Religious Affections

This morning I have been reading a little of Jonathan Edwards' Engagement of the Heart, and I am struck once again at how contemporary are the words of this Early American theologian, pastor and educator. Although he lived in the early 18th Century, even before the Revolutionary War, when the mission field was the Native Americans of upper New York, yet so much of what he said and wrote resonates with where we are today.

To wit: (sorry, couldn't resist)he says that so many of us have a kind of half-hearted faith; we mean well, and we claim to love God, but though our hearts appear to be in it, our wills are not. Perhaps this is what the Bible means by loving God with our "strength", as opposed to our "heart and mind". Edwards says, "If we are not earnest in our religion, and if our wills and inclinations are not strongly exercised, we are nothing." Strong words. And yet, I see his point.

As we enter the holiday season with all its feasting and parties, it is so easy to pack on those unwanted pounds. Some of us already had unwanted pounds before the holiday season even began! On the one hand, it is so simple, really, to lose those pounds; all that must be done is to eat less and exercise more. It's a piece of cake (dang, I wish I hadn't said that!). So, why do so many of us have those unwanted pounds that affect our life and health? Because to get rid of them requires a strong and consistent act of the will.

Perhaps the same is true in our spiritual lives. If we are genuine in our "religious affections", that is, if we truly believe what we say we believe, that we love God and desire to serve him, then why don't we? Why do we put it off, or allow other things to get in the way? Why are we so reluctant to live out our faith in the myriad ways we know it should be lived? Perhaps, like our extra holiday pounds, it's not a matter of desire (we want to look and feel better) it's a matter of the will.

In Romans chapter 7 there is a passage that confuses many theologians, or, rather, there is no consistent agreement on its meaning. From about verse 14 to the end, Paul describes the experience of a person (and it is written in first person, so it could be Paul himself) who continually struggles with sin, and has the desire to do good, but does not have the will to do it, like an addict who wants to quit, but just cannot bring herself to do so. So often we feel this way in regard to sin and spirituality (at least, I do). I want to pray more, I want to study more, I want to be more faithful in 1,000 different ways, but there seems to be something pulling me back, and I say with Paul, "What a wretched man I am!" That's why it is so wonderful that Paul concludes with verse 25, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Then he launches in to Romans 8, which has so many wonderful verses about life in the Spirit.

So, where is all this going? I don't really know; that's why this blog is called "Random Thoughts." What I do know is that sometimes our will doesn't keep up with our desire to do good. Lord help me to strengthen my will to follow you in your way.