Just because I was singing this song this evening: The words to this song are hundreds of years old, written by Martin Luther. They are based on Biblical truths.
We are going slightly off topic, but never mind..... One of my biggest issues with christianity is the use of emotionalism to recruit and convince. Christianity without a doubt relies heavily on emotionalism to sway decision making. Be it in music, songs of praise, fine oratory from the pulpit, wearing smart clothing, building large church buildings, be it in traditional theatre such as religous garb worn and using incense in catholic and orthodox churches. But especially in music! And guess what, young people are most susceptible being swayed by emotions. And you know what? Its all bs to a degree! Emotionalism is not reality in the sense that it's presenting the truth. If you really truely listen to the words of the song above, its just gobbledegook, fluff, wishful thinking, pie in the sky bs. Words used with harmony to stoke emotions. You know what sustains humans in our time on earth? It's hope, optimism, strength, comradeship, families, honesty and faith in one another. Now christianity endeavours to inspire these tributes, but tagging 'God' onto it, well god is just a vehicle, a theme to achieve a means to an end, and emotionalism with god tagged on serves that purpose of assisting in driving us along down the road of life.
Guess what?!! We are emotional beings. And God created us to worship Him with all of our hearts and that includes our emotions!!! I suppose some people are more emotional than others and so maybe they feel emotions deeper towards God just as they do towards other people. Nothing wrong with any of that. What the Bible says in this verse is true for all areas of life: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12 If whatever I hope in is not based on truth and reality or never is fulfilled, it is hope that turned into disappointment. With God, however, hope is based on a sure foundation. There is not a chance that God does not exist or is not as described in the Bible. One thing that is different for believers is that even when we have disappointments, God Himself comforts us with His love. This is real and happens to me often. There are many times when I've been really sad and then cry to God. It seems that often during these times He directs my thoughts to His love and it really helps! Some of it is likely me choosing to think about God's kindnesses, but I'm pretty sure some of it was God Himself taking away some of the sadness. Not all of the sadness. I still have had problem...issues...but it helps to have God with me.
Emotionalism can be capitilized to provide entertainment, which can be capitilized to provide revenue. So although christianity likes to proclaim salvation, the true purpose after stripping away emotionalism and entertainment and a message of salvation is power, control and income for the heirarchy. One thing of note, religion is basically a message of subservience, subservience allows for control and manipulation.
The church likes to proclaim God is found via the vehicle of the church. Like any vehicle, it has its uses, but if not correctly driven can maim and cause havoc.
"Like any vehicle, it has its uses, but if not correctly driven can maim and cause havoc." I completely agree with you on this. There are a lot of things going on in churches that aren't based on what is described in the Bible. There are also a lot of churches teachings things that aren't based on Biblical teachings and the Bible warns about false teachers in churches. The only way to know what is false is to measure up a church and it's teaching by the Bible. I'm not sure I agree that God is found via the vehicle of the church. I guess I see it more that God is found through the revelation of God that is in the Bible and that can happen in a church if the church teaches the Bible or it can happen as one reads or listens to the Bible. Even studying the Bible in and of itself isn't necessarily going to mean one comes into a relationship with God. Jesus said to the Jewish leaders of His day that they were searching the Scriptures thinking that they were the source of life, but they still weren't coming to God and finding Him. Churches teaching Biblical truth point people to a relationship with God. Biblical truth points people to a relationship with God. Neither the church or the Bible is a substitute for actually having a relationship with God. You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life. John 5:39, 40 BSB
"the true purpose after stripping away emotionalism and entertainment and a message of salvation is power, control and income for the heirarchy" THAT IS NOT TRUE!!!!!!!!
The church is a stepping stone to begin to think and question and ponder. Matthew 7:15-23 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ... Again, I alude to my opinion the bible has some of it right, some of it wrong. The false prophets may be the christian church and the bible itself. If there is a creator, why would He/it, throw creation into the fire, it makes no sense a creator deciding that flawed humans which he created, some are saved, some torched because they didn't accept the message of some creeping jesus white shoe shuffling pathetic excuse for a snivelling missionary who knows fuck all besides what they were taught by other conned bs artist misguided missionaries.