The Briefing

The Briefing: Issues: Does God feel our pain?

2010-09-01T10:59:46+10:00

Does God have emotions?

I don't know whether you've ever thought seriously about this question, but it's quite a conundrum when you ponder it.

On the one hand, you would have to say ‘Yes’. God is personal and relational. The Scriptures say that he loves and hates, that his Spirit can be grieved, that he can be fiercely angry and tenderly compassionate. He is not a cold, remote and uncaring God.

But then again, if God ‘gets emotional’ in response to what his creatures do or don't do, doesn't that make him subject to us and our behaviour? If he is liable to get worked up about things, how can he also be the supremely constant and faithful sovereign creator and lord of all, “with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (Jas 1:17)?

Unsurprisingly, we are not the first ones to think about this issue. In fact, since the very earliest times, Christians have been thinking and debating and searching the Scriptures on this very question. In our feature article this month, Mark Baddeley argues that the biblical insights of the early church on this matter have fallen out of favour recently, to our detriment. It's a fascinating and provocative essay (starting on p. 12).

However, in this emotion-packed Briefing, we are not only thinking about God's emotions but also ours. What sort of emotions should the Christian feel? And how do we deal with and express our emotions in a godly way? Claire Smith looks at when and how to share our feelings with others (p. 24), and I argue that we should follow Jonathan Edwards in making a distinction between ‘emotions’ and ‘affections’ (p. 19).

All in all, there's lots to be intrigued, challenged and encouraged about. Hope you feel the same. TP

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Up front

When God comes to church
Talking about predestination with kids
Dealing with inner demons
My sister Mary

Jars of clay: Being a Christian parent—Ian Carmichael reflects on what the Bible says to parents.

Features

Does God feel our pain?—Mark Baddeley examines what it would mean to have a God who suffers.
Thinking about emotions—Tony Payne goes in search of his emotions and finds more than he expected.
The dangers of oversharing—Claire Smith investigates the difference between suffering with those who suffer, and making someone suffer.

Departments

Pastor's brief

Integrating newcomers into the life of your congregation—Glyn Kearney unpacks problems and solutions for turning new faces into familiar, thriving church members.