This is the second post in my study of Jonathan Edwards famous text Religious Affections
If you would like to learn more about Jonathan Edwards himself, here is a link, to a previous post, that includes a one hour lecture by Dr. Steve Lawson.
As we learned in the preface of this text, the subject of true Christianity was a very important one to Jonathan Edwards.
This was not only true in concern of his own faith, but later in his life a great concern toward his church members, as well as the growing revival, in which he was a great part of, "The Great Awakening".
To help me better understand the context of this treatise, I am also concurrently reading George M. Marsden's, award winning biography, Jonathan Edwards: A Life
The overriding question in Jonathan Edwards treatise is this: What qualifications do we possess so that we may know for certain that we are entitled to God's eternal reward of heaven?
Edwards has also read, and was concerned with, the verses in Matthew where Jesus teaches that some people who called themselves Christian's, were not actually Christians and thrown into hell.
Certainly, it is incumbent on each of us to search this question out for ourselves. We can't, on the final day, stand in front of God's judgment throne and say that "so and so told me this or that". We must all know this answer for ourselves.
In Part 1, of Edwards' Religious Affections, he convincingly purports that our affections (our heart and mind) are a critical, and revealing, piece of the true relationship with Christ.
Please read on...
"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,.."
The first place that Edwards draw our attention to is the early church. 1 Peter was written during horrific persecutions towards the early church. These early Christians were being feed to lions and lit on fire at night, as torches, to light Nero's evening gatherings.
Point #1
As difficult as it may seem, Edwards points out that under trials, true faith has a three point benefit:
- The truth of your faith is manifest in trials. You will either hate God and run away, or cling to him.
- Truth faith, under trials, is a beautiful thing to behold. Think Cory ten Boom.
- True faith, under trials, is purified and increased.
The Apostle Peter, in the verse above, marveled at the fact that even under incredible persecution, and furthermore, having never personally met Jesus Christ, these Christians loved Christ, believed in Christ, and furthermore, rejoiced with inexpressible joy which was filled with glory!
Ponder this in your head. If your father was lit as a torch to give light to an evil emperor's dinner party, would you rejoice with inexpressible joy? Is it possible that these early Christians had something that you and I don't? Or...did these incredibly difficult trials define and/or reveal their truth faith?
Edwards make a very good point. It is very clear to see truth faith under such extreme circumstances.
From the above realizations, Edwards declares the following proposition:
True religion, in great part, consists of holy affections.
What are Affections?
Edwards answers:
"The affections are no other than the more vigorous and sensible exercises of the inclination and will of the soul."
Edwards goes on to tell us that the soul has two parts:
- understanding - our discernment, perception, and speculations
- inclination - this is the pull to or the pull away from a thing
He further explains that:
- the will is defined as the action of the soul.
- the heart is defined as the mind of the soul.
Edwards points out that these things exercise in one of two ways:
- the soul approves things in view--->approves them--->is pleased with them--->and is inclined
- the soul opposes things in view--->disapproves--->is displeased with them--->and rejects
Edwards continues by telling us that there are millions of variables of the two illustrations above. But...when you have vigorous inclinations of the will and soul...then...you have affections.
He goes on to say that the will, and the affections of the soul are not two distinct faculties. You "will" to eat. Before you are green beans and ice cream. If you are like me, you may will to eat them both for sustenance, but you will be passionate (have affection for, be excited about) the ice cream. This thing, that you have for the ice cream, is a measure of affections.
Still further, he explains that it is common for an affection to have a physical effect in the body. I am a lover of opera. I have great affection for opera. I have even more affection for Luciano Pavarotti. When I hear Luciano sing "Nessun Dorma", my body physically reacts with heightened heart beat, facial distortions and nearly always with tears. When I am in a public place and I hear Pavarotti singing, I always turn my attention to the source. This is affection.
Well...I can see that this chapter contains far too much to put into a single post. Therefore, I am going to break here and continue another day. There is much here for us to ponder.
I think back to the Christians in 64 AD, or Corrie ten Boom. These people had deep affection for Jesus Christ and it was crystal clear.
I can only pray that the Holy Spirit would teach me to have such affection. After all, does not affection come from teaching? I wasn't born loving Pavarotti. I wasn't born loving God. I wasn't born loving my wife. It takes time and knowledge to build strong affections.
Are you spending time in God word to build a strong affection for him? Where would you say your true, real and honest, affections for God lie?
I came face to face with my lowly affections towards God six months ago. This blog is one of my paths to greater affection towards God.
