The answer is simple, it is far easier to manipulate a person to do what you want them to, through emotions, than it is to use logic to convince them.
How many times have we talked and talked and talked to someone to convince them of something we know to be true, using reasoned arguments and Scripture, only to have them reject it because they didn't like what we were saying? Often I suspect.
When we can manipulate a person's emotions with a sob story or guilt trip them into buying into our desires, they put aside their thinking powers and roll with the emotions. In order to remove the emotions or make themselves feel better they will do whatever their manipulator wants them to do.
This is what motivational speaking is all about, manipulating the hearer to want to sell their product for them or work harder for their company they regale their hearers with funny stories and itching ear kinds of things. Then the crowd is ready to do whatever they are told they should do.
These tactics are used in churches every Sunday around this country. The majority of church attendees today do not enter the building to learn how to think for themselves or the mind of Christ, they are there to put their mind on hold while someone else tells them how to think, what to believe and how to gain something they personally want to achieve.
Anyone who dares to think for themselves is summarily driven from the building through accusations of "mean spirited" to "heretic", in order to mock them into silence. Those watching don't want to be treated this way so they buckle under the intimidation to remain in good standing with the leadership and other flying monkeys who are also afraid to assert themselves.
Often the punishment is much more subtle, there is an air in the room of coolness when the dissenter passes. Others who have been offended by truth, will avoid covertly, the one who proclaims the Bible as the standard.
Emotions have been used down through the ages to keep entire countries under the thumb of dictators and evil men who seek to control others. When we make emotions our bench mark for reality we will get drastically off course, even ruining our lives.
Those who wish to control us will use every form of emotional manipulation possible to break our spirit. However, we don't have to indulge them, we can calmly and boldly excuse ourselves and move on to obey God.
The wonderful thing about the Christian walk is that we don't have to be controlled by men we can be controlled by Christ, free to do as we please while choosing to honor Christ.
Acts 15:24
"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:"
2 Timothy 2:14
"Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers."
Titus 1:11
"Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake."
Titus 3:11
"Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."
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