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Knowledge and Feelings

Knowledge and Feelings

This week I was listening to a Bible discussion between friends of mine. They were talking about the disciples and the fear with which they struggled. Then someone raised the issue of the relationship between our feelings and what we know.

It was stated, “There is no direct connection between what you know and what you feel.” The person who made this comment stated that sometimes he thinks people want him to feel guilty if he has fear, but, he went on to say, fear is a natural reaction that is not related to what we know; therefore, there is no need to feel guilty for having fear.

As I heard this discussion I realized there is much misunderstanding regarding how our minds work, the relationship between what we know, or think we know, and our emotions, particularly the emotion of fear. There is also confusion about guilt, should we feel guilty if we have fear? I have many Christian patients who feel guilty for having worries, anxiety and fear, believing that their fears are evidence of weak faith.

Imagine you were walking alone at night and you saw a strange man coming straight toward you, might you feel “afraid”? But what if you realized the man was your loving father or husband? Would that knowledge change the way you feel? Would your feelings be connected to what you know?

What if you had cancer but didn’t know it. How would you feel? Would you have a change in feelings when you found out? Would your feelings be connected to what you know? And then what if you found out the cancer is benign, would that knowledge change your feelings?

A story has been told of a person being taken against his will, hands bound, and placed on a helicopter. The helicopter lifted off to several thousand feet in the air and then the bound man was blindfolded and pushed around a little bit. While the man was being pushed around, the helicopter dropped altitude until it was only six inches off the ground and then the bound and blindfolded man was pushed out of the helicopter. The man died of a heart attack. Do you think he might have “felt” differently if, when pushed, he would have known he was only six inches off the ground? Is there a connection between what we know and our feelings? Absolutely!

The Bible tells us that in Eden, before sin, there was no fear, but as soon as Adam and Eve sinned they ran and hid because they were afraid. The Bible also tells us, “There is no fear in love, perfect love casts out all fear” (1John 4:18). Our minds were not created to experience fear; fear is part of the infection of sin. As such, it is true we don’t need to feel guilty for having fear, for we are all born in a fearful state. Imagine that an HIV infected man and woman get together and have a child and the child is born HIV infected. What did the child do wrong? Does the child need to feel guilty? No, but does the child still have the full weight of the disease to deal with? Yes. This is our condition. We are born infected with fear and selfishness (a.k.a. sinfulness). It is not our fault and, therefore, we don’t need to feel guilty that we have these propensities, but we still have to deal with the full weight of the problem.

Christ came to cure this condition, to remove fear and selfishness and restore in us His perfect love. As such, He was tempted in every way just like us, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). The Bible says we are tempted by our feelings (James 1:13), thus Christ experienced such temptation, but temptation is not sin, so there is no reason to feel guilty for it. However, Christ came to reestablish His perfect character of love in the species, in order to rid our hearts and minds from fear and selfishness and restore us to perfect unity with the Father. Thus we read about those who are ready to meet Jesus when He comes again as those “who do not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Revelation 12:11). Perfect love has cast out their fear and they no longer shrink back trying to save self, but instead are willing to give self in love for others.

We are all born infected with fear and selfishness and our feelings of fear and insecurity tempt us. We are afraid of rejection, fear financial failure, worry about not getting the highest grades, fear not being loved or going hungry or being killed and more. There is no end to the list of fears with which people struggle. We must remember that fear is part of the infection of sin and God has a plan which, when complete, will rid our hearts of fear. As we come back into unity and oneness with God our fears will be cast out and love will be restored within.

Yes, it is true, we don’t need to feel guilty for experiencing feelings of fear, but we shouldn’t accept such feelings as normal, but instead long for the day God’s “perfect love casts out all fear” from our hearts!

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Testimony 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

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L., Queensland, Australia

 

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Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

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I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 54

I had a lot of pressure, as a pastor’s kid, to conform and be “good.” I was good at being “good.” I thought my life was going along well until it all started falling apart and I could not figure out why! In my search for “why is this happening to me, God?” I came across your book, “Could it be this Simple,” and God started revealing to me the many distortions I held about His character, His principles, and how He has designed His universe to operate. I remember thinking, “Wow, I have had this all backwards.” I was happy and angry all at the same time. Happy to have the light of truth break through the darkness, revealing a wonderful, beautiful way of understanding God and His plan for His children, and angry, because I felt deceived and cheated by the church, my family, and myself!

My heart thrills when I listen to your bible study lessons. Literally I have gone from death to life. It is a journey I look forward to every day, as God reveals areas this distortion affects. Praise GOD! I will ever be grateful to God for this ministry and your cooperation with the Spirit!

Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

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Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

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Ok, so last night I listened to “The Law of Liberty” and “How to Achieve Victory: Freedom, Truth and Spirtual Warfare.” These are both MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES so far! The logic is just soooooo beautiful. I had to re-listen to them a couple of times. I just want to EXPLODE! (<< we assume with joy and happiness)

N. B., Canada

 

Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

Melissa H., IN, USA

 

Testimony 42

I am just writing to say that I have been so blessed by the teachings of Come And Reason Minitries recently. I watched last week’s bible study lesson on Youtube and am thankful that the error in the printed lesson guide you use was pointed out and this week’s study was of equal benefit, if not more so. My understanding of God’s nature has been very confused of late and I am so grateful for clarity in this matter. I have never really fully understood previously how a good God can cause bad things to happen and now I realise that He doesn’t, it’s a natural consequence of sin. May the almighty Father and His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to bless your ministry.

Laura P., United Kingdom

 

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I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa

 

Testimony 56

I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Tammy Cinzio, Australia

 

Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 48

I just want to tell you how blessed I have been reading “The Remedy!” It has become a daily part of my devotional relationship with God. In it I have found a God of love and a God that loves me! The bible has come alive for me! It is the first time that I can say that I have felt hope fill my heart as I have read God’s word. This is good news I can share! Thank you, Dr Jennings! Thank you for your heart for others. I can’t put into words how this has set me free! It has strengthened my trust and love for God.

Jason H.