Distinguishing Between Godly and Ungodly Emotions Biblically
Biblically, emotions are not inherently sinful, but their nature and direction determine whether they are godly or ungodly. The Bible distinguishes between affections that align with God's character and those that oppose it [2].
Godly emotions are those that reflect God's own nature and purposes. For instance, God himself experiences anger, which is described as displeasure with sin and sinners [4]. This suggests that anger, when righteous and directed against evil, is not necessarily sinful [9]. Similarly, God is described as "jealous," passionately opposed to idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness [10]. Believers are called to set their affections on God and heavenly things, demonstrating love for God, His commandments, His house, and His people [8]. Contentment, which arises from humility and trust in divine providence, is also a godly emotion, opposing envy, avarice, and anxiety [6]. Zeal, when rightly directed towards God's glory, the welfare of saints, and contending for the faith, is another positive emotion [7]. Even sorrow can be godly, particularly when it stems from serious reflection on eternity or leads to repentance [12, 7]. A "glad heart" is seen as beneficial, making a cheerful face and promoting life to the flesh [1, 3].
Ungodly emotions, conversely, are those that lead to sin or stem from a heart alienated from God. The Bible speaks of "vile affections" and "inordinate affection" [2]. Envy is explicitly identified as "rottenness to the bones" [3] and is contrasted with contentment [6]. Anger becomes sinful when it is "causeless, or excessive, or protracted" [4]. The unrenewed heart is characterized by being hateful to God, full of evil, evil imaginations, vain thoughts, and desperately wicked [5]. Such a heart is prone to error, unbelief, and departing from God [5]. Hypocrisy and double-dealing, described as "frowardness," are particularly offensive to God [11]. While anger itself is not sinful, allowing it to control one's actions leads to sin [9]. The longest experience of divine anger, even for the pious, is momentary, suggesting that prolonged, unrighteous anger is contrary to God's nature [13].
Sources
- Proverbs “A glad heart makes a cheerful face; but an aching heart breaks the spirit. -- Proverbs 15:13”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Affection — Feeling or emotion. Mention is made of "vile affections" (Rom. 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Col. 3:5). Christians are exhorted to set their affections on things above (Col. 3:2). There is a distinction between natural and spiritual or gracious affections (Ezek. 33:32).”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 14:30 (YLT) — A healed heart <FI>is<Fi> life to the flesh, And rottenness to the bones <FI>is<Fi> envy.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Anger — The emotion of instant displeasure on account of something evil that presents itself to our view. In itself it is an original susceptibility of our nature, just as love is, and is not necessarily sinful. It may, however, become sinful when causeless, or excessive, or protracted (Matt. 5:22; Eph. 4:26; Col. 3:8). As ascribed to God, it merely denotes his displeasure with sin and with sinners (Ps. 7:11).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heart, Character of the Unrenewed — Hateful to God -- Pr 6:16,18; 11:20. Full of evil -- Ec 9:3. Full of evil imaginations -- Ge 6:5; 8:21; Pr 6:18. Full of vain thoughts -- Jer 4:14. Fully set to do evil -- Ec 8:11. Desperately wicked -- Jer 17:9. Far from God -- Isa 29:13; Mt 15:8. Not perfect with God -- 1Ki 15:3; Ac 8:21; Pr 6:18. Not prepared to seek God -- 2Ch 12:14. A treasury of evil -- Mt 12:35; Mr 7:21. Darkened -- Ro 1:21. Prone to error -- Ps 95:10. Prone to depart from God -- De 29:18; Jer 17:5. Impenitent -- Ro 2:5. Unbelieving -- Heb 3:12. Blind -- Eph”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Contentment — A state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1 Tim. 6:6; 2 Cor. 9:8). It is opposed to envy (James 3:16), avarice (Heb. 13:5), ambition (Prov. 13:10), anxiety (Matt. 6:25, 34), and repining (1 Cor. 10:10). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine providence (Ps. 96:1, 2; 145), the greatness of the divine promises (2 Pet. 1:4), and our own unworthiness (Gen. 32:10); as well as from the view the gospel opens up”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Zeal — Christ an example of -- Ps 69:9; Joh 2:17. Godly sorrow leads to -- 2Co 7:10,11. Of saints, ardent -- Ps 119:139. Provokes others to do good -- 2Co 9:2. Should be exhibited In spirit. -- Ro 12:11. In well-doing. -- Ga 4:18; Tit 2:14. In desiring the salvation of others. -- Ac 26:29; Ro 10:1. In contending for the faith. -- Jude 1:3. In missionary labours. -- Ro 15:19,23. For the glory of God. -- Nu 25:11,13. For the welfare of saints. -- Col 4:13. Against idolatry. -- 2Ki 23:4-14. Sometimes wrongly directed -- 2Sa 21:2; Ac 22:3,4; Php 3:6. Sometimes not accord”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affections, The — Should be supremely set upon God -- De 6:3; Mr 12:30. Should be set Upon the commandments of God. -- Ps 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167. Upon the house and worship of God. -- 1Ch 29:3; Ps 26:8; 27:4; 84:1,2. Upon the people of God. -- Ps 16:3; Ro 12:10; 2Co 7:13-15; 1Th 2:8. Upon heavenly things. -- Col 3:1,2. Should be zealously engaged for God -- Ps 69:9; 119:139; Ga 4:18. Christ claims the first place in -- Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26. Enkindled by communion with Christ -- Lu 24:32. Blessedness of making God the object of -- Ps 91:14. Should not grow cold -- P”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 4:4: 4:4 Angry feelings are not sinful, but letting anger control you leads to sin (see 37:7-8; cp. Eph 4:26-27, 31-32). • Instead of acting on their emotions, the godly think about their circumstances overnight. They might be disturbed as they sleep, but silence opens their hearts to trust in the Lord (Ps 4:5).”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 20:5: 20:5-6 jealous God: God is passionately opposed to our prostituting ourselves with false gods (see Josh 24:19-20). • in the third and fourth generations . . . for a thousand generations: It is important to keep both sides of this equation together. God does not punish children for their parents’ sins. Rather, he is saying that our sins affect future generations of descendants. But he is also restricting the natural effects of those sins to three or four generations, while graciously extending the effects of obedience to a thousand generations (see also 34:6-7; Deu”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 11:20: It concerns us to know what God hates and what he loves, that we may govern ourselves accordingly, may avoid his displeasure and recommend ourselves to his favour. Now here we are told, 1. That nothing is more offensive to God than hypocrisy and double-dealing, for these are signified by the word which we translate frowardness, pretending justice, but intending wrong, walking in crooked ways, to avoid discovery. Those are of a froward heart who act in contradiction to that which is good, under a profession of that which is good, and such are, more than any sinn”
- Ecclesiastes (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ecclesiastes 7:3: Sorrow--such as arises from serious thoughts of eternity. laughter--reckless mirth (Ecc 2:2). by the sadness . . . better-- (Psa 126:5-6; Co2 4:17; Heb 12:10-11). MAURER translates: "In sadness of countenance there is (may be) a good (cheerful) heart." So Hebrew, for "good," equivalent to "cheerful" (Ecc 11:9); but the parallel clause supports English Version.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 30:5: Relatively, the longest experience of divine anger by the pious is momentary. These precious words have consoled millions.”