Feeling Like God: The Emotional Side of Discipleship and Why You Can't Fully Follow Jesus Without It

by Chris Tiegreen

A devotional writer traces the character of God throughout Scripture, showing how God reveals himself as a deeply emotional being who longs to connect closely with individuals. 15,000 first printing.

201 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2008

About the author

Chris Tiegreen is an award-winning author of more than 60 books and discussion guides that have been translated into more than 40 languages and read by more than 5 million people worldwide. He is also a collaborative/supporting writer on more than 40 book projects. As a journalist/photojournalist, he has written hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles covering city and county government, sports, and education. His experiences in media, ministry, and higher education bring a unique perspective to his writing, which often focuses on cultural commentary and devotional themes.

Reviews

[Stephen]

I just finished a book by chris tiegreen entitled “feeling like God: the emotional side of discipleship—and why you can’t fully follow Jesus without it”. What I appreciated most about this book is the new mental models I acquired reading it. I gained deeper insight and was challenged to view the Scriptures through a different lens. An emotional lens.

In one part of the book Tiegreen invites the reader into doing some “emotional mapping” of scenes and stories in the Bible. Instead of reading it for plot lines read for emotional responses. How the prophets of God responded at an emotional level and how they were either consistent or inconsistent with the “heart of God”. In this book its giving Christians (and believers) permission to feel the range of emotions natural in the human experience. Permission because God created us to reflect his Divine attributes and that is not limited to our physical body. Our emotional bodies are often neglected and we never mature and grow at an emotional level because of the cultural messages we receive about emotions—especially in the church. You can’t trust your feelings. They’ll deceive you. There is an elevation of the rational mind over the heart—a very 18th century enlightenment ideal that is the foundation of modern day scientific study. There is this misconception that the only path to truth is through the rational mind. Reason over emotion.

Tiegreen paints a picture of how to be a whole human being where the heart and mind are not at variance or vying for supremacy. Rather, they work in tandem. Tiegreen’s contention was that to do so is to be in sync or at one with God. Its not enough to be at one with God in will and mind. There must also be emotional entrainment or synchronization.

There were a few disparaging references to non Christian religions and non-democratic systems of government. I could respect his different values when it came to such matters and still hear him. His message was compelling, counter-cultural, and spot on. Two thumbs up!

[rené lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed the main idea of this book: God is emotional and that it's expected that we, made in His image, are meant to be emotional too. As a believer that is highly emotional, this book has been a tremendous blessing. It has relieved me of the pressure of believing that I am wrong for feeling deeply and not always choosing the 'logical' response. It has helped me rethink my ideas of God wanting us to follow rules and fill our minds with theology and to beat our feelings into submission. The author does a wonderful job explaining the distinction between positive and negative emotions as well.

The reason I didn't rank it higher was that I felt like I was perpetually starting the book over with each chapter and section. It was as if the book had been edited poorly.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best and most powerful books I've read over the past few years. I love Chris Tiegreen's style. Witty, honest and willing share his feelings about God that could be potentially considered controversial (though not to me). This is a book I have shared with many of my friends and will continue to go back to again and again.

[Lee Button]

Here is a topic usually avoided by conservative evangelicals- how does God feel. But Tiegreen offers a biblical challenge to our thinking about the emotions of God. There are suggestions not fully proved but this volume is an important challenge to our understanding of the emotive part of God's personality.