Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
We who praise God in the dance, with uplifted hands, with shouts of glory, and the like, are often accused of "emotionalism", of being carried away in our own emotions as we worship the Creator. I beg to differ. The joy of the holy Ghost is not human emotion. God filling up your body with His love so that you laugh, or cry, or shout praises to God, or roll across the floor, is not human emotion. The power of the holy Ghost to humble us to bow or fall prostrate before our Maker is not emotionalism. The fear of God that makes a person cease from sin is not emotionalism; it is the very beginning of eternal wisdom. To be moved by the holy Ghost to speak in tongues is not emotionalism; it is not of man at all. I never did any of those things when I was in sin, and I had lots of emotion.
Those who sit by and wonder at such worship are the ones bound by emotionalism. Doubt, fear, and unbelief are very human feelings that prevent the soul from being blessed with God's Spirit. Pride will cause a man to refuse to humble himself before the Lord, to kneel, to cry out for mercy, to confess sin. THAT is emotionalism, and it is of the flesh.
When God's people are rejoicing in Spirit, they are not being overwhelmed with human emotions; rather, they are being overwhelmed with feelings emanating out of the heart of God. It is God's Spirit upon them, and with it come God's feelings, God's thoughts, God's way of living, and God's power over sickness and sin.
My brothers and sisters, we should not be intimidated by accusations of "emotionalism" to draw back from being blessed by God; on the contrary, we should by all means press on toward even greater blessings, even to "visions and revelations of the Lord." Let the world call it what the world thinks it is; that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is what it really is. And what it really is, is God's mercy and love being poured out into our souls; it is fellowship in spirit with the Creator. My earnest prayer is that we may find such favor in His eyes that He makes our streams of joy and gladness to become rivers. Let Him be praised!