Articles
Pondering Passion
Passion in our world is portrayed as a good thing. It is touted that, to find true happiness, one must find something to be passionate about. Whether it is a religion, sport, hobby, or person, it is good to have passion toward something in life. Our definition of passion is simply “any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate” (dictionary.com), though we usually stress the “love” aspect. However, passion in the Bible is never used in a good sense. God urges us to rid ourselves of our passions (i.e. Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:5; Gal.5:24). How can all passion be a bad thing? Should we not have passion for God and for spiritual things? Well, the New Testament uses the word “passion” in a different sense than we do today. The passion of the Bible is always connected with the flesh. Passion can stem from discontent and covetousness. The Greek word for passion is “pathos,” which stems from “pascho” which “primarily denotes whatever one suffers or experiences in any way; hence, an affection of the mind, a passionate desire”(Vine’s 28). It pictures a desire so strong that it plagues the mind to the point of suffering. Solomon wrote “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones” (Prov. 14:30, NASB). Some translations use “envy” for “passion” in the aforementioned verse, because it connotes jealous zeal. Sometimes we claim to be“passionate” about things to put a positive spin on the fact that we are secretly dissatisfied and are trying to seek satisfaction in the wrong places. Such passion stems from discontent, and can lead to a life full of unhealthy grasping for the wind. Passion can also become an obsession. Constant passion and desire have the power to dominate our thoughts. Consider Amnon. He was so passionate about his sister Tamar. In fact, his passion was an obsession from which “he made himself ill” (2 Sam. 13:2). His passion was lustful in nature (1 Thess.4:5), and his fleshly desires led him to disgrace his sister. In Colossians 3:5, Paul refers to passion as idolatry! Passion can becomeour idol; we can worship and dedicate our lives to our desires. We may even find ourselves meditating on our own passion, rather than God, in the night watches (cf.Psalm 63:5). As Christians, the leading influence in our lives must be the Spirit through the words of the Bible (Rom. 8:14). If we are led by our passions, we are led by our flesh (Gal. 5:24). Is it wrong to be passionate in the modern sense of the word (i.e. to have strong feelings toward)? To find out, ask the following questions. What is the reason for my passion? Is it rooted in discontent with God or in covetousness? Is my passion becoming an obsession? Let us “crucify our flesh with its passions and desires,” and replace them with spiritual passion and desire for God.
