The Bible On Trial

Feelings before Facts~

There is a systemic social identity prevalent today that I believe began in earnest with the release of the first of the Star Wars movie, A New Hope, in May 1977. The Original movies were wonderful, the later movies not so much. The phrase that was continually spoken during all of the Star Wars Saga's that has become iconic is, "May the Force be with you"! The Force; a ubiquitous power that guides and powers a person to accomplish more than they ever thought possible; for either good or evil. "Don't give in to the Dark Side of the Force" is an admonition to choose to do good with something that can just as easily be used for evil.

This 'Force' is identified as a 'feeling'; "Feel the Force, Luke", was spoken by Yoda to Luke Skywalker during his training as a Jedi. The movie series give a person the idea that it is 'feelings' that should guide us to the equivalent of righteousness. 

Feelings are misguiding people today to do evil things in the effort to accomplish good things. The latest example of this is the young black actor that wanted a raise from his TV series, so he not only concocted a plan to gain public sympathy, but he activated the plan, and was caught red handed by the Chicago police, and is now in serious trouble. He was caught up by emotions, but was caught out by facts.

We gain salvation not by expressing the emotion of feelings toward God. We accomplish salvation by understanding the facts of how salvation works, through the words and teachings of Jesus, that He received from His Father in Heaven, and brought to earth to teach those that LONG for the truth. Truth is not affected by feelings, facts don't care about emotion (altough it feels wonderful when you gain understanding). Learning and practicing the Truth brings a satisfaction that can not be gained by the emotions of a moment.