Modern March | a Christian blog

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 07:37 AM PST

I am currently reading John Piper’s amazing book, Think. Here is his take on why our head and our heart should both be stimulated in our faith:

God has given us minds and demanded that we use them in understanding and applying his Word. And God has given us emotions which are equally essential and which he has commanded to be vigorously engaged in his service.

If we neglect the mind we will drift into all sorts of doctrinal error and dishonor God who wills to be known as he is. And if we neglect the heart we will be dead while we yet live no matter how right our creed is.

Often I run across people who are either more logically-driven or more emotionally-driven in regards to their faith. There are problems that can arise if we focus too much on one or the other.

Thinking Too Much

This can lead to 1) an issue of intellectual pride, and 2) legalism. One problem that exists in the Calvinist circles is that we Calvinists feel that we have so logically figured soteriology out, that we look down on anyone who does not “get it.” This mindset and others drives us into idolizing something other than God and causes us to focus on the dogmatic and not the spiritual. Over thinking makes us a sort of mindless robot, going through the motions and not taking seriously the supernatural, unexplainable work of God.

Feeling Too Much

The main issue here is that people get so caught up in their last emotional high that they are disappointed when that high fades out. The Christian faith is not always crying during worship or an insatiable desire to read the Word. Often times it is gut-wrenching. You will not always “feel like” praying or living obediently, and you will need sound theology to work through it.

My prayer is that God would not only tune my mind to Him, but tune my heart as well. If our minds and hearts are both in rhythm with God, we will be a grave danger to Satan’s work in this world.

Filed under: Daily Life, Theology