Human beings are made with three essential aspects: intellect, emotion, and will. Just as a healthy person needs all three to develop in a balanced and well-rounded manner, so does a healthy faith. However, many of us fall into an imbalanced faith life—focusing too heavily on just one area. What’s worse is that we often fail to recognise our imbalance, convinced that our way is the only “normal” expression of faith.
An imbalanced faith focused on intellect centres on biblical knowledge and theology. People in this category are deeply invested in studying Scripture and see the Bible as the sole authority for their faith. While their pursuit of truth is admirable, they often neglect prayer and acts of service. They may even criticise those who pray passionately or serve sacrificially, dismissing them as overly emotional or lacking discernment.
An imbalanced faith focused on emotion is marked by intense worship, fervent prayer, and a constant pursuit of spiritual experiences. For these individuals, faith is primarily about what they feel. But they often lack grounding in the Word and tend to avoid practical acts of service. They may measure a person’s faith by how long they pray or how moved they appear in worship—and criticise those who focus more on Scripture or deeds as being spiritually dry or disconnected.
An imbalanced faith focused on will elevates action and service above all else. These individuals pour themselves into ministry and are driven to realise the Kingdom of God here and now. They emphasise that faith without works is dead and often view those who spend time in study or prayer as unproductive or disconnected from real-life ministry.
Of course, all of us naturally lean toward one of these areas, depending on our personality. The key is not to suppress our strengths, but to recognise and address our weaknesses. For example, I’m more intellectually focused. I used to look down on people who raised their hands in worship, thinking they were just putting on a show. But once I acknowledged my emotional deficiency and intentionally worked on that area, I began to genuinely experience God’s presence in worship—and found myself raising my hands freely.
True spiritual maturity comes from balance. We should be grateful for our strengths but also humble enough to recognise blind spots and seek to grow in them. When our intellect, emotions, and will are aligned, we become whole, and fully-formed followers of Christ.
Word of the week
When difficulties or conflicts arise in your life of faith, you should take them as opportunities for growth and maturity. The attitude of a growing believer is not to see the sins of others, but to recognize one’s own sins.
윗글
아랫글
이동주 2025.08.16 20:28
신고
Human beings are made with three essential aspects: intellect, emotion, and will. Just as a healthy person needs all three to develop in a balanced and well-rounded manner, so does a healthy faith. However, many of us fall into an imbalanced faith life—focusing too heavily on just one area. What’s worse is that we often fail to recognise our imbalance, convinced that our way is the only “normal” expression of faith.
An imbalanced faith focused on intellect centres on biblical knowledge and theology. People in this category are deeply invested in studying Scripture and see the Bible as the sole authority for their faith. While their pursuit of truth is admirable, they often neglect prayer and acts of service. They may even criticise those who pray passionately or serve sacrificially, dismissing them as overly emotional or lacking discernment.
An imbalanced faith focused on emotion is marked by intense worship, fervent prayer, and a constant pursuit of spiritual experiences. For these individuals, faith is primarily about what they feel. But they often lack grounding in the Word and tend to avoid practical acts of service. They may measure a person’s faith by how long they pray or how moved they appear in worship—and criticise those who focus more on Scripture or deeds as being spiritually dry or disconnected.
An imbalanced faith focused on will elevates action and service above all else. These individuals pour themselves into ministry and are driven to realise the Kingdom of God here and now. They emphasise that faith without works is dead and often view those who spend time in study or prayer as unproductive or disconnected from real-life ministry.
Of course, all of us naturally lean toward one of these areas, depending on our personality. The key is not to suppress our strengths, but to recognise and address our weaknesses. For example, I’m more intellectually focused. I used to look down on people who raised their hands in worship, thinking they were just putting on a show. But once I acknowledged my emotional deficiency and intentionally worked on that area, I began to genuinely experience God’s presence in worship—and found myself raising my hands freely.
True spiritual maturity comes from balance. We should be grateful for our strengths but also humble enough to recognise blind spots and seek to grow in them. When our intellect, emotions, and will are aligned, we become whole, and fully-formed followers of Christ.
Word of the week
When difficulties or conflicts arise in your life of faith, you should take them as opportunities for growth and maturity. The attitude of a growing believer is not to see the sins of others, but to recognize one’s own sins.