Sanctifying Emotion
Charity Sandstrom
In academic circles broadly, and theological circles specifically, emotion has a bad reputation. There are efforts to shut down feelings so that pure, logical thought can prevail. Today I am saying, “Enough!”
People who study theology of the Christian faith base their foundational beliefs in the writings of faith bound together in the Bible. Scripture is full of feeling, both human and divine, and in no corner of the Holy text are we instructed to stop having emotion in order to be in right relationship with God.
From the first chapter of the first book in our scriptures we find God expressing great emotion as creation leaps to order at the Word of God. At every stage, God pronounces creation “good.” When God finishes on the sixth day, creation is pronounced “Very good!” This is not a mathematical statement. It is not a cold, reasoned proposition. It is the enthusiastic, joy-filled, emotional proclamation of our God who delights in what has been made!
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