The Age of the Clinical
A Sermon on John 4:13-14
Originally preached April 23, 1967
Scripture
13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting …
Sermon Description
In this sermon on John 4:13–14 titled “The Age of the Clinical,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones addresses two common extremes where people tend to fall: pure emotionalism and pure intellectualism. He points out that the world swings like a pendulum between relying solely on emotions and relying solely on intellect. Both of these extremes are excluded in Christianity; instead it embraces emotions that are grounded in truth. He shows that the world often excludes emotion to protect itself from pain. To illustrate this, he uses the philosophy of stoicism. This philosophy attempts to cut out all emotion in order to be unaffected and safe. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that this kind of false protection is only a partial solution. It merely ignores suffering rather than providing a solution. He describes Christianity as a balanced view of intellect and emotion. God created people as creatures that are made to do more than understand truth; they are made to feel truth. Moreover, their Savior wept over sin and suffering. Whereas the world would rob all of either knowing truth or feeling and experiencing it, but God would have His people weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.
Sermon Breakdown
- The sermon examines Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman about living water that satisfies and never fails.
- Jesus’ words show the fullness, sufficiency and permanence of the Christian salvation and life.
- Many today see Christianity as outdated, but we must show them they are wrong and share the blessing.
- We must understand and experience this ourselves to be good witnesses. Christianity spreads through personal witness.
- The world’s need is greater than ever, though times are discouraging. But opportunity is also greater. Are we ready?
- We must go beyond receiving for ourselves to helping others in need around us.
- We’ve seen Jesus’ claim is intellectually satisfying, answering questions and resolving problems. But we want more.
- We want to know this is true for us personally. It’s not enough to know God forgives sin generally. We want to know our sins are forgiven.
- Christianity is about relationship, not just accepting truth. Luther knew righteousness came through relationship, not just belief.
- We all want assurance, certainty, safety, peace and rest. The heart cries out for satisfaction as much as the mind.
- So we must consider whether Jesus satisfies the heart as well as the mind.
- It’s hard to define exactly where the mind ends and the heart begins. They influence each other but we must distinguish them.
- Scripture shows Jesus deals directly with the heart, though usually through the mind. Sometimes the heart is first.
- So we must consider the place of feeling and emotion, especially in the Christian life. This causes much confusion today.
- Some make too much of feeling, living by instinct and emotion rather than reason and judgment. This can show lack of intelligence, laziness or an anti-intellectual philosophy that says we should live by sensation and impulse.
- But others make too little of feeling, despising emotion. This can be a reaction to sentimentality, a result of emotional assaults from events like war, or a stoic philosophy that says we should control feelings to avoid being hurt.
- The “clinical” attitude of detachment and objectivity is popular but goes against human nature. We need a balance of mind and heart.
- The world can’t satisfy the heart. Its offerings are temporary at best and ultimately aggravating. Whosoever drinks of this water will thirst again.
- The confusion and contradictions of modern life show its failure to satisfy the heart. Intellectualism and emotionalism coexist. People crave primitive music, violence, frenzy. This shows the lack of heart satisfaction and the need to knock out the mind.
- Drugs, alcohol, immorality show the craving for heart satisfaction and the world’s inability to provide it. They create more problems than they solve.
- Aldous Huxley’s life shows the bankruptcy of intellect alone. His turn to mysticism showed his need for heart satisfaction beyond intellect.
- We have the answer the world needs in Christ, who alone satisfies the heart forever. Do we have this living water to offer the world?
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on John 4:13-14
What is the main contrast Jesus draws between physical water and spiritual water in John 4:13-14?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon, Jesus contrasts the temporary satisfaction of physical water with the permanent satisfaction of spiritual water. He quotes Jesus saying, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. That's the world you see. The world can't satisfy us in any sense. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." The physical water requires continual returns to the well, while the spiritual water Jesus offers becomes "a well of water springing up into everlasting life" within the person.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the intellectual satisfaction Christianity provides?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Christianity provides complete intellectual satisfaction while acknowledging there are certain limits to human understanding. He states, "Even as we solve our Sunday. With regard to problems where there isn't an explicit answer, there is an answer that covers even the residual problems, which is very satisfying to the mind of a man who has submitted himself to this revelation." He points out that part of intellectual satisfaction is recognizing what is accessible to understanding and what isn't - since we are finite beings trying to understand an infinite God.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the problem with seeking only intellectual understanding of Christianity?
