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Emotions and the Christian Spiritual Journey

Emotions, or "affections" as they are sometimes called in biblical texts, play a significant role in the Christian spiritual journey, encompassing both natural human feelings and divinely-inspired spiritual experiences [1]. The Bible acknowledges a wide range of human emotions, from joy and love to fear and anxiety, and provides guidance on how these feelings relate to one's relationship with God and others [1, 11].

The concept of "affections" in scripture refers to feelings or emotions. The Bible speaks of "vile affections" (Romans 1:26) and "inordinate affection" (Colossians 3:5), indicating that not all emotions are inherently good or directed appropriately. Conversely, Christians are exhorted to "set their affections on things above" (Colossians 3:2), suggesting a spiritual redirection of emotional energy [1]. This distinction between natural and spiritual or gracious affections is also noted in Ezekiel 33:32 [1].

Biblical Foundations for Emotions

Scripture frequently highlights the importance of emotions in worship and daily life. Ephesians 5:19 encourages believers to speak to one another in "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord" [2]. This passage emphasizes the role of heartfelt expression and joy in communal and personal worship. Similarly, Ecclesiastes 11:9 advises young people to "rejoice... and let your heart cheer you," while also reminding them of divine judgment, indicating that even natural joys are to be experienced within a framework of accountability to God [3].

Love is presented as a foundational emotion and a core aspect of Christian life. Believers are called to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and to love their neighbor as themselves [4]. The Apostle Paul prays that Christ may "dwell in your hearts through faith," so that believers may be "rooted and grounded in love" (Ephesians 3:17) [5]. This love is not merely an abstract concept but an experiential reality that grounds the Christian life [10]. The indwelling of Christ in the heart is seen as the source of spiritual power for life and ministry, enabling believers to be rooted and grounded in this love [12]. The love of Christ is described as being "too great to understand fully," surpassing ordinary human love and forming the basis of the Christian's experience and personal knowledge of God's grace [10].

Other positive emotions are also encouraged. Rejoicing in God is a recurring theme in scripture, as seen in Psalm 33:1 and Habakkuk 3:18 [4]. This joy is often linked to faith and trust in God's character and promises.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in shaping and directing Christian emotions. The "Jamieson, Fausset & Brown" commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:10 suggests that the Spirit reveals truth essential to salvation, inspiring thoughts and guiding believers [8]. This divine inspiration extends to the emotional life, enabling believers to experience spiritual affections.

The Spirit is also depicted as an intercessor, groaning on behalf of believers in prayer, even when their own expressions are inarticulate [9]. The "Jamieson, Fausset & Brown" commentary on Romans 8:27 explains that God, as the searcher of hearts, understands the "surging emotions" of believers in prayer and knows what the Spirit means by these groanings. This indicates that the Spirit works within believers' emotional lives, aligning their desires with God's will [9]. The Christian life is understood as beginning "in the Spirit," with the Holy Spirit ruling the spiritual life as its "essence and active principle" [14]. Through the Spirit, both Jews and Gentiles have "access... unto the Father," allowing them to approach God with boldness [15].

Navigating Negative Emotions

The Christian journey is not devoid of negative emotions. Jesus himself experienced the full range of human emotions, including fear and anxiety, as demonstrated in his prayer in Gethsemane, "please take this cup of suffering away" (Luke 22:42) [11]. This shows that experiencing difficult emotions is part of the human condition, even for Christ.

Believers are warned that they will face persecution and affliction [6]. The "Jamieson, Fausset & Brown" commentary on John 15:20 notes that hatred towards God and Christ, and hatred towards the gospel, are origins of persecution [6]. Matthew Henry's commentary on James 1:2 states that "troubles and afflictions may be the lot of the best Christians," and that those who have reason for great joy may still endure "very grievous afflictions" [13].

In times of affliction, prayer is presented as a means of expressing and processing these difficult emotions [7]. Believers are exhorted to pray for God's presence and support, for divine comfort, for mitigation of troubles, and for deliverance [7]. They also pray for pardon from sin and for divine teaching and direction during suffering [7]. This demonstrates that negative emotions are not to be suppressed but brought before God in prayer, seeking His intervention and guidance.

