⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
Exposing Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Standing Firm on Biblical Truth
Many appreciate the language of “emotional health,” yet Scripture calls us to submit our emotions to Christ. Dave Jenkins and Marcia Montenegro examine Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, show where contemplative practices and emotionalism depart from biblical sanctification, and point believers back to the sufficiency of God’s Word, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the ordinary means of grace in the local church.
Emotions matter, truth rules. Christ shepherds his people through his all-sufficient Word.
🎧 Listen to the Episode
🎥 Watch the Episode
Show Summary
This episode examines the assumptions behind Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, how it reframes sanctification around self-analysis and contemplative techniques, and why that shift undermines the sufficiency of Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit. We offer a biblical path forward, emotions matter, yet they must be submitted to God’s Word within the life of the local church.
Key Scriptures
- John 17:17, Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.
- Romans 12:2, Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
- Hebrews 4:14–16, Our sinless High Priest sympathizes with our weakness.
- Psalm 119, Delight in the law of the Lord.
Topics Covered
- Why emotions are God given, and why they are not authoritative
- Contemplative practices, true self language, and misused proof texts
- The ordinary means of grace, Word, prayer, fellowship, and worship
- How biblical counseling addresses the heart with Scripture
Stay Connected
- Subscribe to Contending for the Word at our page at Servants of Grace,
on your favorite podcast app, or at our YouTube channel. - Share this episode with a friend who needs biblical encouragement.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
