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Response
The Bible depicts both God and humans as beings with emotions. God designed humans with feelings and love. Emotions play a crucial role in our lives and connections, including our bond with God. Traditionally, Christians are advised not to rely solely on their emotions. However, when surrendered to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, human emotions and sentiments, whether positive or negative, can serve a meaningful purpose in our lives.
As humans are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27;9:6), it is logical to assume that our emotions mirror His nature. God demonstrates love (Deuteronomy 7:7-8;Isaiah 43:4;Jeremiah 31:3;Hosea 11:1;Mark 10:21;John 13:1;1 John 4:8,10), shows compassion “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.”, (Psalm 103:13), expresses joy and delight (Jeremiah 32:41;Isaiah 62:4;Luke 15:32), and feels anger (Exodus 22:24;Joshua 7:1;Matthew 21:12-13), sorrow (Mark 3:5;Ephesians 4:30), and distress “I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!”, (Luke 12:50). Due to the fall, human emotions have been tainted to some extent by sin. Nevertheless, Christ has redeemed andRestoring the emotional life of the believer (Romans 8:31-39; Colossians 1:13; Titus 2:14; Revelation 1:5-6).
While often misleading, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) and subject to change, “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of that mirth is heaviness.” (Proverbs 14:13), human feelings can reveal spiritual truths and help us grow toward Christian maturity. Our emotions can expose our need for God, our dependency on Him, and the frailty of our human existence (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Sorrow, anxiety, and fear can work as catalysts to drive us toward God (Deuteronomy 31:6; 1 Samuel 1:7-8; Psalm 6:6-7; 42:11; 56:11; 1 Peter 5:7).
Our feelings often uncover sin in our hearts (James 1:14, 20; Matthew 5:21-26). Guilt is an emotion that believers must contend with because all people are guilty of sin before God (Psalm 51:3-5; Romans 3:23). We can only be free of sin’s guilt by accepting God’s forgiveness through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:10-12; Hebrews 9:14; Romans 5:9). When we realize our guilt and acknowledge our sin before God, we experience “godly sorrow” that “leads us away from.”Sin leads to sorrow but also results in salvation. There is no regret for that kind of sorrow” (2 Corinthians 7:10; NLT; see also Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:8-9). Jesus Christ sacrificed His life to free us from sin and eliminate our guilt and shame (Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 10:11-14; 1 John 1:7).
The Bible teaches that certain emotions, if unchecked, can be sinful. Christians must cultivate self-control to counteract sinful feelings «But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. », (Colossians 3:8). Anger is an emotion that can easily lead us to sin, particularly when we hold onto it and let it fester. The apostle Paul advised, “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26-27; NLT). Scripture urges us not to fear (Luke 12:32; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18) or be anxious (Matthew 6:24-34). Feelings of pride, jealousy, and envy must all be resisted (Galatians 5:19-21; James 4:6).
In 2 Corinthians 1:3–11, Paul explained that the emotional trials we face as believers equip and prepare us to minister to others in their pain and suffering. Paul advises, “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep” «Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. », (Romans 12:15, NLT). Believers are encouraged to show profound empathy for one another (Philippians 1:7-8; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12; 1 Corinthians 12:25-26; 2 Corinthians 6:11-13) and to have compassion for those in need (Exodus 22:21; Matthew 25:35-40; James 1:27). In our connection with God, we are instructed to “always be full of joy” and peace (Philippians 4:4; NLT; see also John 16:33; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 1:2-3; Galatians 5:22). Faith and hope are Christian virtues characterized by feelings of confidence, assurance, and trust in God (Psalm 71:5; Hebrews 6:19; 5 Hebrews 11:1; Romans 8:24).
Feelings are a part of our human nature, so we do not need to deny or reject them. Instead, as believers, we should consider the emotional life of Jesus Christ, who demonstrated how to navigate our emotions. In His ministry, Jesus was driven by compassion (Matthew 9:36; Matthew 15:32) and was moved by sorrow “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,”, (John 11:33). He bore heavy burdens (Luke 12:50; Isaiah 53:4-5) and even went through times of emotional agony (Luke 22:41-44). Throughout everything, Jesus instructed us to present each feeling of inner turmoil to God in prayer (Matthew 6:9-13;14:23;26:41;John 6:15;see also Philippians 4:6;Romans 8:26).
