Should Christians wear masks during a pandemic?
The pandemic of 2020—21, caused by a coronavirus named COVID-19, will take its place in history books as one of the world’s most dreaded contagions next to the influenza pandemic of 1918—20 and the bubonic plague of 1346—53. As a means of controlling the spread of COVID-19, many medical and governmental leaders have insisted that…
What does the Bible say about generosity?
Generosity is the quality of being kind and unselfish, especially as it pertains to sharing money and other valuables with others. The Bible has a lot to say about generosity as a desirable character trait. Proverbs 22:9 says, “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” God is generous,…
What does the Bible say about forgiveness?
The Bible never gives a “dictionary” definition of forgiveness, but it shows us many examples of it. The greatest of all examples is the forgiveness of God. Although the following passage does not use the word forgive, it describes the concept of God’s forgiveness perfectly: Psalm 103:8–12: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to…
What does the Bible say about dealing with regrets?
Regret is sorrow or remorse over something that has happened or that we have done. Regret can also be a sense of disappointment over what has not happened, such as regretting wasted years. To be human is to have regrets because making mistakes is a universal experience. The Bible gives much instruction that, if followed,…
What does the Bible say about altruism?
Altruism is an unselfish concern for the welfare of others. An altruistic person gives generously of time and resources for no personal gain, and often at personal risk. A major theme of the Bible is godly altruism. As far back as the Mosaic Law, the Bible records God’s desire that His people care for the…
Do we need to confess our sins to those we have sinned against?
We know we are to confess our sins to God, but many Christians wonder whether we need to confess to those we have sinned against. Do we need to tell the person we’ve sinned against that we’re sorry? “Walking in the light” (1 John 1:7) means that we are living in obedience to God’s commandments.…
How should a Christian respond to all the negativity out there?
Negativity is nothing new. Since Adam and Eve were first banished from the garden, life has been hard and we have been complaining about it (Genesis 3:23). It is the nature of sinful humans to live for ourselves and to complain when our desires are not being met (Galatians 5:19–20). We tend to argue for…
What does the Bible say about conflict resolution?
Conflict resolution in the body of Christ is crucial for several reasons. Avoidance of conflict, with no effort to resolve it, postpones a proper response and exacerbates the problem because conflicts that are allowed to fester unaddressed will always increase and have negative effects on relationships within the body. The goal of conflict resolution is…
What does the Bible say about dealing with difficult people?
We all know people whom we find “difficult” in one way or another, and we’re all called upon to deal with difficult people at some time or another. A difficult person may be one who is condescending, argumentative, belligerent, selfish, flippant, obtuse, or simply rude. Difficult people seem to know just how to “push one’s…
How can a Christian avoid being a doormat for other people?
A doormat is a small rug placed just inside a doorway where people can wipe their dirty shoes before entering the house. The term doormat is also used figuratively to describe people who allow themselves to be (figuratively) walked on by others; that is, a doormat allows himself or herself to be abused, disparaged, or…