The dominant cultural narrative is that your emotions define you, that they are the most important thing about you.

Given that that's out there and given that we are so easily sucked in and unconsciously buying into that narrative that we should put our emotions at center stage,

it makes sense that there's been a huge knee-jerk reaction of you just

have to shut your emotions down. So stoicism and emotionality, as I sometimes like to call it,

those are the big things that we're in danger of. Welcome to the Crossway podcast, a show where we

sit down with authors each week for thoughtful interviews about the Bible,

theology, church history, and the Christian life. I'm Matt Tully, and today I'm talking with Alistair Groves. Alistair serves as the executive director for the New England branch of the

Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, and the director of CCEF School of Biblical Counseling.

He's also the co-author of Untangling Emotions with Winston Smith.

Today, Alistair and I discuss what our emotions are, why they matter, and what the Bible

teaches about them.

He highlights how our emotions relate to our reason, what we can learn from Jesus'

example when he wept at Lazarus' tomb.

The role modern medication should play in managing our emotional life

and why negative emotions aren't always a bad thing.

Let's get started.

Alistair, thank you so much for being on the Crossway podcast with us today.

It's my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

In the first chapter of your new book, Untangling Emotions, you ask,

why on earth would Jesus weep at the tomb of his good friend Lazarus when he's just about

to do an amazing miracle and fix the problem.

So namely you're referring to resurrecting Lazarus from the dead.

...