The Passion of the Christ

I picked this up today at Small Dead Animals:

"Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things."

Denis Diderot
French author & philosopher (1713 - 1784)

In systematic theology, we are taught that God is without form, without passions, etc.

I know that God is a Spirit, but I'm not sure that that precludes Him from having a form, or, at least, assuming a form as He wills. We know He is seated on a throne in heaven, and elders cast crowns before Him; that suggests He occupies a particular space. And, we know that Jesus is eternally incarnate as the son of man; he didn't shed his humanity when he ascended to heaven, he took it with him, so He could take us with him to be seated with him there. And we know that Jesus, the Son of God, possesses a spiritual body that can be touched and handled. So, I really think the "without form" bit is perhaps overdone.

Same with the idea that God is without passions.

I believe that the original idea was to convey that God is not pulled to and fro by emotions; He's not an emotionally-unstable being who some days wakes up in a bad mood and acts accordingly.

But to say He is without passions, or has no emotions, is another matter.

I don't buy it.

I believe His love for the world is passionate. and He passionately resolved to do something about man's sin.

We have emotions, and we are said to be made in the image of God. Can God be something less than his creation?

Jesus was God in the flesh, and He was passionate. He whipped the money-changers. He mourned over Jerusalem. He wept at Lazarus' death. He rejoiced in Spirit that God hid the kingdom from the wise and prudent, and revealed it unto babes (and He does the very same today!). The death of Christ is referred to in the book of Acts as his passion.

The apostle Paul was passionate, and he was God's man. He wished himself accursed from God that his people Israel might be saved.

But what passions drive us? What are we passionate about? I used to be passionate about my business; would spend endless hours perfecting my training materials. I viewed this as a way of "loving God" -- doing my very best in business.

Maybe your passion is knitting or sports or politics.

But what about being passionate about the things of God, the kingdom of God, God's honour? Or having a passion for those whom the Bible declares are lost and perishing.

We cannot just manufacture a passion towards God.

But we can ask God to give make us passionate, and to share his passions.

Not a bad way to start the new year.

And that's the way the Ball bounces.