that….However the scriptures do declare a doctrine of election. For Example:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30
God foreknew and predestined us to be saved. This scripture is clear.
Forknew-To have foreknowledge of, especially by supernatural means or through revelation. God had knowledge of us before we were born and before we believed in His Son.
Predestined-To fix upon, decide, or decree in advance; foreordain.
With this knowledge of us He ordained that we would be His elect.
The Christian is an elect:
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.” 1 Peter 1
They exiles were strangers in the land in which they were disperse but they were also strangers or aliens in this world that rejects Christ. Election encourages us to know that even though we are rejected and despised of this world. We are chosen by God.
Paul says the same (scripture confirms scripture):
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:3-14
Notice everything we have is in Him. Not man so this kills the man comes to Christ theory. We are sinful and none of us come to God. Nor do we (aside from his call and regeneration) want anything to do with God. All were comfortable in their sin.
“as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18
We didn’t even choose God. He chose us:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:16
Read Romans Chapter 9 it explains in deatil about the God’s Sovereign Choice.
Here are some more scripture references:
1 Thessalonians 1
2 Thessalonians 2:13
2 Timothy 1:9
2 Timothy 2:10
Revelation 13:8
“As a matter of fact anger over the doctrine of election has been going on since Jesus talked about it. John Mac Arthur gives and excellent account of this:
Something in us struggles with that. Look at Luke 4, it will comfort you, you’re not alone. Luke 4, interesting, Jesus in this marvelous synagogue event in Nazareth, opened the book of the prophet Isaiah, stood up in the synagogue, opened the book, read it. This is what He read, verse 18, and here was a prophecy that He was fulfilling right out of Isaiah 61. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. And He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him and He began to say to them, Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. And all were speaking well of Him and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips and they were saying, Is this not Joseph’s son?”
So far so good…so far so good. But watch what happens. Verse 25, “I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, no rain, when a great famine came over all the land.” There were many widows. “And yet Elijah was sent to…what?…none of them but only to Zarephath in the land of Sidon to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet, and none of them was cleansed but only Naaman the Syrian.” You know what He’s telling them about? Sovereign grace…lots of widows and lots of lepers and God picked none of them but a widow in Zarephath and a leper named Naaman who wasn’t even a Jew, he was a Syrian. “And all in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things, they rose up, they cast Him out of the city, they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built in order to throw Him down the cliff.”
Let me tell you something. The respectable religious leaders of Israel despised the doctrine of election…especially when it pointed out that they were not the elect. You can’t debate the truth, this is the truth. You can’t debate it. They didn’t want to hear it. Many today don’t want to hear it, but it’s the truth. You see, in Revelation 19:6 we are told, “The Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” God in heaven is the controller and the disposer of all creatures. Scripture says, As the Most High He rules amid the armies of the heavens and none can stay His hand and none can say unto Him, What are You doing? He is the almighty who works all things after the council of His own will, He fulfills all His own purposes, makes all His own promises come to pass. He is the heavenly potter who takes the lump of clay, fallen humanity and fashions it the way He wants to fashion it. He is the decider and the determiner of the destiny of every person. He is the controller of every detail in every individual’s life which is simply another way of saying that God is God.”
You don’t have to be reformed to understand this, it is in the bible.
Hope this helps!
Strange, but I just saw your doctrinal beliefs. I see that you subscribe to much reformed/calvinistic teaching.
I dont agree with all but what I will say is may The LORD reveal His truth contiually!
Blessings on you and yours bro!
It’s really strange that you comment on this today. In my spiritual development I have been ramsacked by many different views and interpretations. I came out of the erroneous pentecostal movement and I have been trying to find where I fit in. It has been a struggle but I have found the truth.
That truth is the word of God. I am not a Calvinist, or a Methodist, nor a baptist. I am not a pentecostal or a reformist. I am a follower of the Word of God. Whatever is in the bible is right and true and I believe it. No longer will the doctrine of men control me.
Thanks Brother Paul
P.S. This will now be my doctrine statement
brdavidson,
I admire your conviction and I commend your resolve. I make no attempt to influence you either way, as I consider you a brother in the essentials of the faith. I will leave you with a some words to ponder though.
Most who come to the doctrines of grace come after much struggling, praying, crying, meditating, fighting and thinking. In my humble opinion, these reactions prove their worth and value for the glory of a sovereign and holy God.
Solus Christus,
R4C
Ready4change-thank you for your support and insight. I will most def be in heavy heavy meditation regarding the doctrine of grace. I find that the more I read the more it makes sense. But one things for sure pentecostalism is out.
I ask that both you and brother Paul keep me in prayer. I know the bible is right and some bodies wrong….