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Head versus Heart. Which is more vital to spiritual well-being?. versus. Let’s break this question down a bit to see if that will help. “Is the head (intellect) important to spiritual well-being?” Of course, none truly believes without knowledge/understanding, Rom.10:17 .
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HeadversusHeart Which is more vital to spiritual well-being?
versus Let’s break this question down a bit to see if that will help. “Is the head (intellect) important to spiritual well-being?” • Of course, none truly believes without knowledge/understanding, Rom.10:17. • And knowledge/understanding is also vital to obedience and pleasing God, Col.1:9-10. • But, Rom.10:8-10seems to connect belief and righteousness back to the heartalso! Confusing? • Sometimes headand heartare used interchangeably, as in Matt. 13:15 (& Rom.10:8-10), and sometimes they are used separately, cf. Mk.12:30.
versus Well then, “Is the heart (emotion) important to spiritual well-being?” • Of course! One must have the right kindof heart, and feelthe right things in it: • Pure, Matt.5:8 • Not dull or hard, Matt.13:15 • Unwavering, Acts 8:22-23 • And feeling as God does, 1John 4:7-8; Matt.5:43-48
versus But, as your mother always told you, “Too much- even of a ‘good’ thing, can be bad.” • Too much head/knowledge in religion? • Yes, it can lead to arrogance, 1Cor.8:1; 13:2,4 • Yes, it can lead away from purity and simplicity, 2Cor.11:3 • Yes, it can lead to hard-heartedness,Matt.9:10-13 • Yes, it can lead to missing the real point of true religion, Jas.1:26-27
versus So then, can there be… • Too much heart/emotion in religion? • Yes, it can lead away from God’s righteousness,Rom.10:1-3 • Yes, it can lead away from God’s standards, Phil.3:7-19 • Yes, it can lead to improper worship and lack of edification, 1Cor.14:20-40
versus Conclusion What is one to do? Is true spirituality a matter of the heador the heart? • It is the proper combination of both because knowledgewithout emotionis no better than emotionwithout knowledge; neither of them alone get us where we need to be, which is true spirituality. But the real question is: Which do you lack? • Eternal judgment is not a “final exam” test of knowledge, Matt.25:31-46; • But neither is it based solely on our emotions, 1John 2:3-6; 3:7-24. So… Love God (heart); Know God (mind); and Obey God (body); and He’ll take care of your Soul!