Some of the best drama we see on television is in the thirty or sixty-second commercials. Using powerful images, evocative music and persuasive words, they are designed to grab our attention and move us to act. They manipulate our feelings to get us to believe in what they’re selling, to convince us that we cannot be truly happy or secure or acceptable, unless we have the drug, beverage, food, clothing, or car they are peddling. We are made to feel a certain way, while a careful examination of the facts about the product would prove we can do very well without it. They want us to feel good about the product, regardless of whether or not the product is any good. And it works, which is why they keep on doing it.

The problem with feelings is that they can be manipulated. When others want us to do something, they often appeal to our feelings, our emotions. Whether it’s family and friends, or advertisers, or politicians, or even the church; when they lead with feelings we ought to get our guard up.

We reformed people are rightly more interested in facts. We preach and teach sound doctrine; we learn the creeds and confessions. On Sunday mornings we listen carefully to what is said, checking off in our heads the conformity of the sermon with scripture and the five Solas. When we hear something that stirs us, we give a little smile, maybe nod our heads. We teach our children well and we hold our pastors to a very high standard of education and biblical knowledge. And we should.

But in a conversation I once had with a church member, he asked, “But where is the joy?” “Is there no room for any expression of joy in worship?” He was asking because he was not feeling much joy in that congregation. In other churches, the level of emotional response, the feelings, are much more evident than they were in his church. These feelings have their place but I will admit, that when I walk into a church, and there is a loud band playing up front, my guard goes up. They are setting a mood. I just want to hear the gospel. When everyone raises their hands in praise, I’m looking to see if there’s an applause sign flashing somewhere. I listen to what is being sung and preached with a critical ear; looking for error. I resist with all my might any manipulation by what is being sung and preached. I want the truth, not a “peaceful easy feeling.”

I’ve preached in many different churches over the years, and I can recall only one time when I heard an “Amen!” from the congregation during my sermon. I immediately checked to see if that “Amen” was printed in the bulletin or flashing on a screen behind me.

So which is it, facts or feelings? Must it be one or the other? Let me share with you an account of a great worship service that is recorded for us in the book of Nehemiah. The background story begins at the end of 2 Chronicles, when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple and took the people captive in 586 BC ( 2 Chron. 36:17-21)

Years later, king Cyrus, led by the spirit of God, made a decree that the temple should be rebuilt (2 Chron. 36:22-23) By the end of the seventy years, the temple is completed and the articles of worship are restored. But the wall surrounding Jerusalem was in bad shape. It was broken down in places, the gates were ruined. When Nehemiah hears about this, he is distraught. He cries; he mourns, he fasts, and he prays. (Nehemiah 1:4-11) Then he goes to the Persian king, Artaxerxes, and he asks for permission to go and repair the wall. Permission is granted, and he is supplied with everything he needs to rebuild the wall of Judah’s beloved city. Amid many hardships and challenges, the work is completed in just 52 days. In 445 BC, the Hebrew people that have returned from exile are counted and recorded, and a day of dedication is declared. Here’s what happened.

(Nehemiah 7:72b-8:12)

They stood up to hear the word of the Lord.

They wept when they heard it.

They were told to rejoice instead, and to eat and drink and share.

They were full of joy because they had heard and understood the word of the Lord.

What do we feel, when we come to worship? Does the proclamation of the truth produce joy and confidence in our hearts?

In Luke, chapter 24, we read about two men who are walking home on the road to Emmaus. They are tired and sad because of what they had witnessed in Jerusalem. Sadness turns to joy when the fact of the resurrection is revealed. They are so excited, they run to tell the others, to share the joy.

Luke 24:32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Facts or feelings? We need both, but the feelings must always come as a result of facts, the truth of God’s message of salvation for His people. How you feel about the words in the Bible does not change the facts in the Bible; the truth in the Bible. Our feelings can be trusted only if they are based on the facts.

If our faith is based on how we feel at any given moment, we will be tossed about in the chaos of life. But if our faith is based on the objective reality of Jesus Christ, then we will be able to stand regardless of how we feel. Feelings without faith are futile. Faith without feelings is suspect. Feelings can be manipulated. Facts, truth, cannot be manipulated.

The fact of our salvation by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, should produce in us an intense passion for Christ, lavish love for our brothers and sisters in the faith, and exuberant joy. Sometimes, even, we may laugh out loud! We have a glorious future ahead, our hope is sure because it is founded on Christ Himself. I pray that you will experience a great feeling of joy and peace and comfort, because, like the people who heard Ezra read the scriptures, you have heard and understood the word of God.