Emotionalism By-Passes Understanding

In the first place emotionalism is generally worked up.  In some shape or form it is artificially produced.  Its second characteristic is that it always lacks the element of understanding.  It is always a direct assault upon the emotions, it by-passes truth.  Emotionalists care little about the source of the feeling as long as they get it.  Hand-clapping, tambourines, anything may be used to work up the feelings and make a person lose himself.  The swaying of the body also in rhythmic fashion may be used.  It is always produced in a way that by-passes understanding.  The third characteristic of emotionalism is that the element of excitement, of rowdiness, of excess is present.  Emotionalism is always characterized by this element of riot and excess.

Another most important fact about emotionalism is that it always leaves you exhausted.  It tires you, it takes energy out of you.  It is the same as alcoholic drink which seems to fill a man with energy, but which in actual fact is sapping his energy, and leaves him with a horrible tiredness, weariness, and exhaustion.  Finally, it never affects the life and the living in a good sense.  Obviously it cannot do so, for it is not based on truth.  Men may have wonderful experiences, and riots of the emotions; but their lives often indicate something very different.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “The Christian Warfare: An Exposition of Ephesians 6:10-13,” pg.202-203