Friday, July 17, 2015

Should We Follow Our Feelings?

I saw this article, and it saddened me deeply. Not only because I have to talk about this issue again, but because it represents such a disconnect from the truth. There is a dreadful lack of understanding about the nature of sin, and it is growing widespread even among Christians. We need to return to the clarity of Scripture. Homosexuality seems to be the place where we have to focus right now, but it is true for everything. Just because you feel something, doesn’t make it right.

In places like Romans 7 and Galatians 5:16-26, it is clear that we have a sinful nature. We have desires that do not comport with the will of God. As the context shows, this is even true of Christians. But that is not a reason to give up the fight. When we struggle with our urges to be selfish, in whatever form, it does hurt a part of us. But it is the base part of us, the part of us we ought to be putting to death anyway. When others confront us about the broken places in our lives, it leads to shame. But it is a good shame, shame that leads us to seek forgiveness and healing.

So many people today are pretending we can do away with this. They want people to be able to follow their urges, as though we are just animals with instincts rather than rational beings with the capacity to choose between good and evil. We cannot expect much more than that from people who think we are accidents, but people who call themselves Christians should know better.

I hope Ms. Rodgers will attempt to look to the Bible for the truth, rather than to her own feelings and the feelings of others. After all, the heart is deceptive (Jeremiah 17:9). But God’s word is truth (John 17:17). May we look to Him to know the difference between the flesh and the Spirit, rather than to our broken selves. 

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