One ill-thought-out case for feelings

I've been hearing some talk bashing the concept of feelings and "following your heart" as it were. While I am no advocate of Hollywood's idea of "heart," I am willing to play the devil's advocate for the theory that feelings have the potential to be a good thing.

To begin the argument in good faith I have to address a comment that spurred the writing of this blog. I read a facebook status, "Feelings are poor counselors. They hate logic and despise reason." For the sake of my argument I will assume that the author of this statement is referring to emotions.

My first case-study is of Jesus Christ, and his ability to discern between "good" emotions and "bad" ones. Most of the healings and miracles were done because He was moved with compassion for the people or person in need. (Luke 7:11-16) If he were to think "logically" his logic would go something like this: I know these people will despise me after I have done them this great favor, if justice is my mantra and these will soon reject justice then they do not deserve healing. Instead, He stretched out his hand in mercy because "His heart overflowed with compassion."

In contrast, he was clearly able to recognize a bad emotion when he felt it and by trusting God was able to overcome it (Matt 26:37-39). He was feeling sorrowful, the heavy burden of fear, yet he was able to genuinely say to God, "Not my will [--emotions]") because he knew that his emotions in that moment contradicted the will of God.

My second case study is derived from the infamous Adolf Hitler. Don't get your drawers in a bunch and allow me to finish. I simply want to say that when he began his campaign, he was a great orator and his speech was far from unreasonable. It appealed to the masses and his idea became the epitome of logic to those who chose to follow his leading. It was only logical that the Germans were the superior race, it follows that the only logical conclusion is that Jews are dirt. Hitler, in stark contrast to Christ, was wholly unemotional, not driven by mercy or compassion, but purely by Satan himself under the guise of reason.

So there you have it.

Two case studies and I come to one conclusion: that if your life and spirit are in alignment with God, it should then only be a matter of discerning whether the emotions felt are in contest with the will of God.