The heart - just a pump or something more?

[Twilight]

It has been scientifically established that the "heart" has its own neural network, just like the brain, except simpler.

See scientific studies here:

http://www.heartbrain.org/

Ellen White states that the heart is the "seat of the affections" (affections being an old word for emotions).

We must be doers of the word, and not hearers only. The heart, the seat of the affections, must be transformed; the moral nature must be renewed by grace. {ST, May 6, 1886 par. 8}

Jesus states that the heart is the source of all our evil or good.

Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Paul tells us that Christ must abide in the "heart" by faith:

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

The Greek word in the new testament for "heart" is Kardia, which means "heart".

Now Adventists have been taught in recent years that "heart" means "mind".

This is incorrect.

Heart means heart.

Let us consider something interesting Jesus did:

Here is an old testament quote:

Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Now notice what Jesus does:

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

He changes or "qualifies" the verse. He makes a distinction between heart and mind.

Now why does He do that?

Because He knows the difference between the two?

Of course, He is the Creator, let us consider this quote:

Christ Could Have Opened the Door of Science.-- A minister once said that he could but think that Christ must have known something about science. Of what could this minister have been thinking? Science! Christ could have opened door after door of science. He could have revealed to men treasures of science on which they might have feasted to the present time. But knowing that this knowledge would have been appropriated to unholy uses, He did not open the door.--MS 105, 1901. (MM 116.)

So when Jesus says "heart" He meant "heart".

Now of course, we could just assume we understand more in this "scientific age", but that would be extremely arrogant...

Why is this important?

Because we need a genuine "heart conversion", a conversion at the emotional as well as the intellectual level.

Jesus is working on our hearts, if we do not know how to co-operate with that work, how can we grow in grace at the pace God requires?

Let us open up our hearts to Jesus and let Him in to do the work He needs to do.

Mark :-)

[SivartM]

I've thought about this before, after I heard about the heart having a neural network. I had always assumed that the heart was symbolic of emotions because we "feel" them in our hearts.

The only problem I have with this is people who have artificial hearts-- are they lost forever? :(

[Tom Wetmore]

The Hebrew word referencing the seat of emotions, as I understand it is literally bowels. That is quite similar to the expression of emotional intelligence, "I have a gut feeling..." Other language cultures may center the emotions in a different body part or organ. For example, in the Indonesian language the word translated as "heart" in the expression I love you with all my heart and used variously to convey care or feeling is literally the Indonesian word for "liver".

I think actually we are so wonderfully integrated that really all systems become involved to one degree or another in emotional response - sweaty glands, stomach in knots, knees knocking, head spinning, heart pounding, skin tingling, eyes watering...

[Richard Holbrook]

Ellen White states that the heart is the "seat of the affections" (affections being an old word for emotions).

She's talking about the brain. Not the organ that pumps blood.

[Richard Holbrook]

Same with scripture.

[Twilight]

I've thought about this before, after I heard about the heart having a neural network. I had always assumed that the heart was symbolic of emotions because we "feel" them in our hearts.

The only problem I have with this is people who have artificial hearts-- are they lost forever?

Good question, :-)

Mark

[Twilight]

Originally Posted By: Twilight

Ellen White states that the heart is the "seat of the affections" (affections being an old word for emotions).

She's talking about the brain. Not the organ that pumps blood.

She states "mind" and "heart" and uses them in their own context.

When she means brain she says "brain".

She knew what the brain was, why would she use the word "heart" when the word "brain" was available to her, think about it...

Mark :-)

[Twilight]

Same with scripture.

So if I were to apply that to scripture, Jesus would be saying:

Love the Lord your God with all your mind all your soul and all your mind...

Jesus differentiated between mind and heart, different words in the Greek as far as I understand.

Paul also differentiated.

God bless,

Mark :-)

[Twilight]

Many oppose this simple truth, because we have been educated in the "psychology" of the 20th century.

But let us consider this principle:

The Greek word "Kardia" means heart.

Its primary meaning is "heart".

So we should not look for a meaning beyond that unless we have a specific reason to.

We should always apply the primary meaning of a word and not allow "culture" to change that, the only authority that should change the use of a word, is the Holy Spirit.

Mark :-)