The Christian Conduct and Emotional Life

Christian conduct involves a range of actions and attitudes that are deeply intertwined with emotions. These include believing God, fearing God, loving God, following God, obeying God, and rejoicing in God [4]. Similarly, conduct towards Christ involves believing in Christ, loving Christ, following His example, obeying Him, and living for Him [4]. These actions are not merely intellectual assent but involve the heart and affections.

The spiritual journey involves a continuous process of growth and transformation, where emotions are increasingly aligned with God's will. This involves setting affections on "things above" (Colossians 3:2) and allowing Christ to dwell in one's heart through faith, leading to a life "rooted and grounded in love" (Ephesians 3:17) [1, 5]. The goal is for the believer's life to be "made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within," reflecting God's image [10].

Sources

  1. 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).”
  2. Ephesians “speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord; -- Ephesians 5:19”
  3. Ecclesiastes “Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. -- Ecclesiastes 11:9”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  5. Ephesians “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, -- Ephesians 3:17”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
  8. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:10: revealed . . . by . . . Spirit--The inspiration of thoughts (so far as truth essential to salvation is concerned) makes the Christian (Co1 3:16; Co1 12:3; Mat 16:17; Joh 16:13; Jo1 2:20, Jo1 2:27); that of words, the PROPHET (Sa2 23:1-2; Kg1 13:1, Kg1 13:5), "by the word of the Lord" (Co1 2:13; Joh 20:30-31; Pe2 1:21). The secrets of revelation are secret to some, not because those who know them will not reveal them (for indeed, the very notion of revelation implies an unveiling of what had been veiled), but because those to whom they are announ”
  9. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 8:27: And--rather, "But," inarticulate though these groanings be. he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he--the Spirit maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God--As the Searcher of hearts, He watches the surging emotions of them in prayer, and knows perfectly what the Spirit means by the groanings which He draws forth within us, because that blessed Intercessor pleads by them only for what God Himself designs to bestow. Note, (1) Are believers "led by the Spirit of God" (Rom 8:14)? How careful”
  10. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:19: 3:19 May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1). • it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8). • The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14, 24; 5:1-2; Rom 8:29; 2”
  11. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 22:42: 22:42 please take this cup of suffering away: A cup is a metaphor for experiencing either judgment or blessing (see, e.g., Pss 23:5; 75:8; 116:13; Isa 51:17). Jesus felt all the emotions of his humanity, including fear and anxiety.”
  12. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:17: 3:17 Having Christ . . . make his home in your hearts is the source of spiritual power for life and ministry (see John 14:16-17, 23; 15:4-5; Gal 2:20).”
  13. James (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on James 1:2: We now come to consider the matter of this epistle. In this paragraph we have the following things to be observed: - I. The suffering state of Christians in this world is represented, and that in a very instructive manner, if we attend to what is plainly and necessarily implied, together with what is fully expressed. 1. It is implied that troubles and afflictions may be the lot of the best Christians, even of those who have the most reason to think and hope well of themselves. Such as have a title to the greatest joy may yet endure very grievous afflictions. As goo”
  14. Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 3:3: begun--the Christian life (Phi 1:6). in the Spirit--Not merely was Christ crucified "graphically set forth" in my preaching, but also "the Spirit" confirmed the word preached, by imparting His spiritual gifts. "Having thus begun" with the receiving His spiritual gifts, "are ye now being made perfect" (so the Greek), that is, are ye seeking to be made perfect with "fleshly" ordinances of the law? [ESTIUS]. Compare Rom 2:28; Phi 3:3; Heb 9:10. Having begun in the Spirit, that is, the Holy Spirit ruling your spiritual life as its "essence and active p”
  15. Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 2:18: For through him we both have an access, That is, both Jews and Gentiles; the Arabic version reads, "we both factions": being made one, and reconciled unto God, and having the Gospel of peace preached to both, they have through Christ freedom of access and boldness in it: by one Spirit unto the Father: they may come to God as the Father of spirits, and of mercies, who has made their souls or spirits, and bestowed his mercies on them in great abundance; and as the Father of Christ, and as their God and Father in Christ: and the rather they should consider him in th”
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