Elements City Church
Against the Grain - week 1: The Myth of Emotional Reasoning
Do you ever feel like it’s becoming increasingly difficult to follow Jesus in our current culture? That’s because it is. Over the past ten years, three untruths have been embraced by Western society that have defined an emerging generation. If we are to follow Jesus well, we will increasingly find ourselves going against the grain of culture — rejecting these untruths along the way. In this series we look at the timeless truth of Scripture to see how these myths not only prevent us from maturing as disciples of Jesus, but go against God’s design for His people.
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
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https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbThis three-week series, Against the Grain, is based on The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt.
“We have reduced our church experience to emotional rather than intellectual stimulation. The modern trendy church is trying to be transformed by the renewing of its emotions, rather than the renewing of its mind.”
Gabriel Finochio
Gabriel Finochio
Truth - ideas that correspond with reality
Lies - ideas that do not correspond with reality
We have increasingly become a culture led by our feelings.
The problem is our feelings often lie to us!
Lies - ideas that do not correspond with reality
We have increasingly become a culture led by our feelings.
The problem is our feelings often lie to us!
1 Kings 18
Elijah experiences a great victory over Ahab and the prophets of Baal. But we already get a glimpse that he is living by a lie.
Elijah experiences a great victory over Ahab and the prophets of Baal. But we already get a glimpse that he is living by a lie.
Some Observations:
1. Following God’s Word doesn’t lead to lasting good feelings.
2. Accomplishing God’s Will doesn’t lead to lasting good feelings.
3. You’ll often feel like you’re the only one trying to follow God’s Word/Will. (vs 10, 14)
4. God provides what we need in the moment. (vs. 5, 8)
5. Our emotions get us to dismiss what is really true.
1. Following God’s Word doesn’t lead to lasting good feelings.
2. Accomplishing God’s Will doesn’t lead to lasting good feelings.
3. You’ll often feel like you’re the only one trying to follow God’s Word/Will. (vs 10, 14)
4. God provides what we need in the moment. (vs. 5, 8)
5. Our emotions get us to dismiss what is really true.
When you’re at the center of your universe you forget what God has done for you.
The deeper lie:
"He was expecting victory to come through the manifestation of God’s power, but when it didn’t happen he was lost. Elijah’s identity worked in strength, but not in weakness."
Dr. David Campbell
"He was expecting victory to come through the manifestation of God’s power, but when it didn’t happen he was lost. Elijah’s identity worked in strength, but not in weakness."
Dr. David Campbell
Rooting our identity in our feelings will always leave us feeling lost. It will work for a time in periods of strength, but when our weaknesses are revealed, it will always fail us.
We do not feel our way into positive action.
We act our way into positive feeling.
We act our way into positive feeling.
Learn to talk back to your feelings.
Lukianoff and Haidt recommend all people utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Lukianoff and Haidt recommend all people utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Learn to recognize cognitive distortions, such as:
Emotional Reasoning:
allowing feelings to determine perceived reality
Ex: “I feel stupid, therefore I must be stupid.”
Catastrophizing:
jumping to the worst possible conclusion
Ex: “If I don't recover quickly from this procedure, I will never get better, and I will be disabled my entire life.”
Negative Filtering:
disregarding positive feedback and focusing only on the negative
Ex: Your co-worker gives a great presentation and receives a lot of positive recognition, along with one small piece of critical feedback. Two days later he’s still down because all he can focus on is the criticism.
Emotional Reasoning:
allowing feelings to determine perceived reality
Ex: “I feel stupid, therefore I must be stupid.”
Catastrophizing:
jumping to the worst possible conclusion
Ex: “If I don't recover quickly from this procedure, I will never get better, and I will be disabled my entire life.”
Negative Filtering:
disregarding positive feedback and focusing only on the negative
Ex: Your co-worker gives a great presentation and receives a lot of positive recognition, along with one small piece of critical feedback. Two days later he’s still down because all he can focus on is the criticism.
Biblical Reframing is, in essence, learning to preach God’s truth to yourself.
Learn to query your emotions, as we see in the Psalms.
Learn to query your emotions, as we see in the Psalms.
Psalm 42
Depression & Rejection
Depression & Rejection
Notice the pattern:
1) A complaint is expressed,
2) the emotions felt,
3) the psalmist preaches to himself,
4) and ends by expressing praise to God.
1) A complaint is expressed,
2) the emotions felt,
3) the psalmist preaches to himself,
4) and ends by expressing praise to God.
Psalm 13
Abandoment
Abandoment
Psalm 73
Jealousy & Frustration
Jealousy & Frustration
Other Psalms of Lament:
5
13
22
26
28
31
38-39
42
51-52
54-56
59-60
64
69-70
86
109
140-141
143
5
13
22
26
28
31
38-39
42
51-52
54-56
59-60
64
69-70
86
109
140-141
143
“Facts don’t care about feelings.”
But Christians should.
Christians are to be marked by rational compassion.
But Christians should.
Christians are to be marked by rational compassion.
The Bible doesn’t just teach absolute truth —
the Bible teaches that Truth is a person.
the Bible teaches that Truth is a person.
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You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveYou can give online at the link below, or through the Elements app.
Join us next week as we look at the second myth in our new series, Against the Grain.
Stay current with all of our upcoming events through the Elements City Church app.
And most of all,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Stay current with all of our upcoming events through the Elements City Church app.
And most of all,
Happy Thanksgiving!