Engagement of the Heart

Jonathan Edwards' Engagement of the Heart says some things that appear to be in opposition. He says "The importance of religion is so great that no halfhearted exercise will suffice....in nothing is lukewarmness so odious." This to me says that if your expression of religion is not completely heart-felt, then it stinks.

In the next paragraph he says, "True religion is a powerful thing. The power of it appears, first, in the inward exercises of the heart (which is the seat of all religion). Therefore, true religion is called 'the power of godliness,' in contrast to the external appearances of it, i.e., the mere 'form'...when grace is at work within us, it sometimes 'burns' within us, as it was for Jesus' disciples."

I'm not sure what he means by "inward exercises of the heart," but it sounds like the practice of spiritual disciplines. If I'm correct in this, do you not need to practice the disciplines in order to form the heart inwardly? None of us is born into the world as practicing Christians. It takes time and training to mold us into followers of Christ.[1] In Mary Kay, we had a phrase that I think fits here--sometimes you have to "fake it 'til you make it."

This is what John Wesley did, as well. He served as a priest for years before he had his famous Aldersgate experience. It wasn't until then that his heart burned within him, yet he had been doing the work and will of God for years. I'd hate to think that the years he spent before his Aldersgate experience were odious to God.

Or perhaps I'm missing something.

Peace, love and grace.

Note
1. I got this phrase from Steven Blair at Institute.