South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-05
SAYS CHRIST USES
EMOTIONS TO STIR
FOLLOWERS TO ACT
Rev. Phillips Points Out Jesus
Appeal to SOrrowing to
Bring Them Close to Him.

Jesus came that men might know
the truth, which is an intellectual
process; that they might love God
and man, which is an emotional
process; and that they might live
righteously, which is a volitional
process" said Rev Russell L. Phil
lips, pastor, in his sermon at Trinity
Methodist church Sunday on In
tellect, Emotions and Will"
1T was a characteristic of Jesus
as a preacher TO make use Of every
available capacity of his hearers to
assimilate ;or their own use. the
message which q had to give" Rev.
Phillips said. For that reason We
find him constantly appealing TO the
intellect OF man, the emotions Of his
audience, and the viii Of his listen
ers.
Jesus realized that the intellect
was the first point Of contact for his
hearers TO get the truth which he
wanted to give. He did not use any
clap-trap methods 10 ensnare his
listeners; but he did present intelli-
gent teachings which could be I'M
derstood by those to- whom he was
speaking. When he revealed God as
a Father, the people could grasp his
instruction. When he spoke to his
audiences concerning life and the
plan Of redemption from sin he
taught in such a manner as they
could understand. Many folks have
attempted to explain the process of
the redemption of life from sin, but
no one has ever yet excelled the
simplicity and clearness with which
Jesus taught it in those beautiful
parallels of the Lost Coin, the Lost
filled the qualities Of a good teacher
because he adapted his teachings to
the intellectual capacity of his hear
ers.
Know Value of Emotions.
Furthermore, Jesus not only knew
the first point of contact but he
knew the religious value Of the emo
tons Of people and designed TO use
their emotions toward better living
and better conduct in their lives.
The two emotions mentioned most
often in the gospel stories are those
OF amazement and sorrow. Out of
the amaZement OF his disciples and
audiences usually came questions
which gave him the rare opportun-
ity Of leading the people into a closer
walk with himself. AS to the sor-
rows OF the people, he himself was
known as a man OF sorrows and as
one who was acquainted with griefs.
He was always mingling his COM
passion with the heartfelt sorrow Of
the people. and always caused the
emotion OF sorrow in the lives OF
others 10 function in making their
lives better. Christian ministers can
point 10 predirect Christian results
because of their ministry among sOr-
rowing families than to any other
circumstance. Why? Because that
emotion can be directed most easily
TO better conduct and a closer walk
with Christ in the life OF an individ-
ual. Jesus undoubtedly used the
emotions Of people to cause them TO
have a deeper love for God ard their
fellOwmen.
Now notice how perfectly the
emotions are connected with the Will
OF man. Our emotions OF love,
amaZement or sorrow stir US TO the
point where our wills and our de-
termination begin to function. II
our emotions stir US 10 religion and
TO worship, our wills begin to guide
Is toward right conduct and righte-
Gus living In Jesus mind the law
Of obedience was merely self-sur-
render 10 God. Jesus realized that
man could not be made better until
his will came under the direction
and control OF God. The CHEZ object
OF His life was 20 bring the will Of
man into harmony with the will OF
God. Jesus is satisfied when we are
willing TO say. Not my Will, but
Thine be done. o God"
in summary, the emotions can
not be stirred. nor the Will quicken
ed 10 action without some intellectu-
a. stimuli in the form OF truth. We
cannot religiously arouse the emo
tions Of any person. nor incite his
will TO cause him TO act for Christ.
without presenting some great fact
or truth about Christ which he can
thoroughly understand"