[231 words]
If you are on the internet you have probably received some tear jerker stories that play on your emotions. I have one about a world-wide crisis with a terrible disease and only one little boy could provide a remedy…it would take all of his blood. The mom and dad were asked to sacrifice their son to save the world. This summary is not as emotional as the two and a half page detailed e-mail I received. The e-mail will make you cry. The summary just gives the bare facts of the story.
The crucifixion accounts recorded in Matthew through John contain the bare facts of what took place in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. God did this on purpose. Christianity is not based on our emotions and God does not make an emotional appeal. Peter talked about the “determined purpose” of God when preaching the gospel (Acts 2:23) and Paul “reasoned with them from the scriptures” (Acts 17:1, 2).
Tear jerker religion produces fickle Christians because our emotions run hot and cold. Factual religion produces faithful Christians because our thoughts are brought “into captivity to the obedience of Jesus” (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5).
Of course there is joy and sadness; there is laughter and tears. But don’t be overly emotional in your religion. The facts stand strong in the storms of life, emotions do not.
Alton Norman
Owingsville, KY