Which do you prefer - a good book or a social gathering?
Which do you tend to lean toward in your formation of faith- doctrine or testimony?
Based on our early training and our personality type, we are likely to think that 'our' way of perceiving God and worshipping Him is superior to that of other Christians. For example, Pentecostals are quite certain that ancient liturgical forms are a sure way to die! Many Evangelicals nearly worship study of the Bible and reject emotion as unworthy of a Christian mind. Our teachers turn their preferences into Truth and we learn to insist that the way is our way. I think one of the best things any Believer can do for his spiritual development is to occasionally worship among those who are very different, respectfully learning, without abandoning critical discernment. Then, too, we can learn a lot by listening to our critics!
I joke about conferences I choose to attend saying - "If my mind needs fed, I'll attend a Baptist conference. If my soul needs inspiration, I'll go to a Pentecostal gathering." Pastors, hearing that, chuckle, often with a little nod acknowledging that the joke contained an element of fact! Head and heart... are they enemies or complementary?
To serve God faithfully and fervently, we need both our head and our heart. The study of Scripture that creates sound doctrine is imperative. However, creed without the context of experience is an exercise in emptiness. The opposite is also true - experience without creed to guide, soon descends into chaos or worse.We must diligently study the Scripture so that we are not carried away by smooth talkers who weave mesmerizing tales of spiritual exploits. But we must also remain open to the fresh wind of the Spirit that makes the unchanging truth of the Bible meaningful and keeps the Bible's truth engaged with the culture and society where we live.
Know this, in your journey with Jesus, your head and your heart will not always be in 'perfect balance,' nor should that be the goal of your spiritual life. There are times when we must seek answers, study hard, and build a good foundation of doctrine. Then, too, there are times when we need the fire of emotion to be stirred up in us as we deepen our devotion. I don't know many people in a time of severe crisis who want a logical answer, at least at first. They want to be loved from the heart. As time goes on, their raw emotions heal and explanations become a focus.
Are you missing out on part of what God has prepared for you because you're focusing your spiritual development exclusively on either your head or your heart? Jesus asks us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37, NKJV) Eugene Peterson translates that verse this way: “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence." (The Message)
- Are you trying to be a 'good' Christian just by learning more truth, dissecting obscure passages of the Bible? That's not enough!
- Are you feeding excessively on testimonies and emotional gatherings that 'pump up' your emotions? That's not enough, either!
Ask the Lord to lead you along the paths that nourish both your head and your heart. Make sure that your journey includes times when you stretch the limits of your understanding, when you ask the hard questions, dialogue with other Believers over the Scripture, and listen to challenging messages from the Word. Then, too, make time to 'feel' the Lord's Presence - quiet meditation, a walk by the river, a loud worship gathering of exuberant Christians, a concert of classical music, the whisper of the Spirit deep within your soul.
Paul reminds us about engaging heart and head in this verse from 1st Corinthians- (a bit out of context - but on point, I believe),
"Well then, what shall I do? I will do both. I will pray in the spirit, and I will pray in words I understand. Iwill sing in the spirit, and I will sing in words I understand." (1 Corinthians 14:15, NLT)
Can we do less?
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