Here was a Letter to the Editor of the U.P. Catholic written in response to my article on Yoga (previous post). My reply to this response is in the Comment Box-
6-20-10
Dear Editor,
I wish to respectfully disagree with Fr. Isodore Bard on his assessment of the practice of yoga. Throughout his response he seems to refer to yoga as a type of religion. Yoga is not a religion of itself, it is a discipline, much along the lines of any discipline such as Pilates (based on yoga), or dance, or any athletic training. It is also a form of physical therapy, and as such is used by physical therapists world-wide. As a yoga practitioner for nearly forty years, a yoga instructor for the past nine years, and a born and bred Catholic, who attended Catholic school for twelve years, I have found that the practice of yoga has greatly enhanced my spirituality and my faith.
The primary goal of yoga is to allow practitioners to gain familiarity with their own bodies and mental states. The breathing exercises are designed to enhance the various poses and create a feeling of comfort within oneself. We Catholics are instructed to care for the temple of the Lord, our bodies. By keeping them healthy, and becoming more aware of who we are, and our purpose, we naturally seek contact with the Higher Being God, the Holy Spirit, with Jesus Christ, with Mother Mary, and with the saints. Using the poses and the breathing, remaining in the posture is given more meaning when a prayer is uttered and sent upward. You are focusing on using your body’s energy to send the prayer on its way. It is a refocusing of who we are and why we are here. It is a moment of peace when we can recall all that has been given to us, away from the noise and distractions of daily life. The meditation and chanting are not meant to dissolve one’s individual self in search of emptiness, but to clear the mind and make it more receptive to the flow of grace, to clarify one’s self, and to seek out God’s purpose. This practice is no different than that of Monks and priests who chant and meditate in search and praise of God’s grace.
His assertion that there is nothing about serving other people in a yoga practice, I also find questionable. Is it not a service to help others attain physical well-being so they are better able to go out and do God’s work? Yoga is not about “escaping the world” it’s about becoming better, more healthy, human beings.The ability to practice yoga is a gift from God. The power we are striving for is God’s grace. Enhancing our physical well-being through a consistent practice of yoga, gives strength to our bodies and to our immortal souls, and better enables us to achieve our purpose on Earth of helping others.The practice of yoga, with its accompanying stretching of the muscles, ligaments and tendons has proven to be beneficial to many sufferers, including myself, of arthritis, fibro-myalgia, and other auto-immune diseases. It provides a way to get relief without the use of pain medication (which can be truly “mind-altering”), and enables those sufferers an opportunity to get out and practice their faith by helping others.
I would also like to address his comment about yoga postures and his comparison to the sign of the cross and kneeling. I agree that motions can have “spiritual significance.” In fact, in my personal practice of yoga, I have applied that significance to some of the postures. For example: The triangle pose, or down-dog pose: meditating on the trinity while in these poses can provide powerful insights into this mystery. The Salute to the “Son” (my interpretation) is a series of poses that can directly relate to the way of the cross. The warrior poses for me have always been a reminder that we are strong, brave, balanced warriors for Christ. The Pose of the Child is a recognition that we are children, and that to attain our heavenly reward, we must remain spiritually child-like. The Corpse pose is a complete surrendering to God’s will. Of course we cannot forget the prayer hand pose, which brings to mind Our Mother Mary. In fact, I refer to my personal yoga practice as “Hail Mary Yoga” since the time it takes to pray a Hail Mary is also a good length of time to maintain a posture. These positive connotations of specific motions are just as affirming as the sign of the cross or kneeling and have true and good spiritual underpinnings.
It has always been my belief that what a person gets out of life is directly related to what they put into it. There is nothing evil or occult in the practice of yoga, unless there is evil in the practitioner. Yoga, by itself, does not open the door to a spiritual realm; prayer does. And yes, the world is occupied by God and angels, and demons. Someone who chooses an evil path will find evil in anything they do, but the reverse is also true. When a good path is chosen, good can come from anything they do. Are we not here to obliterate evil? Is turning something some theologians consider wrong into something in praise of God evil? For me it is a tool, a weapon in my personal assault against the demons that stalk us all.
It would probably be beneficial to restrain oneself from denouncing something of such strong physical and spiritual benefits, until one has personally explored it. In this exercise-oriented culture we live in, the merits of yoga exercises are abundant. The physiological benefits are scientifically proven. Many of the postures used are therapeutic and are utilized by physical therapists, sports people, dancers, gymnasts, and those unable to perform aerobic exercises. The gentle movements are conducive to relieving stress and increasing cognitive functioning, and are geared to individual abilities. Are all Catholics then to refrain from physical therapy and other forms of disciplined exercise?
