Our False Theology of Emotions
I’ve found this true about me and my emotions. I’ve found this true with those I counsel and their emotions. Is it true for you, also? Is this how you tend to think about emotions and Christianity?
If I could only become more like Christ, then my distressing, uncomfortable, painful, negative emotions would go away, and be replaced with comfortable, pleasant, positive emotions like peace, joy, hope, and love.
Or, more simply, we think God promises a formula something like these:
Christlikeness = Victory Over Unpleasant Emotions Christlikeness = Perfect Peace without Unpleasant Emotions Who Is the Most Christlike Person You Know?
Think about the most Christlike person you know. Picture them. Name them. Who is it?
Well, it was a trick question, because, of course, the most Christlike person ever is…Christ.
Now, picture Christ and His emotions, His emotional life, His emotional experiences.
Did Christ—the perfect God-Man, in perfect communion with the Father—experience only pleasant emotions?
Man of Sorrows
Consider some examples of Christ and distressing emotions, uncomfortable emotional experiences:
Christ is the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). His whole emotional life is characterized
To continue...read the full-length post originally published on this site.
