In a world saturated with self-help mantras and psychological advice, one phrase echoes loudly: "You can't trust your feelings." It's a cautionary tale against the whims of emotion, urging us to anchor ourselves in cold, hard facts instead. "What you really want are the facts. Facts are your friends. Feelings will change on you." This sentiment resonates because we've all been burned by impulsive decisions driven by fleeting passions, anger leading to regrettable words, fear paralyzing progress, or infatuation blinding us to red flags. Yet, as followers of Christ, we must temper this blanket statement. The word "never" in "never trust your feelings" is where I stumble. Scripture doesn't dismiss emotions outright; instead, it invites a nuanced dance between the heart's stirrings, the deceptiveness it can harbor, and the unyielding call to obedience.
Consider peace, that serene emotion often dismissed as mere feeling. The Bible positions it as a divine indicator, a part of the inner affirmation God grants when we're aligned with His will. We're commanded to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (Colossians 3:15, ESV). If peace is to "rule," we must trust it to some degree. But how do we reconcile this with warnings about the heart's deceitfulness? This blog post delves into that tension, exegeting key passages from the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible. We'll highlight keywords and phrases from the original Hebrew and Greek, unpacking their meanings to reveal a balanced biblical view: emotions are God-given gifts, yet they must be submitted to Scripture and obedience, lest the deceptive heart lead us astray.
We'll explore the deceptiveness of the human heart, the redemptive role of emotions in spiritual life, the necessity of a Spirit-sensitized conscience, and the call to obedience as the ultimate safeguard. By the end, I hope you'll see that trusting feelings isn't about blind reliance but about discerning them through God's Word, allowing them to flourish in submission to His truth.
The Deceptive Heart: A Biblical Warning Against Unchecked Emotions
Let's begin with the foundational caution in Scripture: the heart's inherent deceitfulness. No passage captures this more starkly than Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (ESV). This verse, nestled in a chapter where God contrasts the cursed man who trusts in human strength with the blessed one who trusts in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:5-8), serves as a divine diagnosis of the human condition.
Exegeting this passage requires context. Jeremiah prophesied during Judah's decline, warning against idolatry and false security. In verses 1-4, he describes Judah's sin as engraved on their hearts with an iron stylus, unerasable without divine intervention. By verse 9, Jeremiah universalizes this to all humanity. The Hebrew word for "heart" here is lev (לֵב), which encompasses not just emotions but the inner self: mind, will, and affections. It's the seat of decision-making, as seen in Proverbs 4:23: "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life" (ESV). Lev isn't merely sentimental; it's the core of who we are.
The key phrase "deceitful above all things" translates from 'aqov (עָקֹב), meaning twisted, crooked, or fraudulent. This root appears in Genesis 27:36, where Esau calls Jacob (Ya'aqov, from the same root) a deceiver for stealing his blessing. In Jeremiah, it paints the heart as a master manipulator, bending truth to suit desires. "Desperately sick" is 'anash (אָנוּשׁ), implying incurable illness or wickedness beyond human remedy. The rhetorical question "who can understand it?" underscores its opacity, even we can't fully fathom our motives.
This deceit manifests in emotions leading us astray. Think of Eve in Genesis 3, where desire (chamad, to covet) overrides God's command, or David's lust in 2 Samuel 11, where unchecked passion leads to adultery and murder. Emotions aren't evil, but in a fallen heart, they amplify deception. As Jesus echoes in Matthew 15:19: "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander" (ESV). Here, "heart" is Greek kardia (καρδία), mirroring lev as the origin of actions.
Yet, Scripture doesn't leave us hopeless. Jeremiah 17:10 follows: "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds" (ESV). God alone penetrates the deception, calling us to obedience as the antidote. Obedience, aligning actions with God's commands, guards against emotional pitfalls. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 promises blessings for obedience, while verse 15 warns of curses for disobedience. In the New Testament, Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15, ESV). Obedience isn't emotionless drudgery; it's the framework where emotions find safe expression.
Consider Proverbs 28:26: "Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered" (ESV). "Mind" here is lev again, translated as "heart" in other versions. Trusting one's lev without wisdom (God's perspective) is folly. The Hebrew sachal (שָׂכַל) for "fool" implies moral stupidity, not intellectual lack. Wisdom, from chokmah (חָכְמָה), involves skillful living under God's law. Emotions unchecked by obedience lead to shipwreck, but yoked to wisdom, they propel us forward.
The Redemptive Role of Emotions
While the heart can deceive, Scripture affirms emotions as part of God's design. Genesis 1:27 declares that we are made in God's image, and God Himself expresses emotions: jealousy (Exodus 34:14), grief (Genesis 6:6), joy (Zephaniah 3:17). If emotions are divine, why fear them? The issue isn't presence but perversion post-Fall.
A prime example is the emotional response to sin and grace. When confronted with our condition, Scripture evokes deep feeling. Psalm 51, David's lament after his sin with Bathsheba, brims with emotion. Verse 3: "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me" (ESV). The Hebrew yada' (יָדַע) for "know" means intimate awareness, stirring guilt. Verse 10 pleads, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (ESV). "Heart" is lev, and "clean" (tahor, טָהוֹר) implies purity from defilement. David's emotion, sorrow, drives repentance, leading to obedience.
In the New Testament, the prodigal son's return in Luke 15:18-19 shows emotional awakening: "I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you'" (ESV). His hunger and regret (emotions) prompt obedience to humility. Jesus' parable highlights the father's emotional response: compassion (splagchnizomai, σπλαγχνίζομαι in Greek, visceral mercy) leading to embrace.
