I'm not against feelings.
I'm just questioning the biblical foundation of the phrase "feeling the Spirit."
Yes, you feel joy and delight in the service of God.
But there is this ethereal sense in which some people think they can "feel" the presence of the Holy Spirit in a service.
I think that is nonsense.
Should we feel great when we sing and worship? ABSOLUTELY!
Do we have some sixth sense whereby we "feel the Spirit" and can thus know when he is present?
Doubtful.
You'll labor in vain for a verse that instructs us to feel the Holy Spirit. However, I believe a proper understanding of the relation between the spirit/soul/body does give an adequate answer.
I don't have time to scrub through all the scripture passages, but man is a dichotomy of substance (spirit/body), and having a soul (psyche) wherein lies our thoughts, emotions, will, rationale, feelings, memories, etc.
the spirit substance and the soul personality are inextricably joined, as is bone an marrow (Heb 4:12). The spirit influences our thoughts, such as when our inner promptings make us think about God.
And while we're in this body, our psyche and body are joined in such a way as to influence each other. For example:
If someone touches my shoulder (body), it can startle me in my psyche (thinking)
If I see my dog get run over with my eyes (body), it can make me sad in my psyche
conversely, if I have a sad thought (psyche), it can manifest tears from my eyes (body)
or if I have a happy thought (psyche), it can make my face (body) smile
If I hear a loud scream with my ears (body), it can make me fearful in my psyche, and then make the hair stand up on the back of my neck (body).
Stress in our psyche can make us physically sick, or the emotions of love can give us a feeling of elation.
If thoughts of fear can make the hair stand up on your neck, or thoughts of your baby dying can make you cry, why cannot thoughts of God give someone a physical feeling of not-quite-euphoria?
Does scripture unfold every detail of how the psyche and body interact? Not at all. Very little, actually. But the relation is undeniable, nonetheless.
A mind set on Christ can absolutely bring a physically manifested sensation, maybe close to euphoric, or somewhat ethereal.
But you raise some very valid concerns as well. Do we have a sixth sense? Not that scripture would bear out - and not that I would believe, either.
Should we "feel" the Holy Spirit in a service? In my opinion, if someone has a euphoric feeling only during a service, it is almost certainly NOT the Holy Spirit.
I think the appropriate balance is somewhere between two rudimentary categories I tend to place believers in - Stale Scholars and Lively Illiterates
The Stale Scholar is well versed in scripture, able to accurately handle complex theological issues, and has a systematic theology in mind which governs most of his thoughts. He has a plethora of bible references strung together for each aspect of his faith. He may or may not actually be a scholar, but he has the utmost regard for scripture, and is firmly convinced that God is best known through His Word.
The Lively Illiterate, on the other hand, knows very little scripture other than several dozen which are taken horribly out of context, misquoted, added to, or otherwise abused. Complex theological issues are boring. Words like eschatology and soteriology mean about as much as dextromethorphan. He is more likely to carry a bible, and far less likely to know what it means, and is firmly convinced that God is best known through experiences.
The Stale Scholar is firmly convinced that scripture is supreme, and that all legitimate experiences (if any) will bear out in scripture. His battle cry in a debate is "Prove It From Scripture"
The Lively Illiterate, otoh, is firmly convinced that the Holy Spirit is living and active, and blows like the wind wherever He may, whether or not scripture supports it. His battle cry is always "Some Things You Just Have To Experience To Believe"
There are problems with each type of person. First, the Stale Scholar seems to be limiting God's activity to what He has let us in on in scripture. He is generally quick to quote 2Tim 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed....", yet has somehow redefined "all scripture" as "only scripture"
The Lively Illiterate, though, knows so little of scripture that he is not grounded in truth. Having come from that persuasion, I am pretty convinced that many aren't even believers. They know so little of scripture that they don't even understand what Christ has done for us. Always looking for some proof that God is near, they rely upon those ethereal feelings instead of on Christ Himself.
And when those feelings are the basis of his assurance, they become the basis for accepting others as "Sprit filled" believers. That's why anyone who comes through the door with a "falling down" ministry is also free to bring his doctrinal heresies right along with him.
Those who are looking for this "feeling" only during a service are almost unanimously steeped in Old Testament Law-based works, too. In their eyes,
they're coming to "God's House", which harkens backward to the OT temple.
They're coming to get a glimpse of His "Shekinah Glory" which was manifested to those in bondage to the Law.
They're coming to pay tithes, not knowing that tithes were commanded to go to Israelite priests.
They're coming to put their face on an "altar", which was part of the OT temple
They're coming to have their sins "covered" which is what the blood of bulls and goats did
They come to be in God's presence, not realizing that His presence once came to a tabernacle and temple. But now He dwells IN us
They know very little, if any, about the New Covenant and Grace. Most everything is about works, Law, Temple. So they look for evidence that God is near.
Do I ever "feel" the Holy Spirit? Yes.
During a church service? Rarely.
Is it like the feeling of being inebriated? No.
I've been drunk on beer, wine, whiskey, vodka, and high on marijuana, opium, hash, crack-laced weed, formaldehyde, and a few others, and it is nothing like that. I also get a funny, dizzy, out-of-it feeling when my blood sugar drops, and it is nothing like that.
I don't believe it's His PRESENCE I feel, it's his FILLING. Paul said:
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but
be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. - Ephesians 5:15-21
It is in those times when most every thought is on Him. Not just for 15 minutes. Every thought for a whole week, or month. Thinking about His grace all day long. Thinking about my church family all day long. Thinking about bringing my son up in the faith all day long. Singing, whistling, humming songs to Him and about Him all day long Talking to Him all day long. Encouraging someone from the church, studying for bible study, telling about His goodness, hoping in the next life - all day long
For days and weeks my mind is set on Him. I am walking in the Spirit, and I am filled with the Holy Spirit. And I feel it physically.
Then there are times when most every thought is set on myself, and my circumstances, my work, my bills, and bible study is drudgery. I'm not whistling. I'm not thankful. I'm set on the flesh. And in those times, I don't feel this not-quite-euphoric feeling. Because I'm not filled with the Holy Spirit
