Can Passion Coexist with Peace?

Written By: Jordan B. Polverini, MABS -

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” -Galatians 5:22-23 (CSB)1

“The Fruit of the Spirit” is one of the most recognizable passages in all of Scripture. Paul names in this familiar section from Galatians nine characteristics that make up evidence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. First, it is important to clear up an oft misunderstood and important fact about the fruit of the Spirit. The word fruit in verse 22 in the original koine Greek is karpos (καρπός). Karpos is a singular noun in this passage, meaning that the nine characteristics that Paul names are describing one fruit, not many.2 Therefore, if the Spirit is in someone, they will have all nine characteristics present in their life.

This article focuses on the characteristic of peace, and more specifically, answers the question of if it is possible for peace and passion to coexist.

The Greek word for peace in verse 22 is eiréné (εἰρήνη), which means “peace” or “peace of mind,” and is connected to the Hebrew greeting and word shalom. Shalom (שָׁלוֹם), in addition to “peace,” also means “completeness, welfare, or safety.”3 The late Tim Keller provided a fantastically applicable definition of biblical peace: “Confidence and rest in the wisdom and sovereignty of God more than your own.” This highlights the completeness that is derived from the Hebrew shalom as well as the modern sentiment of peace bringing about rest in one’s spirit.

Oftentimes when people imagine peace exhibited in a person’s life, imagery of stillness, calmness, and restfulness come to mind. Peace can be mistaken as a characteristic born out of passivity or lack of action. However, this is not the case with biblical peace. The peace of God is given to believers from the Holy Spirt as believers actively trust in God and cast their cares on Him. Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,” (italics mine). Philippians 4:6-7 states, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” (italics mine). Finally, Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it,” (italics mine). Scripture states that biblical peace that comes from God works in tandem with Christians

believing, praying, petitioning, giving over their anxieties and requests to Him, and that all this is a discipline.

Conversely, while many envision peace as a passive characteristic, most consider passion to be an active, emotion-filled characteristic. In modern usage, most people think of the following definition when they hear the word passion: “a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.”4 However, the biblical use of the word passion is quite different than this most common modern understanding of the word. In Scripture, there are a few different words used that are translated to passion, and almost always when the word passion is used, it is used in a negative sense. Biblically, passion is most often employed to communicate a lack of self-control as well as desires, lusts, and emotions that lead to sin. As self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, certainly this type of passion cannot coexist with the peace of the Spirit. However, another use of the word passion is present in the Bible, and that is used to describe Christ’s suffering and death for our sins, often referred to as “the passion of the Christ.” This usage is actually the common usage of the word passion in biblical times, most often meant to mean “suffering.”5 In fact, the verb for “to suffer” in koine Greek is paschó (πάσχω), which is where the Latin “Pascua” and related Spanish and Italian words “Pasqua” are derived, which all mean Easter.

Therefore, the way the Bible uses the word passion is different than how most would use it today. To seek an equivalent concept in Scripture that conveys the idea of the modern definition, the words devotion and zeal are appropriate. For example, Romans 12:11 says, “Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.” Titus 2:14 says, “He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.” Other translations use “zealous” in place of “eager.” The following verses communicate devotion: “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people,” Colossians 3:23; “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God,” 1 Corinthians 10:31; and “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength,” Deuteronomy 6:5 (also quoted in Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27). Therefore, biblical passion is best understood as doing something with one’s whole being (heart, mind, soul, and strength), unto the glory of God.

One might ask, “Is there room to be passionate about things besides serving God?” This is a valid question. Many describe themselves as passionate about a variety of things: interests like vintage cars, occupations like teaching, subjects like politics, hobbies like pickleball, or sports teams like the Tennessee Vols. God made each person unique with distinctive affinities and interests. There is nothing sinful about enjoying activities this side of heaven as long as they do not explicitly violate God’s standards. However, one must always be ready to ask themselves, “Is this ‘passion’ of mine turning into an idol?” If an enthusiastic interest develops into something that takes away from one’s heart toward the Lord, or more specifically, if one’s interest in that thing is greater than one’s heart and affinity for the Lord, then that “passion” is misplaced and

ought to be reordered so that loving the Lord and serving Him is first and foremost in a believer’s life. This is an appropriate time to recall what Jesus said to the church at Ephesus in his letter to them in Revelation: “But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first,” (Revelation 2:4). An earthly interest should never outperform the love a Christian has for God and the passion they first had for Him when they learned who Christ is and what He has done for them.

Thus, what does biblical passion look like, and can it coexist with peace? Christ’s death on the cross is a prime example of the answer to these questions. Christ’s love for his Father was greater than anything else. Jesus was willing to be obedient to God’s plan for his death on the cross, even after he asked God to take that cup from him. Jesus was willing to suffer a brutal death, and his suffering (passion) was born out of peace that God’s plan was greater than his own.

So, here are some things to consider when evaluating how passion and peace can coexist.

1. Biblical passion for something will never violate the peace that comes from the Spirit. If one’s peace seems to be absent amid them pursuing a passion, that is an indicator that passion is not biblical. “Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14.

2. Biblical passion has more to do with devotion to God, even to the point of suffering, than flighty emotions. Many think of passion as centered around strong feelings for something, but biblical passion is a fervent devotion to God and obedience to Him regardless of feelings or circumstances. “After he had suffered (paschó), he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3.

3. The converse to point one: when a Christian is passionate about godly things, they will have complete peace that only comes from the Holy Spirit. Passion for the right things should increase one’s peace, knowing that they are pursuing something God-honoring. “Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.” Psalm 119:165.

4. Lastly, biblical passion ought to cultivate biblical peace among others. If a “passion” causes dissention, destruction, or division, it is not biblical or godly. “…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2-3.

In summary, biblical passion and peace from the Holy Spirit not only can coexist but always go hand-in-hand with one another. If passion is biblical, one will always have peace from the Holy Spirit when pursuing that passion. Similarly, if one biblically pursues the peace of God, they will do so with passion (zeal and devotion), with their whole heart, mind, soul, and strength.

“May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16