"Religious Affections"

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” (Psalm 41:1 ESV)

Deep faith and devotion to the Lord bring about what Jonathan Edwards called “religious affections” in his book The Works of Jonathan Edwards Vol . 1. Edwards believed that “True religion, in great part, consists in holy affections” (pg. 237) We are slowly refined, maturing in our relationship with God. This maturity results in true affection, a deep love for Christ that does not cease, but only grows.

We see this description of religious affections in our passage today. David often openly revealed his deep love and need for God. In writing to scattered Christians in Asia Minor we see Peter writing of religious affections, “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.”(1 Peter 1:8) Edwards saw religious affections as “the more vigorous and sensible exercises of the inclination of the will of the soul.”(pg.237) In the soul, we process information in two ways: first, with understanding. This is how we receive and process information. It is how we make determinations and assessments of what we have received. It is our processing of the validity of the information as well as its applicability to our being. The second way is by our resolve, by which we determine if we approve or disapprove of this information. If it is information we must hold on to, or release as unnecessary.

For Edwards, this was the foundation, the requirement for biblical Christianity. We see this in Revelation 3 where Jesus, writing to the church in Laodicea, says, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (vv15-16). God does not desire half-hearted devotion, glorification, or worship.

It is our religious affections that reveal to God the nature of our heart. This is not an emotional reaction to worship, scripture, or any other worldly influence. Emotional expressions regarding faith can be unreliable or even negative. People cry over losing money, too. It is the truly deeply rooted love we have for our Savior. Religious affections are not generated by us but through the Spirit developed in the heart. Paul tells us this in Romans 5:5, “This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

We humans are motivated by our affections, and religious affections bring about hope, desire, and love for Jesus. They are fear, respect, and devotion to God because we recognize His transformative power demonstrated in the believer. Our religious affections reveal to God our true priorities in life, to which He deserves and must be number one.

For many, this is very difficult. Some find it difficult to place God before their spouse, their children, or their grandchildren. However, in our salvation, it happens naturally when the Spirit endows us with religious affections. When we recognize the workings of God in our lives, we realize how empty our lives were before Christ filled them.

Religious affections are not just internal; it is also how we display our love and devotion to the Lord, our fruits. Many go through the motions of Christianity without having ever been made righteous before God. They display all external signs of Christianity, reading the Bible, attending church, and so on, but are not saved. Even fear of eternity can manifest false convictions in Christ. Self-preservation can make people believe in God, just so they think they can stay out of hell. Unfortunately for these people, it is a sentence to hell. Religious affections spring forth from us and as Edward’s wrote “arise from those influences and operations on the heart, which are spiritual, supernatural, and divine.” (pg. 264)  People who wrongly believe they are saved often appear humbled, only to raise their internal pride. It is a self-promoting false belief in the Lord that makes them appear what in the heart they are not. “Backsliding” Christians cannot “backslide” forever, because it becomes a sign of untrue repentance and righteousness.

True religious affections are constantly growing like our sanctification. We long to be closer to the Lord. Our failures are nauseating, and we feel the conviction of the Spirit. A Christian becomes inwardly and outwardly more controlled in their beliefs, feelings, and actions. The passion they have for the gospel and the Lord is relayed with gentleness, compassion, and love. They become a reflection of Christ to others, and others want to be around them.

There is no Christianity without religious affections. Edwards believed this, and so do I. I see Christ in my brothers and sisters who are deep in religious affections. I hope others see that same thing in me.

Are you a reflection of the Lord? Does your soul run deep with religious affections that give you peace and calm that can only come from Christ? Are you a pretender, or is your heart truly regenerated? Look at yourself inside and out, test yourself as Paul so readily spoke of in his epistles. If you do not know the Lord, seek Him. Only He can change the heart and make one righteous before God. Do it now I pray you.

Grace and Peace!