The adult believer strives to think, apply Bible doctrine, the problem solving devices, and continually replenishes his doctrinal reserves through his daily doctrinal intake. Since emotion cannot think, it therefore can neither learn, nor apply doctrine. If you are the type that has to feel good, or be entertained when in Bible class, you are using emotions that cannot learn. A true student of the word of God learns all the doctrines of the Bible, whether they appeal to his emotions or not. Since fear is a sin of emotion, it is necessary to understand emotion. A believer, who thinks in terms of metabolized doctrine, and the ten problem-solving devices, can put fear in its proper place and then experience legitimate emotion. When emotion is out of line it results in irrationality and its accompanying sins of fear, worry, anxiety, and anger. When doctrine is in your intellect, emotions can become legitimate if they are subordinate to that doctrine. Abnormal emotions will tear you apart. In a believer’s life there must be a balance between emotions and doctrinal thinking in the right lobe of the soul. The Bible has a great deal to say about the emotions of the soul, often using physiological nomenclature to express the concept of emotion. The Hebrew word “kiljah” refers to the fat pads of the kidneys, but it is used figuratively for the emotions. "O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God tries the hearts and emotions." (PSA 7:9). "But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, Who tries the feelings and the heart" (JER 11:20). The Greek word “nephros” is used in the New Testament for emotions, "And I will kill her children with pestilence; and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds." (REV 2:23). The Greek word “splagchnon” is literally translated guts or entrails. It is used for emotions in 2CO 6:12. The Greek word “koilia” is used for emotions in ROM 16:18; PHI 3:19. It actually refers to the solar plexus, the nerve center where you feel those butterflies or activity when excited or nervous. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own emotions; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting (ROM 16:18). Whose end is destruction, whose god is their emotions (PHI 3:19). These words for emotion are different from the Greek word “kardia” which is translated as heart. Kardia refers to the intellect or the right lobe of the soul where there is no emotion. The emotions should be under control of the right lobe of the soul, where the doctrine that gives you momentum and wisdom is located. That's why the Bible distinguishes between the right lobe and the emotions. Jeremiah describes our Lord Jesus Christ as, The Lord of the armies who judges righteously, who tests the emotions and the right lobes (JER 11:20). In JER 17:11 the verse literally says, "I, the Lord, search the right lobe, and I test the emotions in order to give to every man according to his modus operandi." All spiritual momentum, growth and application come from epignosis (metabolized) doctrine in the right lobe of the soul. The Lord’s judgment, or evaluation, of you will depend on what dominated your soul. Was it Bible doctrine or emotion that dominated your life? You must have epignosis (metabolized doctrine) and “Sophia”(wisdom or applied doctrine). |
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