Jonathan Edwards on "Heat & Light"

 
 

I am sure you are asking the question, "Why the name, Heat and Light?" Allow us a few minutes to explain.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), considered by many the greatest theologian of American history and whose preaching and writings profoundly influenced the Great Awakening of the 18th century in America, was burdened to help believers cultivate right inclinations of the will and of the affections [emotions] so as to live godly lives to the glory of God. Edwards saw the danger of having zeal or being passionate for Christ that was founded on false understanding and a lack of true knowledge.  Paul warns of this as well, “They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Rom. 10:2).  Yet, Edwards also was aware of the futility of having mere "knowledge" or intellectual assent and not loving God with all our hearts.  In fact, Edwards says that the true believer by the power of the Holy Spirit is given spiritual understanding ("light) that will undoubtedly manifest itself in passion for God ("heat") as he delights in God because of God's own excellence and beauty.

"Holy affections are not heat without light; but evermore arise from the information of the understanding, some spiritual instruction that the mind receives, some light or actual knowledge. The child of God is graciously affected, because he sees and understands something more of divine things than he did before, more of God or Christ, and of the glorious things exhibited in the gospel."[1]

~ Jonathan Edwards


Footnotes:

[1] (J. Edwards, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections : In Three Parts.  Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996).

 

 

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