Let Your Heart Be Your Guide, Part 1

July, 2004

by: Brodie McClain

Valentine's Day is right around the comer (especially for the females) and you've just purchased your heart–shaped chocolates, wrapped up in a heart–shaped box. You are preparing to take that special person who you've “given your heart to” out for a nice date, possibly catching a romantic movie about two lovers who simply “followed their hearts.” This is a very normal scene in our present society but the question arises, what is this “heart” that is so exalted and trusted? The media calls for us to follow it, the religion of the new age claims that it has authority over all other objective truth. So it becomes extremely important to ask the question, “What is the heart?” Is it really trustworthy? In order to solve this problem we need to gain an accurate understanding of what the heart is and the current state of our hearts today. Then, and only then, do we have a foundation by which we can launch the answer.

The predominant understanding of the heart in the present society is “emotion.” Webster's dictionary lists the following pertinent options: (3) personality, (4) the emotional or moral as distinguished from the intellectual, and (5) one's innennost feelings (Merriam–Webster, 535–36). These options reveal that for the most part 'heart' is interchangeable with emotions or feelings. The common phrase, “let your heart be your guide,” is better understood as, “let your feelings be your guide.” This is how the present society views the heart, but is this how the Bible views the heart? And why is it important to even consider how the Bible views the heart?

It is important because the Bible claims that our hearts are, for lack of a better term, “bad” and therefore we have to find out what the Bible means by “heart.” If we stop short of the biblical definition we will apply the current societal definition and conclude that the Bible is simply telling us we have bad feelings or negative emotions.However, if the biblical understanding of “heart” is more than just emotions and feelings, we may find that the “bad” is much deeper than we previously thought.

The Bible uses the tenn, “heart,” over 900 times, almost entirely in reference to man (New Bible Dictionary, 509). It is considered by some, such as H. W. Wolff, to be the most important word in the Hebrew vocabulary with respect to man. It's usage, however, is rarely in conjunction with the physical, blood pumping organ, but is almost entirely figurative. It's metaphorical, figurative use, however, is based off of the physical organ in the body but extends much further than simple emotion. Just as the physical heart is essential to the entire physical life of mankind so the figurative heart is essential to the entire nonphysical (or, spiritual) life of mankind. The Bible makes full use of this comparison for it is the very purpose of metaphor to use a literal figure in order to bring out rich detail and insight. On the other hand our present society has robbed the 'heart' of much of its potential, and reduced it to one category of meaning, that is emotion.

The Bible, however, embraces this figurative use, not relegating the “heart” to only emotion and feeling but plumbing the depths of the metaphor. Just as the physical heart is feelings but more importantly as the base of rationality and decision–making with an emphasis on morality. The Bible speaks of (1) knowing in your heart — intelligence, (2) having a willing heart — will, (3) the plans of the heart —purpose, (4) A heart troubled over sin — conscience, (5) the obedience of the heart — morality, (6) reasoning in the heart — rationality, and (7) Jesus Christ in the heart — spirituality [Deut 8:5; Ex 35:5; Pr 16:1; 28; am 24:10; Rom 6:17; Mk 2:6; Eph 3:17]. The heart is the very center of our inner life, the initiating force behind all the functions of soul and spirit. Everything that we ascribe in our society to the head and the brain — the power of perception, reason, understanding, insight, consciousness, memory, knowledge, reflection, judgment, sense of direction, and discernment — all of these functions are included in the Biblical understanding of heart.

Ultimately, the “heart” is the entire inner being, the corpus of everything we are as mankind, except for the physical nature. Whatever constitutes the man but cannot be accessed by the five physical senses is the “heart.” It is the inner self. Thus we begin to see the importance in drawing this biblical definition. For example, when God commands His words to be on our “hearts” He is not telling us to feel good about them (the societal definition), but to be conscious of them and abide by them (Deut 6:6). The implication of the command is much greater when a proper foundation is laid. In reference to the original question we see that biblically no one need be told, “follow your heart.” They are following their hearts! It is impossible not to. The better question is: Where is your heart taking you and why?