How Does God Feel?

We are all about feelings these days. "How I feel" determines what is right or wrong. End of story. "'Illegal immigrant' hurts my feelings, so call them 'undocumented immigrants' and we're all good now." "'Sexual immorality' sounds so harsh; can't we use 'sexual minority' instead?" "I feel like he didn't listen to my ideas because I'm a woman. Clearly sexual abuse because, after all, I felt abused." "I know how I would feel if I couldn't marry the one I love, so we must allow a radical redefinition of 'marriage' in order to allow everyone who loves to 'marry'. Oh, no, not everyone. Only the ones that I feel good about." "Sure, that is a human being in the womb, but I empathize with the poor women who don't have much money and feel like their future comfort is in jeopardy if they have this baby (even though preventing the pregnancy before it occurred is usually a possibility) and I can see that killing this child is the best option for the emotional welfare of these women." Our feelings are paramount. But does anyone ever wonder about God's feelings?

Now, you might think it would be presumptuous to try to declare God's feelings about something or other. I think it really could be. But what if I just go with what He has told us? Just taking into account what Scripture says God feels, what do we know?

On the question, for instance, of "binary gender" we read, "So God created Man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Gen 1:27) Hmm, odd. Only two genders. Does that tell us how God feels on the subject of gender dysphoria? Maybe not, but inferences could be drawn. On abortion, we know God said, "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in His own image." (Gen 9:6) Does that tell us what God feels about killing babies? Maybe. Since God gives explicit instructions -- "By man shall his blood be shed" -- and specific reasoning -- "for God made man in His own image" -- it might be quite obvious how God feels about it. But other things are not as vague.

We know God feels compassion (Psa 135:14). There are even references to God laughing (Psa 2:4; Psa 37:13), although that is laughing in derision at the wicked. There are obviously passages that talk about God rejoicing (Isa 62:5; Jer 32:41; Zeph 3:17). But there are many others that talk about God's feelings in a negative sense. There is certainly God's anger (Psa 7:11; Rom 1:18) and grief over our sin (Gen 6:6; Psa 78:40). Scripture says He experiences hatred (Psa 5:5; Psa 11:5; Prov 6:16). Imagine that! The One we call a "God of love" actually hates. (Note: You might be tempted to point out that very clearly another emotion God feels is love. I would be quick to point out that biblical love (and, therefore, God's love) is not primarily emotional in content, but a matter of choosing to give the very best to the one loved.)

You must know that there is one big word in Scripture that expresses an emotion God experiences over some issues. That word is "abomination". The Bible lists lots of "abominations", things which some people experience (e.g., Gen 43:32; Prov 13:19; Prov 29:7) but that God experiences, too. There was a lot in the Old Testament about the abomination of improper worship (e.g., Deut 7:25; Deut 17:1; Deut 18:9-12; Deut 23:18; Prov 15:8), but much more about how abominable God found certain sins. Adultery was one (e.g., Ezek 22:11). Dishonest business practices were another (e.g., Deut 25:13-16; Prov 11:1; Prov 20:10). And, of course, there were certain behaviors that inspired this emotion in God (e.g., Lev 18:22; Prov 6:16-19; Prov 12:22). Some of the more notable include "men of perverse mind" (Prov 11:20), those who justify the wicked or condemn the righteous (Prov 17:15), and those who turn away from God's Word (Prov 28:9). Very clearly there are things that God does not merely hate; there are things that He finds abominable. There are things that disgust God.

God has lots of "warm" emotions; things we like. God clearly has lots of less than pleasant emotions as well. We quip "When Mama's not happy, no one is happy." What if God is not happy? What if, in fact, God is disgusted? If we view "How I feel" as definitive for right and wrong, what do we do with "How God feels"? I would think "How God feels" would certainly override anything we might feel. So, what would that lead us to conclude about right and wrong? I'll leave that to you. But I think it is abundantly clear that leaving morality up to "How do I feel" without regard to God's feelings on the matter is a grave error.