They said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures? –Luke 24:32 (KJV)

I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. –2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV)

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If you’re deistically thinking that I’m mistaking a spiritual experience for indigestion or heartburn, then think again. Here’s how the scientific community defines those things:

What is Heartburn?

Imagine you’ve just eaten a delicious, spicy meal. Shortly afterward, you feel a burning sensation in your chest, right behind your breastbone. That’s heartburn. It might also make you burp or bring a sour taste into your mouth.

What is Indigestion?

Indigestion is a bit different. It’s more like an upset stomach or discomfort in your belly. You might feel full even if you haven’t eaten much, or you might burp a lot. Some people describe it as a feeling of bloating or gassiness. It can also make you feel like you need to vomit.

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The fire of love, the flame of love, incendium amoris, the Aldersgate Experience is neither heartburn, nor indigestion. It is not stomach acid acting up. Nice try naturalism, not this time. Heartburn is when you have a chronic, constant, painful burning feeling behind your sternum. Indigestion is simply a feeling of bloating or gas in your stomach; and it makes you nauseous (a bellyache).

There’s some really important differences that both heartburn and indigestion have with the spiritual experience of the fire of love:

1. The fire of love happens in the belly mainly; but it can flare up to the chest area.

2. The fire of love happens when you’re thinking about the Bible or praying.

3. The fire of love is a sensation that the Holy Spirit is dwelling within you.

4. The fire of love is God’s Spirit testifying that he loves you as his child (Romans 8:16).

5. The fire of love is the supernatural love of God shed abroad in the heart (Romans 5:5).

6. The fire of love only lasts for a second or two.

7. The fire of love is a truly “heartwarming” or bellywarming sensation. Its pleasant!

8. The fire of love is not a burning feeling in the sternum, but mainly in the belly.

9. The fire of love is not a feeling of nausea or bloating in the stomach (not a bellyache).

10. The fire of love is a Holy Spirit experience in the belly that flares up for one or two seconds at most. It only happens when you are thinking about the Lord, the Bible, or praying. It only happens in order to confirm some truth of Scripture and increase your faith in God.

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WesleyGospel, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, pp. 62-66.

Richard J. Foster, Prayer, p. 133.

Jim Goll, Wasted on Jesus, p. 164.

Kenneth J. Collins, Wesley on Salvation, ch. 3.

Richard Rolle, The Fire of Love.

Herbert Thurston, The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism, ch. 8.

G. B. Scaramelli, A Handbook of Mystical Theology.

Joan Carroll Cruz, Mysteries Marvels Miracles, ch. 12.

Steven Fanning, Mystics of the Christian Tradition.