God's forgiveness elicits joy and gratitude. Romans 5:5: "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (ESV). "Hearts" is kardia, and "poured" (ekcheo, ἐκχέω) suggests abundant overflow, evoking emotional warmth. Denying these reactions stifles spiritual growth. As the provided text notes, realizing we've "offended... grieved the heart of God... driven nails into Christ’s hands" brings sorrow, but grace floods with love, stirring awe.
Ezekiel 36:26 promises redemption: "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (ESV). "Heart of stone" (lev even, לֵב אֶבֶן) symbolizes hardness, unresponsive to God. "Heart of flesh" (lev basar, לֵב בָּשָׂר) implies softness, sensitive to emotions and truth. This regeneration enables trustworthy feelings aligned with the Spirit.
Letting Peace Rule, Trusting Spirit-Guided Emotions
Now, to the crux: when can we trust feelings? Colossians 3:15 provides insight: "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful" (ESV). Paul writes to the Colossian church, combating false teachings by emphasizing Christ's supremacy. Chapter 3 shifts to practical living, urging believers to "put on" virtues like compassion and forgiveness.
Exegeting verse 15, "peace" is Greek eirene (εἰρήνη), denoting wholeness, harmony with God, echoing Hebrew shalom (שָׁלוֹם). It's not the absence of conflict but divine tranquility. "Rule" is brabeuo (βραβεύω), a term from athletics meaning to arbitrate or umpire. Peace acts as referee in the heart (kardia), deciding disputes. When decisions align with God's will, peace confirms; discord signals misalignment.
This peace isn't subjective emotion but Christ-derived, as Philippians 4:7 elaborates: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (ESV). "Surpasses" (hyperecho, ὑπερέχω) means transcending human logic, guarding (phroureo, φρουρέω) like a sentinel. Trusting this peace requires obedience, submitting to Christ's lordship.
Romans 8:16 adds: "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (ESV). "Bears witness" (symmartureo, συμμαρτυρέω) is joint testimony, often felt as inner assurance, an emotion. Yet, it's Spirit-led, not self-generated, emphasizing discernment.
The Conscience as Compass
Tradition says, "Let your conscience be your guide." But as noted, it depends on the conscience's condition. Scripture portrays conscience as a moral compass, but one influenced by the heart.
In 1 Timothy 1:5, Paul aims for "love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (ESV). "Conscience" is syneidesis (συνείδησις), meaning co-knowledge, with God and self. A "good" (agathos, ἀγαθός) conscience is healthy, sensitive to the Spirit.
Hebrews 9:14 speaks of Christ cleansing our conscience: "how much more will the blood of Christ... purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God" (ESV). An unredeemed conscience can be "seared" (1 Timothy 4:2, kausteriazo, καυστηριάζω, branded insensitive) or defiled (Titus 1:15).
For conscience to guide, it must be calibrated by Scripture and obedience. Acts 24:16: Paul strives for "a clear conscience toward both God and man" (ESV). "Clear" (aproskopos, ἀπρόσκοπος) means without stumbling, free from offense.
If conscience draws from a deceptive heart, it misleads. Hence, the need for renewal: Romans 12:2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (ESV). "Mind" (nous, νοῦς) overlaps with heart, renewed through obedience to God's Word.
Embracing Emotions
God gave us emotions; don't be afraid of them. As the text urges, "Let them out. Allow your heart to show through. Exercise your emotions." Suppressing them dulls life's color, missing the "full prism of His love and truth."
Scripture models emotional expression. Jesus wept (John 11:35, dakruo, δακρύω, shedding tears) at Lazarus's tomb, expressing profound grief. He rejoiced in the Spirit (Luke 10:21, agalliao, ἀγαλλιάω, exult). Paul expresses longing (Philippians 1:8, epipotheo, ἐπιποθέω).
In worship, emotions peak: Psalm 100:1-2 calls to "make a joyful noise... serve the Lord with gladness" (ESV). "Joyful" (ruah, רוּעַ) and "gladness" (simchah, שִׂמְחָה) are exuberant.
Yet, emotions must yield to obedience. James 1:19-20: "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (ESV). Anger (orge, ὀργή) unchecked deceives, but when channeled righteously (Ephesians 4:26), it serves.
Obedience: The Anchor for Emotions and Feelings
Ultimately, obedience anchors everything. It's not opposed to emotions but refines them. Deuteronomy 30:15-16: "See, I have set before you today life and good... if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God" (ESV). Obedience brings blessing, including emotional fulfillment.
In the New Covenant, obedience flows from love, as stated in 1 John 5:3: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome" (ESV). "Burdensome" (barus, βαρύς) means heavy; obedience lightens the heart.
Psalm 37:4: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (ESV). "Delight" ('anag, עָנַג) means to be soft, pliable, emotionally engaged. As we obey, God reshapes desires, making feelings trustworthy.
A Balanced Heart in God's Hands
We've journeyed through Scripture's warnings and affirmations: the heart's deceit ('aqov) demands vigilance, yet God's new heart (lev basar) redeems emotions. Peace (eirene) rules as umpire, conscience guides when pure, and obedience safeguards all.
Don't blanket-deny feelings; discern them biblically. As you ponder your sin's grief and grace's joy, let emotions draw you to obedience. Trust the Spirit's peace, guard against deception, and live vibrantly in God's will.
In this balance, life's full color emerges not in reckless emotionalism, but in surrendered hearts. May the Lord search your kardia, renew your nous, and let His shalom rule.
No comments:
Post a Comment