THE CHALLENGE POSED BY STRONG EMOTIONS
Dear ITEM Partner,
In recent posts, I’ve talked about how so much of the younger generation is so heavily influenced by their emotions. I have put a short video in the photo album showing a few seconds of “worship” from last Sunday, and this is mild compared to what came shortly thereafter.
I am beginning this Wednesday morning, sitting in the lounge in Nairobi, waiting to board my flight to Madagascar.
EMOTING VS THINKING
In recent posts, I’ve talked about how so much of the younger generation is so heavily influenced by their emotions. I have put a short video in the photo album showing a few seconds of “worship” from last Sunday, and this is mild compared to what came shortly thereafter.
I think I mentioned that one apologist shared this generalized observation, “the younger generation listens with their eyes (i.e. they see something) and they think with their emotions.” In other words, what they see, creates emotions, and that is what drives their response.
I also mentioned a book by Natasha Crain (Faithfully Different) in which she shares these generalized observation: Their ultimate authority are their feelings.
But in Romans 12:2, Paul writes that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds not by developing our emotions. Proverbs 23:7 reads, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.”
In Isa 1:18, God invites us to “reason together.”
God created us as creatures with emotions. Emotions are good. But if anyone lives their life being guided strictly by their emotions their lives will be like an untethered boat in a storm.
THE CHALLENGE OF OVERCOMING EMOTIONS
A challenge we face, when engaging the younger generation, is to get them to see that what their “emotions see” is not necessarily reality and the response generated by their emotions may not be the right response. So, how do we know what the “truth” is and what our right response ought to be after seeing something that disturbs us?
TRUTH CORRESPONDS TO (GOD’S) REALITY
“Truth” is that which corresponds to reality. But who defines reality? God alone defines reality and what is really true. And that is where apologetics comes in. It all begins with having a solid, uncompromised biblical worldview. That is, looking at the world and all that is going on through the “lens of Scripture” and I would suggest, relating back to God’s story that I shared yesterday.
That takes us right back to engaging so much of the younger generation. We need to help them “see” that what their emotions are telling them is not necessarily what is real. It might be real to them, here and now, in this moment. But it is not necessarily real from an eternal, Genesis to Revelation perspective.
This is a challenge we face in the US but, I think, maybe even more so here in Africa.
Now in Madagascar.
LOW STRESS DAY
Wednesday was a travel day. Outside of a delayed departure it was a smooth day. The shock of the day was my arrival in the capital city of Madagascar (Atananarivo-Ah-tah-non-uh-reevo).
NEW, BEAUTIFUL TERMINAL
There is a new international terminal since I was here before the pandemic and it was a “wow” experience. We landed about 4pm and by 4:30 I had my visa and luggage and was heading out the door to meet Najo Salama, who will most likely be the one to replace Julien Mvemba, who went home to be with the Lord a few months ago.
SAME NARROW STREETS
One thing that did NOT take me by surprise was the traffic. I remember thinking, “expect every commute in this city to take an hour.” It is bumper to bumper with barely one lane in each direction and cars actually partially parked on curbs and sidewalks. It took us a little over an hour to get to the hotel I’m staying at. I’ve been here before. It’s been years. But the young man behind the counter recognized me.
RICE PADDYS EVERYWHERE
Another familiar scene was the wall to wall rice paddys. Rice is eaten at any meal at any time here.
THE PANDEMIC’S TOLL ON MADAGASCAR
Madagascar was hit as hard as any country I know of by the pandemic. Their government basically sealed off the island-country from the rest of the world. There was no entering or leaving. But, according to Najo, things are back to normal.
THE PANDEMICS TOLL ON ITEM’S MINISTRY
Because of the nationwide shutdown, ITEM’s ministry here basically was shutdown as well. So, with the loss of the long-time coordinator, and the years of shutdown, our meeting tomorrow will be to regroup, discuss what remains of our previous ministry here, and formulate a plan for moving forward.
I’ll have a full report about after our meeting tomorrow. We will meet about 9am – 2pm. (10pm PT to 3am PT Wednesday into Thurs morning.)
Pray for God’s leadership and wisdom as we think, pray, and plan the way forward for ITEM here in Madagascar.
I put a few pictures that I took plus some from the internet to give you a good idea of what Antananarivo is like.
By His grace,
Steve