The emotional dimension includes a full range of feeling: love
and hate, anger and joy, fear and grief. We often touch this facet in worship
through music and prayer and in small groups through personal sharing.
The physical dimension has probably been the most overlooked
and rejected dimension of the Hebrew Heart because the body reminds us
of our mortality and the life-giving force of our sexuality. Jesus
emphasized physicality when he ate with those he loved and connected healing
touch with forgiveness. When Jesus said ...love God with heart, soul,
mind and strength, our bodies were clearly included in the list!
The spiritual dimension is our capacity for relationship with the unseen and unknowable, with God and with the principalities of this world. Loren Mead of the Alban Institute defines a principality as "an invisible presence that draws its power from our dreams and fears both." Almost any word ending in "ism" is a principality, Mead says. Jesus spoke of against the clericalism of his own day saying Their hearts are far from me (Mt 15:8) and said to the outcast Samaritan Woman, The day is coming and now is when the true worshiper will worship God in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:23).
Spiritual resources are plentiful in the book stores, body work-- massage, dance, yoga and running--is promoted for health and psychology offers insight into the emotional realm and yet people on an intentional spiritual journey know the wholeness which Jesus promised will not happen if these aspects of Hebrew Heart are not developed in community with a relational emphasis. Further, we believe that the fullness of a relational faith must include the other dimensions of a Hebrew Heart.
The volitional (will) dimension develops willpower for choices and commitment. Jesus spoke of volition saying Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart...(Mt 11:25-30). The confessional (ethics) dimension includes ethical and moral elements traditionally associated with a Christian value system: ...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Mt 12:34-37), Jesus said. The conceptual (beliefs) dimension permits tradition and a framework for belief. Jesus said to the couple he befriended on the road to Emmaus, How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (Luke 24:25). In all three of these areas, Jesus invited listeners to take a new relationship with God and with one-another by attending with a whole HEART!
In our day, mainline denominations have been particularly identified with each of the communal dimensions. United Methodists and Baptists emphasize the volitional element--making a decision for Christ. Liturgical churches, Catholic, Episcopalian and Lutheran, focus more on the efficacy of sacraments in the confessional dimension. Presbyterians and other Calvinists focus more on the conceptual elements of doctrine and "the Word." Charismatic churches have emphasized emotional and spiritual dimensions, but none have been really comfortable with body issues--even though we claim Jesus' embodiment as the core of our faith. Respect for and attention to the body may be the growing edge for Christianity today!
If you can locate the segment in which you feel most comfortable in your religious faith, take a look at the opposite segment to see the dimension which you probably need to develop. The intervening segments may name the areas in which you are already working to develop a relational Hebrew Heart with increasing ability to love and increasing sensitivity to the Spirit for guidance.
What Difference Does It Make?
Too often we think relational simply means being friendly or being in touch with our feelings, but the biblical understanding of heart is clearly more than that. Today we must become more conscious of what it takes to create community, to give people a conceptual framework in which a relationship with Jesus Christ "makes sense," and to move beyond the staff-driven expertise of a few professional clergy toward the biblical model that Jesus promoted in his ministry--a priesthood of all believers.
This year (1998), Faith At Work magazine will focus on the basic elements of (1) Faith Found, (2) Faith Shared, (3) Faith Tested and (4) Faith Renewed. If you are in a small group or want to be, we hope you will clip the "centerfold" from the magazine and put it in a binder for reference. At each weekend event, we will include handouts with the basic elements of relational design so participants can learn what it takes to build community and deepen relationships with God and with one-another. Our call is to build The Realm of Right Relationships wherever the Spirit moves!
---- Marjory Bankson