FAITH: Think about your feelings

Is Christianity a matter of the head or the heart?  Often, intellectually oriented Christians look down on those who are more emotional in their faith.  More emotive Christians often criticize those who are more cerebral in their faith.  While each of us leans toward one or the other, we must remember that faith is a matter of both the head and the heart and that our faith shows in the work of our hands.

Feelings are a good and necessary part of the Christian life.  Christians are commanded, “Delight yourself in the LORD” (Psalm 37:4).  Paul says in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”  The Psalmist expressed his heart when he said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1).  While there is an intellectual aspect to our faith, Christians are emotional people and are called to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

Sure, Christians experience and should experience all kinds of feelings—happiness, joy, sadness, compassion, anger, and more, but those feelings are always in accordance with right thinking.  That is why Paul would say in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  He doesn’t say, “Be excited about these things” or “Feel strongly about these things.”  He says, “…think about these things."

While both thinking and feeling are essential parts of the Christian life, one comes before the other.  When it comes to the train of our lives, feelings make a good caboose, but a terrible locomotive.  

This is why Isaiah tells us in 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”  Today, we don’t say that a person has “peace of heart.”  We say that we have “peace of mind.”  Peace and trust come when we keep our mind “stayed” on God.

When I go to the doctor, I do not want sympathy alone or just treatment of the symptoms so that I merely feel better. I want the doctor to determine the cause of my symptoms and address it.  I don’t want him to “feel my pain.”  I want him to think correctly about it and address the root cause.

Christians understand that the head must lead the heart—not the other way around.  The heart must submit to the truth. There are times when our feelings pull us in one direction, yet what God has revealed directs us in another. In those moments, we must choose what we know to be true over what we happen to feel.  A person’s thoughts, convictions, and intentions shape character, guide actions, and define reality far more than outward appearances ever can. In other words, as goes the head, so goes the heart.

Rather than being dictated by their feelings, Christians think about their feelings, and allow their thoughts to guide their feelings.  Sure, Christians get angry, but they choose not to sin.  Like we are told in James 4:26, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger…”

If you feel strongly about something, before you express your feelings, think about it.  Or better yet, think twice.

Dr. Todd E. Brady serves families at Arrington Funeral Directors.  He is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Augustine School.  He and his wife, Amy, have five sons and are members of Cornerstone Community Church.  You may write to him at tbrady@afgemail.net.