Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
Experience does not just mean "feeling." It's the whole gamut of things that we are aware of as we consciously go through life. Experience is what actually happens to us, externally and internally, as opposed to what we just theorize about. Of course, theorizing is part of our experience. But there is a difference between being in place and just thinking about being in the place.
A lofty experience isn't really lofty if it is sought simply for the lofty feeling, otherwise we could just take drugs to affect our emotions and be happy. Real satisfaction comes from knowing you have a real reason to be satisfied, not from the feeling itself. Feelings are the reflection of our experience of reality (and fantasy). But the fact is feelings exist and they are good, not bad. And I think being overly suspicious of them is unnecessarily limiting.
You, as we all know, value reason, and are bit suspicious of feelings. But I'm sure you wouldn't hold this perspective if at some level it didn't feel right to do so. In the end, what's more important, thoughts or feelings? I can't imagine life without either, so to me they are both important. Minimizing either too much is a mistake.
I'm hard-pressed to imagine experiencing "joy" without it affecting my feelings in some way. I'd like some examples where the Bible specifies that joy can be experienced without any feeling accompanying it. Satisfaction is the same way. I can't imagining truthfully saying I am satisfied without actually feeling satisfied. Surely you aren't going to argue that love does not include feeling. Love and joy with no feeling? Maybe in your reality, but not mine, sorry. Must be some parallel universe.
Let me put it this way, if your appreciation of what salvation has brought you doesn't make you occasionally want to dance with joy and happiness about it, then I'd say you don't appreciate it enough. If your emotion isn't affected by who God is and what he has done for us, then I'd say you're missing something.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to feel joy (who says "I have joy so I don't need to feel it." ?). As C.S. Lewis said, joy is the serious business of heaven. And Dave is right, one of the best ways to feel joy is to go serve someone. Just make sure you don't muzzle the ox as he treads the grain.
Let me use another analogy. Theoretically you can have sex and reproduce without enjoying the act. But who the heck wants to do that?! Likewise, who wants to go through life without enjoying it? I don't think God begrudges us for wanting to feel good.
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I just popped in for a minute to answer a message and took a glance around to see how you all are doing and found Igzy's response. I just want to thank Igzy for these good words
But I want to add, not only does God NOT begrudge our wanting to feel good, it's what He uses to draw us on. What a misery life would be without His joy... Joy doesn't always mean exuberance on a grand scale. It can be soft and peaceful. It can be His simple assurance despite the hardship, or His gentle prod to keep going. I LIVE by His joy... Don't know how anyone else does it. Even when I'm mad (at Him or anyone) His joy is there to beckon me on. To know Him IS joy. "In His presence is fullness of joy." Psalm 16:11