Lloyd-Jones identifies that mere intellectual understanding isn't enough because humans aren't just intellects but also have hearts. He explains: "A man can see that there is a perfect whole system here... But you see, that doesn't of necessity, guarantee that a man is a christian. He's got to know that it's true for him." He quotes Blaise Pascal's statement that "The heart hath her reasons that reason knows not of" to emphasize that Christianity must satisfy both mind and heart.
What was the central issue that troubled Martin Luther according to the sermon?
According to Lloyd-Jones, Martin Luther was troubled by the question of his personal relationship with God rather than mere intellectual assent to church doctrines. He quotes: "Christianity is a matter of relationship rather than a matter of ascent to truth, seemed basic to Luther." Luther was specifically concerned with "the righteousness of God" and how he could personally stand before this righteous God. This personal struggle led to his painful agony that eventually sparked the Protestant Reformation.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the two extreme attitudes toward emotions in Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies two problematic extremes: those who make too much of feelings and those who make too little of feelings. He describes those who make too much of feelings as people who "live on their feelings" and "judge everything emotionally" without applying objective judgment. On the other extreme are those who almost entirely exclude emotions from Christianity, valuing what he calls a "clinical" approach that is "detached" and "objective" without any element of feeling or emotion.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe stoicism and its connection to modern attitudes?
Lloyd-Jones describes stoicism as a philosophy that teaches people to control their feelings to protect themselves from being hurt. He explains: "If you want to go through life successfully, the first thing you've got to do is to put a curb on your feelings... never be too happy...never be too miserable." He connects this to modern attitudes, noting that there has been "a very marked and striking retrievescence of this in this present century," citing Bertrand Russell as someone who deliberately protected himself against his own feelings.
What does Lloyd-Jones identify as the contradiction in modern culture regarding emotions?
Lloyd-Jones points out that modern culture holds two contradictory positions: on one hand, there is an intellectual, clinical approach that disdains feelings, while on the other hand, there is a "pleasure mania," "sheer emotionalism," and "craving for entertainment." He sees this contradiction as evidence of emotional repression: "those people had been repressed in the realm of their emotions and their feelings... But it was there and at last it found an outlet and it burst through all the barriers."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the increase in drug use and social phenomena like screaming at concerts?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains these phenomena as expressions of "a lack of emotional satisfaction." He says, "There is that in human nature that cries out for it and it can't get it. So it reverts to these primitive patterns." About drugs specifically, he says people "want what they call a kick. And a kick means an emotional satisfaction. What's offered to them in the realm of intellect and of thought doesn't give it them." He sees these behaviors as attempts to find satisfaction that the world cannot provide.
What example does Lloyd-Jones give of someone who discovered the limitations of intellectualism?
Lloyd-Jones gives the example of Aldous Huxley, whom he describes as "a brilliant intellect" who in the 1920s believed "nothing mattered but intellect." However, later in life, Huxley underwent "a complete change" and began writing about mysticism, even becoming a Buddhist. Lloyd-Jones explains this transition: "With all his brilliant intellect, he knew it wasn't enough. There was something deeper, there was a heart, there was something that was crying out for a fuller satisfaction."
What is the ultimate message Lloyd-Jones wants Christians to understand about Christ's living water?
Lloyd-Jones wants Christians to understand that Christ's living water provides complete satisfaction that the world cannot give. He challenges his audience: "My dear friends, this is where you and I come in. Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. Have you got that answer for the world?" He emphasizes that Christ offers "full and a complete satisfaction without drugs, without drink, without all this anti-intellectualism," concluding with "It is perfectly true. Thou, o Christ, art all I want. More than all in thee I find."
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.