The Progressive Unity of Knowing and Doing: An Analysis of Jonathan Edwards’ Notion on Religious Affections and its Application

Religious affection is the great missing link in contemporary evangelical Christianity. As a result, churches often mistakenly believe that simply teaching Christians correct doctrines will enable them to live a holy life. Furthermore, many Christians mistakenly believe that Christianity is all about fulfilling a series of religious responsibilities. They are simply satisfied with mediocre Christianity. They obey explicit commands and abstain from explicit sins, but that’s about it. More seriously, the absence of religious affections in Christianity is creating hypocrites. Especially as a pastor and church leader, as a preacher who stands on the pulpit and preaches the Word of God, if they also fail to transform theological knowledge into a holy life will only become hypocritical actors on the stage and make the whole Christianity despised by the world. Churches are thus unable to be the testimony to the world and glorify the name of God. Jonathan Edwards claimed with great certainty that “true religion, in great part, consists in holy affections.” This thesis explores how Edwards' religious affections serve as the bridge between doctrinal knowledge and Holy practice for Christians.