In praise of emotions

Not sure about you, but I am a little wary of emotions. I guess it comes from being white, middle-class, and middle-aged. Seeing it in writing shows me that there is an awful lot of middle in my description – hopefully not too much in my figure! But being wary of emotions does not mean that I am incapable of feeling deep emotions. Possibly my caution comes from the fact that the people in my community do not express their emotions freely, and especially not publically. We worry about what people will think of us more often than we should.

Black Zimbabweans do not seem to suffer from the same hang-ups. Prize-giving, for example, is often accompanied by loud ululations, and proud mothers will often dance to the front of the hall and hug their children whilst crying un-ashamedly.

Jewish people also seem free to express their emotions. We were in Jerusalem at the time when people take to the streets and dance with the Torah. Gail and I sat at a road-side cafe from which we could watch the festivities in a nearby public square. Men swirled around vigorously to the sound of a live band, flourishing flags and singing. Each dark-haired head was crowned with a white kipa that seemed to gust through the air on its own, illuminated by the streetlights. Though the dancers were men, women surrounded them, swaying and clapping their hands. From time to time a small boy would pick up a microphone and sing to the music. Even a paraplegic had joined the whirlpool of dancers, swept around in his wheelchair by wildly enthusiastic friends.

John Piper has studied the theology of Jonathan Edwards whose preaching sparked a great awakening among the churches in New England two hundred and fifty years ago. Piper refers to a book written by Edwards entitled “A Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections”. In this book, Edwards argues that “true religion, in great part, consists in holy affections”. Today, we might call “holy affections” emotions. Edwards (claims Piper) was utterly convinced that there is no true religion without holy affections.

In his book “The Supremacy of God in Preaching”, Piper describes some of the “holy affections” that should be growing in our lives:

“Delight in the glory of God includes, for example, hatred for sin, fear of displeasing God, hope in the promises of God, contentment in the fellowship of God, desire for the final revelation of The Son of God, exultation in the redemption He accomplished, grief and contrition for failures of love, gratitude for undeserved benefits, zeal for the purposes of God, hunger for righteousness, and so on”.

                I desire for these holy affections to grow in me, for growth is a sign of life. Surely it is significant that three of the fruits of the spirit are emotions: love, joy and peace (Gal. 5:22). One of the ways to cultivate holy emotions is through worship. It is in worship that we exult in the redemption Jesus has accomplished; we express our gratitude to God for the many undeserved benefits He has showered upon us; we put our longing and hunger for God to music, singing of our desire to be more like His Son; and we declare God’s promises aloud and hope for their fulfilment.

                So may your worship this week fan into flame the holy emotions that go with a life that has been rescued and transformed by our glorious God.

Cheers for now - Ian