A Biblical Theology of Emotions
by Bryan Carlson
Emotion is defined as “a conscious mental reaction (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feeling usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body” (merriam-webster.com).
A Biblical theology of emotions: God Himself has the purest ability to respond emotionally, feeling emotions such as delight (Isaiah 42:1, Matthew 3:17), anger (Psalm 7:11), compassion (Isaiah 49:15-16), and grief (Psalm 78:40). Mankind, made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), also possesses the capacity to respond emotionally to their environment. God's purest forms of responding emotionally to His creation arise out of what He values because of who He is. He values His glory (Isaiah 42:8), His people dwelling in fellowship with Himself (Revelation 21:3), righteousness and justice (Psalm 33:5), His Son (Matthew 3:17), His people (Isaiah 62:5), His will/redemptive plan for creation (Ephesians 1:5), grace/mercy (Micah 6:8), meekness/humility (Isaiah 42:2-3; Matthew 5:3), love for people (Romans 13:8), and more. When God's image bearers depart from His values on earth, He responds emotionally in anger, grief, compassion, etc. (Psalm 7:11, Psalm 78:40, Isaiah 49:15-16). When God's image bearers conform to having His values on earth, God responds emotionally in delight and joy— His Son is the ultimate example of this (Matthew 3:17). As image bearers, mankind has righteously informed emotions as they cultivate valuing what God values. Valuing from the heart what God values results in emoting like God emotes.
The role of emotions for the Biblical counselor: Emotions are value indicators of the counselee (James 4:1— pleasures that wage war in your members). What angers the counselee (Genesis 4:5; Jonah 4:1)? What grieves the counselee? What brings the counselee joy? These emotions are windows into the worship and love of the counselee's heart (1 John 2:15-17). The counselor must help the counselee see the temporal, corrupt, and destructive nature of earthly values and pleasures. This requires a biblical perspective on the futility of seeking fulfillment in this world, as described in 1 John 2:17, which states that the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
The distinction between righteous and sinful emotions: The counselee who values the pleasures of this world will have distorted emotive responses to whatever degree they obtain or are unable to obtain those pleasures. An example of distorted anger over the inability to obtain earthly pleasures/comforts is bitterness (Ephesians 4:31). The counselee who values what God values will have righteous emotive responses, as His Father and Savior have. By showing the counselee the beauty and eternality of God and His ways, as well as the temporal, corrupt, and destructive nature of earthly values, the counselor can help the counselee to renew their mind and transform their emotive responses. By exhorting them to believe and repent from valuing the pleasures of this world, the counselor can guide the counselee towards a righteous and godly expression of their emotions.
The use of Scripture to help the Believer's emotions: The renewing of the mind of the believer is necessary in order to respond differently as a new man (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24; Hebrews 4:12). Showing the counselee the beauty and eternality of God and His ways from Scripture can renew their mind's valuing of what God values (Psalm 119:33-40; Philippians 2:1-11). Showing the counselee the temporal, corrupt, and destructive nature of earthly values can facilitate repentance of valuing/loving the pleasures of this world (Ephesians 4:22; 1 John 2:17; 1 Samuel 15:19-30). Exhorting the counselee to believe and repent from valuing, living for, and loving the pleasures of this world will begin to transform their emotive responses. The Apostle Paul instructs believers to put off their old self, which is corrupted by deceitful desires, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24). This can only be accomplished by the renewing of the mind (Ephesians 4:23; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:8). As a counselor, using Scripture to help the counselee change improper emotions requires a thorough understanding of the biblical text and an ability to apply it to the specific situation of the counselee. The counselor must show the counselee how their emotions reveal what they value and worship and help them to cultivate a love for what God loves. Psalm 119:33-40 is a helpful passage to guide the counselee in this process, as it expresses the psalmist's desire to understand and obey God's commands, and to be led by His truth. (Faith notes 25-27)
Faith Biblical Counseling, ACBC Exam Track 5, 25-27.
Merriam Webster, merriam-webster.com
