As a biblical counselor I certainly believe our emotions are God-given. And God never does anything coincidentally. Our emotions are like the oil light on the dashboard - if it goes on, it means there is something to be paid attention to. If we knock out the light, eventually, something will go awry and damage the engine enough to cause a break down. Same thing with emotions - they are an indicator that something is not as it should be and needs our attention (such as our relationship with God or with others). We are to pay attention to our emotions, but we are not to allow our emotions to run the show (or the behavior). We need to go to the Word to see where we need to line our walk up with what we say we believe as Christians.

Emotions are to be mastered, not repressed. Paul says in Philippians 4:4 that we are to 'rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!... vs. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. vs.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.' We choose to rejoice in the lord, we give our anxieties over to God; thereby attaining peace in our hearts and minds. This is done via communing with the Lord and letting his power, his point of view regarding our natures wash over us. Emotions in and of themselves aren't bad, but like everything else in our lives, they must be actively be set at the foot of the cross. This is how God works with us in every aspect of our being. (Please disregard the star rating. I goofed.)

I'd also like to hear the case made more often that our minds are just as corrupt as our "hearts" (emotions). This perspective, I believe, has been completely obliterated by Kant and the Stoics. Thank God for men like John Piper who are crusading to overturn such destructive ideals. Also, I might mention that it'd be nice to have the full name of the author somewhere in the article. "Elliot" doesn't tell me a whole lot. Thanks. ;-)

Agreed. Our emotions, like our thoughts, desires and choices, ought to be under the Holy Spirit's guidance in terms of type, intensity and expression. The wholesale distrust of our emotions smacks of asceticism and is merely a powerless, man-centred attempt at holiness, which the Lord denounces in Colossians 2:20-23. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." -- Mark 12:30

I agree with the author of this article in that we should discern between Godly emotions and emotions which manifest the sin nature. I have always been taught that in spiritual matters emotions cannot be trusted. However, why would God create us with emotions if they cannot be used to further His glory - just as we should use our minds, bodies and souls to further His glory.