|
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."
~
Jonathan Edwards
Footnotes:
(J. Edwards, A Treatise
Concerning Religious Affections : In Three Parts.
Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996).
|