The Historic Christian Faith
In the Old Testament, idol worship posed the most pressing problem for the people of Israel. Imitating other cultures by worshiping idols made of wood or precious metal—in vain attempts to acquire a good harvest, fertility, or military victory—led the people away from their identity as a nation formed to make the one true God known.
Thousands of years later, making idols out of wood or metal is considered ridiculous, yet idol worship abounds. Emotions have become perhaps the most popular idol of our day and age. As an overreaction against cultures of the past, which we view as too emotionally repressive, we have allowed emotions to become our paramount priority.
The Happiness Catch-22
In a culture filled with armchair psychologists promoting everything from essential oils to intermittent fasting to make us feel better, we are slowly relearning the hard truth that trying to be happy does not make us happy.
Thankfully, United Methodist theology is not governed by our shifting emotions.
“United Methodists profess the historic Christian faith…” These are the very first words describing our doctrinal beliefs in ¶102 of the Book of Discipline.
To profess the historic Christian faith is to base our lives on truth that exists outside of our emotional reactions to it. The historic Christian faith is not true one day because it makes us feel good and false the next because it makes us feel bad. It is true because it is true—or false because it is false.
Perhaps nowhere in the Bible is the historic nature of the Christian faith stated as succinctly as in Hebrews 13:8 (NRSV): “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Jesus is who he was and will be who he is. His life, character, and nature are what they are regardless of how we feel about them. We may come to understand him better, but we can never change him.
Fitting Into Culture
As United Methodists, our goal is not to make Jesus fit into our culture. Rather, we ask the Holy Spirit to mold us into people who fit into his Kingdom—people whose ways mirror his ways, whose minds conform to his mind, and whose hearts are shaped like his heart.
Thankfully, Jesus is not indifferent to emotions. He wept with Mary and Martha, expressed deep frustration when the Pharisees could not understand, and enthusiastically praised a widow who gave a small offering.
Rather than instructing us to ignore our emotions, Jesus offers us a way to find lasting joy beyond momentary pleasure or relief. He teaches us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33, NRSV).
In recent years, when you ask someone how their day is going, they will often say, “Oh, you know, just dealing with all the things.” Jesus knew about all the things, cared about all the things, yet refused to let all the things get in the way of the one truly important thing.
Emotions are great advisers but terrible bosses. No one wants a boss with constantly shifting opinions and expectations. We want someone consistent, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jesus offers us an escape from working for a terrible boss. Instead of being controlled by our big emotions, Jesus invites us to become part of something bigger than ourselves: a community, a church, and a kingdom.
For two thousand years, we have been gathering evidence of what happens when a person tells their emotions, “You’re not the boss of me!” and chooses instead to follow the guidance of a wiser boss who encourages them to seek first the Kingdom of God. Typically, all the things in their lives improve as well—especially happiness.
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Wil Cantrell serves as senior pastor of Concord United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.
He is author of:
ATONE: The Difference the Cross Makes
From Heaven to Earth: Christmas for New Believers, Old Believers, and Nonbelievers