Biblical View of Emotions

22. Develop a biblical view of emotions. Use both the Old and New Testaments in your answer.  How can emotions be changed biblically?

Emotions are; “an affective state of consciousness in which joy, sorrow, fear, hate, or the like, is experienced, as distinguished from cognitive and volitional states of consciousness.”¹ Emotions are a God given part of our human make up.  We don’t make them happen, they are causes of our environment, involuntary reactions that occur mentally, some with biological effects also (tears, sweating, increased heart rate, etc.). “We need to think biblically and theologically about emotions. Every emotion itself is not automatically sinful. It is what motivates our feelings and what we do with and how we respond to our immediate felt experiences that are crucial in identifying the nature (health/holiness) of our emotional life.”¹

Here are two passages where emotions are conveyed; “…but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.” (Genesis 4:5)  “So Ahab came into his house sullen and vexed because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food…..Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” (1 Kings 21:4,7) 

There are passages referring to people feeling fear (Matthew 10:28), anxiety (Philippians 4:6), wrath/anger (Proverbs 15:18), sadness (Nehemiah 2:2, 1 Samuel 1:8), grief (Genesis 26:35, 2 Samuel 18:33, Job 6:2, 17:7, Psalm 31:9, 119:28) joy (1 Samuel 18:6, 1 Kings 1:40,8:66, 1 Chronicles 15:16, 25,Ezra 3:12-13, Nehemiah 12:43, 1 Peter 1:8, 1 John 1:4, 3 John 1:4), despair (Deut. 28:65, Job 10:1, Psalm 27:3, Psalm 42:6, Ecclesiastes 2:2), hatred (Proverbs 10:12, 13:24), familial love (Genesis 22:2, Genesis 37:4, Proverbs 3:12, 10:12, 13:24) friendship love (1 Samuel 18:1, Proverbs 17:17), and marital love (Genesis 24:67, Genesis 29:18, Hosea 3:1, Song of Solomon 5:1, 7:10, Proverbs 5:19, Ephesians 5:33).  These are just a selection of emotions, and Scriptural references, there are many in the Word of God. 

“God designed your emotions to be gauges, not guides. They’re meant to report to you, not dictate you. The pattern of your emotions (not every caffeine-induced or sleep-deprived one!) will give you a reading on where your hope is because they are wired into what you believe and value — and how much.”² Because our natural man is bent towards sin we should not trust our emotions to dictate our choices, justify our reasoning, or be our bearing on what is right or wrong (Jeremiah 17:9).  Feelings or emotions themselves are not sinful but can easily lead us into sin.  For example; anger can lead to words of wrath or violent acts.  “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26) would indicate that we do have a choice, and can use anger biblically.   If we address the individual/group; speak truth lovingly (Ephesians 4:15) confront them (Matthew 18:15-17), and pursue peace (Romans 14:19, Hebrews 12:14) we are responding biblically with to our emotion of anger.  Elsewhere in Scripture we find commands to bring our thoughts captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), set our minds on eternal/heaven (Colossians 3:2), not be anxious (Philippians 4:6) but think on what is true, lovely, excellent, praiseworthy… and peace will result (Philippians 4:8,9).  Often Scripture prescribes a perspective change which results in a change of emotions; “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2), “Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.” (James 4:9) “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.” (Psalm 42:5)  When we view our circumstances in the light of eternity, and with an understanding of His goodness then our we can gain control of our emotions and submit joyfully to His will, plan and purposes in our lives (Romans 8:28,29, James 1:2-4, 12, 2 Corinthians 4:17).  Emotions can be an asset in bringing us to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), revealing our hearts, and a fuel to action.  We get to choose how we deal with emotions and are responsible to God for our actions.       

¹ Bob Kellerman http://www.rpmministries.org/2014/06/the-emotional-life-of-jesus-lets-be-good-bereans-out-there/ ² www.dictionary.com  ³ Jon Bloom http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/your-emotions-are-a-gauge-not-a-guide