Among all the disorders of the soul, none brings more distress than doubt. It can be a source of misery and discomfort, fill your life with anxieties and fears, and rob you of peace.
There are two kinds of religious doubt. One is sincere doubt; the other is insincere doubt. Some doubt is a cover-up for sin. Many people look on doubt as a badge of learning, and so they display skepticism...
Benjamin Franklin once remarked, “Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Criticism could also be added to this list of life’s certainties. Sooner or later the guns of criticism are leveled at everyone. Jesus was not exempt from the problem of criticism, even though his life was perfect. If the Master could not escape criticism, how can we expect to? The question is not “Wil...
We must learn to respect those whose views differ with ours and those who want to openly demonstrate against what they feel is evil and injustice. Such dissent has great value in democracy and we need understanding of the other man’s view. Our greatest danger is extremes in either direction.
Our problem is illustrated in the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s parable of the porcup...
One of the most disturbing things in our day is the apparent breakdown of law and authority. There is an awful lot of foolish talk by otherwise intelligent people who condone it. Some of them try to condone it under the guise of American tradition by saying, “Our nation was born out of violence and will progress by violence.” How foolish can you get?
I like the answer of philosopher Si...
“My parents made me go to church when I was a child.” That’s the excuse some people give for not going to church. If they were honest, they’d quit blaming their parents and admit that they don’t go to church because they don’t see any need for it.
Their parents made them do a lot of other things they haven’t quit doing. They still take a bath. They still brush their teeth. The reason th...
Christianity is not just a way of thinking and believing. It is a way of living and doing. The Bible tells us that as God’s people we should walk wisely in the world (Ephesians 5:15).
What does it mean to walk wisely? It means at least three things.
1. Use every opportunity that comes our way to its fullest. The most any of us can do in life is to use or lose th...
A young man once came to talk to me about his spiritual life. In years gone by he had tried it all—pot, alcohol, sex. You name it. But he was beginning to look at life more soberly and maturely. He told me some things that he is doing to improve his life. I was so impressed with them that I thought they were worth sharing with others.
1. He is seeking to get in shape physi...
A young man once asked me about temptation. He said, “There are times when I find myself wanting to do things that I know that I shouldn’t do. How am I to handle that?”
His experience is perfectly normal. Satan is going to see to it that we are tempted. He is going to place wrong desires in our minds. He is going to try to lead us astray.
Here’s the advice I gave him.
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Living together in peace and harmony is one of the greatest challenges of life. Whether it is in the home, the neighborhood, or the office where you work, good personal relationships are vital to a happy, productive life. The apostle Peter gives us five principles that will help us to live together happily in any of these places (1 Peter 3:8-9).
1. We should be of the sa...