TR Hartley

Christians often think being passionate or intense is a good thing. We tend to think people who are zealous are somehow living life better.

Is that the case? Is that true?

I don’t think so.

Let’s look at a passage that might be very familiar from Galatians 5.

Galatians 5:19-26: The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

In this passage, Paul is explaining first what isn’t a part of a “Christian character”, and then what is a part of a “Christian character.” People who seek out impurity, sensuality, or create conflict with others, or other such things, aren’t being led by the Holy Spirit as they seek out those things. Rather, life by the Spirit will be characterized by the “Fruit of the Spirit“: “Love, joy, peace, forbearance (often translated as “patience” or “long-suffering”), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

I can’t help but notice that being zealous or passionate aren’t a part of that list of necessary Christian qualities.

Because of that, it seems to me that being passionate isn’t a necessarily good or bad thing. Rather, being passionate is a force multiplier: It will make spiritual goodness, or spiritual badness, more readily apparent.

Someone can be passionate about helping others, about extending the love of Christ, and that passion to help will be readily apparent.

Another person can be passionate about their spirituality in a way that promotes “discord… dissentions, [and] factions”, and that passion makes them quick to come into conflict with other believers. Expressing passion in such a way isn’t a spiritual virtue; it’s actually a spiritual vice!

I say this because I often meet people who think being “fiery” is a sign of Christian maturity. And I don’t think it is. I think being humble, gentle, kind, good, loving, patient, et cetera, is a sign of Christian maturity. I think being “fiery” is just an indicator of personality, not of maturity.

Conclusion

I don’t mean this article to come across as judgmental towards people who are passionate. I just want us to evaluate Christian maturity and being “Spirit-led” in a way that is biblical.

How about you? Have you ever confused being passionate for being spiritually mature? How did that work out for you?

I think these are good questions for all of us to consider.