From: REXLEX@linac.fnal.gov
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Created in his image?
Date: 14 Oct 92 04:16:18 GMT
Organization: FNAL

>[The volition and intellect seem clear.  I though that classically God
>was said to be impassible, and that this implied a lack of emotions.
>I'm not sure I agree with this, but I am suspicious of a definition
>that makes emotion a required part of being in the image of God.
>--clh]
>


Oh (impassioned sigh) but yes it is most necessary.  Emotion means more than
our simple human definition.  Emotion gives rise to communication.  It gives a
basis for love.  It distinguishes itself from hate.  It nullifies the
pantheistic notion of equal opposites.  It disavows the necessity to create. 
In eternity past God was sufficient in and of Himself in that on the *High*
order of Triunity, God could converse with other members of the Godhead and
love other members of the Godhead.  There is a pre-space/mass/time basis for
law and love.
   We were chosen before the foundation of the world to election on the basis
of His emotion within the definition of "for His good purpose."  It wasn't
whimsical.  In Rom's 8 we read that we were "foreknown" of God.  Study this
word carefully because it suggests that there was a "relationship" in eternity
past between the Godhead and His chosen.  

Let's just look at this context:

Rom. 8:26   And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do
not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for {us}
*with groanings too deep for words*;
Rom. 8:27 and He who searches the *hearts* knows what the *mind* of the Spirit
is, because He intercedes for the saints according to {the *will* of} God.
Rom. 8:28 And we *know* that God causes all things to work together for good to
those who *love* God, to those who are called according to {His} *purpose*.
Rom. 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to
the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;

oh my, don't you see the absolute necessity for volition/intellect/emotion.
Look at v27.  There they are in one verse!  Again, in verse 28!

Why does the psalmist cry "create a new heart in me!" or does God favor
obedience over sacrifice?  Why did Christ say that it wasn't the letter of law,
but the hearts attitude that was the qualifier?  Emotion is very important. It
is essential to proper worship.  

Let me parenthetically say this, that raw emotion is as dangerous as cold
intellect.  The fall should be described not just as a separation from God, but
also from the harmony within man himself.  Now we wrestle against the
disharmony of relations with God that the fall has necessitated, but also, we
wrestle against the disharmony of volition/intellect/emotion.  We all struggle
in harmonizing these three.  This is where the disharmony of man is rooted. Our
charismatic brothers emphasize the emotional, our liturgical brothers the
intellectual, and our legalistic brothers the volitional.  Its not that they
are totally wrong but that they are not totally right.  We *must* marry these
in full and equal harmony to worship in truth and in spirit.

Yes, emotion is very much an essence of the nature of being created in the
image of God.  Do you think that Satan has no emotions!  With passion does he
seek to lay to waste your soul and mine.  It is only the love of God that
restrains our ruthless adversary.

Another thought.  We do not create great works of art, great themes of music,
great lines of poetry, great disciples of Christ, with out
emotion/intellect/will being in harmony.  Heck, aren't these necessary even to
create life!  I can't conceive of a God that doesn't have emotion as a
communicable attribute.  Why else "God is Love?"  He is in harmony with Himself
therefore we may further the description by saying "God is Light."  THere is no
disharmony here.  

Well enough passion for one posting.  I just don't see how a well thought out
(there's the intellect) theology could leave out (there's the will) emotions as
a part of the essence of being created in the image of God.

thinking out loud again-
Rex