The Train Called Worship

One more quote, this time from Desiring God. Next time I'll write something personal. But this is really good.

This quote concerns the old evangelical slogan "Fact, Faith, Feeling"

"In one well-known booklet the slogan appears as a train: The locomotive is 'fact.' The coal car is 'faith.' The caboose is 'feeling.' The explanation reads: "The train will run with or without the caboose. However, it would be futile to attempt to pull the train by the caboose." But what are the "feelings" the train of Christian living can run without? Do "feelings" refer merely to physical experiences like sweaty palms, knocking knees, racing heart, trembling lips, tearful eyes? If so the slogan is clear and accurate..."

Piper procedes to point out that while physical expression of emotions can be superficial, therefore not entirely necessary, he points to the affections - the response within our hearts that is 100% vital to true worship. Quoting from Jonathan Edwards' The Religious Affections:

"The definition of these 'affections' (or what most people today mean by feelings) is: 'the more vigorous and sensible excericses of the inclination and will of the soul.' In other words, the feelings that really matter are not mere physical sensations. They are the stirring up of the soul with some perceived treasure or threat...let us make clear that the locomotive of fact is not headed for heaven if it is not followed by a faith that treasures Christ and if it is not pulling a caboose-load of new, though imperfect, affections." [end quote]

Gotta love it!