Emotions Part 5
April 21, 2002
Dear Friends,
As with many Bible topics, we might conclude our discussion about emotions with the conclusion that it is really a matter of balance. We might say that we need to balance emotions with reason or logic. In this case, however, it is not a matter of balance at all. We might balance out the competing ideas of justice and mercy, but we cannot balance out emotion with logic.
There is no need to counterbalance emotions with logic. Hopefully, our reason and understanding from the word of God has given us a proper mindset as well as appropriate behavior to channel emotions no matter how great they may be. Should we grieve for those who suffer less? Should we love less? Should we balance the emotions we feel when we contemplate the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior? Absolutely not! We should use the word of God to focus our emotions in the proper manner. If our reason has any impact on our emotions, it should be to give us a proper context to “feel” more intensely. The reason comes first while the proper emotion follows.
If we become too academic in our approach to things spiritual and consider emotion the venue of the weak, we have fallen into a horrible trap. As we discussed at the first, God is emotional. He defines himself in emotion terms. “God is love.” “God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” As we strive in this life to mimic as best as possible our heavenly Father in this mortal frame, we strive to find in us emotions that are keeping with the way the Father feels. If we do not feel as He feels, we are less than we can be in this goal of being like Him. For those whose nature leans toward the stoic, we should at least have emotions commensurate with our understanding.
For example, if we truly understand the nature of man, we should feel humble. If we truly understand the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ, we should feel grateful, joyful, and thankful to name just a few. In other words, academic subjects should properly have emotional responses. If they do not have emotional responses, perhaps we have left them in the academic and not related them to real life. If we have not first understood these topics and yet have emotional responses, we are probably only having emotional responses to emotion — which is more than likely the underlying (and valid) fear of all of the so-called stoics.
To conclude the subject of emotion, we leave you with this thought. All of the fruit of the Spirit are, at least in part, emotions. Their basis, however, is in first understanding the Gospel message. We are not taught in the Bible to live according to our feelings. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24) However, emotion and understanding are not tradeoffs or counterbalances to one another, but understanding is the guide to proper emotion. We need not “feel” less in order to serve God. We should, in fact, “feel” more intensely as we understand the plight of humanity and the great grace that has been shown to us. Our continued immersion in the word of God and in prayer will aid us in properly channeling our emotions in ways which do not detract from, but enhance, our worship of the Lord God and Jesus Christ, His son.
Have a great week!
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