I am not a theologian, but over the years I have done extensive reading on our faith and on the lives of the saints, along with my study of yoga and physiology. Nothing I have read has indicated that the practice of yoga is a sinful one. Yoga, along with regular walking, has been a tool for me to find a more dedicated mental prayer life. It has given my prayer life a discipline and enabled me to apply that discipline to my daily Rosary, Divine Mercy, and prayers for others. It has fostered my gratitude for all God has provided for me, and has been a blessing in my life. Yoga has been in use since biblical times, and continues to benefit people today. It can be a path to better health, more dedicated mental prayer, and to the banquet.
Thank you.
Yours in Christ,
Jill M. Bevins, MALD, EdS
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
What about Yoga?
While watching EWTN, I heard that we as Catholics are to stay away from Yoga. What exactly are the spiritual dangers associated with this activity? - Cedarville, MI
The goal of practicing yoga is not heaven, but rather a sort of melting of oneself into the energy of everything, thereby excusing one from the cycle of reincarnation. Some say the goal of yoga is union with “God,” while this radically different conception of “God” is viewed vaguely as a sort of impersonal cosmic ooze of transcendence.
To reach this goal, one must strip away the external, supposedly illusory world in order to reach the spiritual. This process involves the dismantling of one’s own personality and individuality, since these too are considered an illusion.
For this purpose one seeks altered states of consciousness and an awareness in which rational thought is absent, reached by the aid of breathing techniques and specific posturing of the body. It works. This is real. But not good.
Some Spiritual Dangers:
1. You might just reach the goal toward which yoga is aimed. The reincarnation bit is bosh of course, but I mean the part about the absence of rational thought and the dissolving of one’s individual self. Emptiness. And emptiness is a pretty poor goal! Christians empty themselves out in service to others and to God, in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit, but throughout we remain the unique individuals whom God has created, and that is good!
2. Just as yoga is self-emptying in all the wrong ways, so it is also concerned with the growth of the self in all the wrong ways. Yoga is a totally self-absorbed practice. There’s nothing in it about serving other people. It’s all about escaping the world, as opposed to engaging and redeeming it.
3. Yogic techniques open the door to the spiritual realm, occupied not only by God and angels, but demons as well. They also work, are real, and are not good.
4. In experiencing the pleasant effects of yoga, one may have the delusion that they are spiritually healthy and are even receiving consolations of the Holy Spirit, when in fact their moral life may be in shambles.
So here’s what all the Christian ladies practicing yoga say:
Father, I only do yoga for the physical benefits. I could care less about the original intention for which yoga was created.
I’d like to have a pet grizzly that I pretend is a dog. I’d take it for walks and pet it and throw sticks for it to fetch. Cute idea, but sooner or later all things work according to their nature. When it finally decides to eat me, it won’t much matter what I imagine it to be.
Yoga’s postures were designed to have a specific spiritual impact, and they do. Those spiritual goals run contrary to Christianity.
Apply the same logic to a physical action in Christianity: say, making the sign of the cross or kneeling. Even if done absent-mindedly it “counts:” we still consider it to have a spiritual significance, which it does. Likewise, “going through the motions” of yoga has a spiritual significance and effect as well. It’s no more neutral to practice yoga than it is to make the sign of the cross: both are physical, religious practices. Likewise, yoga will always work according to the purpose for which it was designed. It’s a physical means to a spiritual end, and the physical benefits are inseparable from the false spiritual underpinnings.
The desire for spiritual and bodily health is good (and much needed in our distracted and noisy culture) but it needs to be subordinated to the desire for holiness in Christ. Our Catholic Faith has a rich tradition of mental prayer that is often ignored! Ditch the feeding trough and come to the banquet!
Further Reading:
“Catechism of Mental Prayer” by Joseph Simler TAN books.
The goal of practicing yoga is not heaven, but rather a sort of melting of oneself into the energy of everything, thereby excusing one from the cycle of reincarnation. Some say the goal of yoga is union with “God,” while this radically different conception of “God” is viewed vaguely as a sort of impersonal cosmic ooze of transcendence.
To reach this goal, one must strip away the external, supposedly illusory world in order to reach the spiritual. This process involves the dismantling of one’s own personality and individuality, since these too are considered an illusion.
For this purpose one seeks altered states of consciousness and an awareness in which rational thought is absent, reached by the aid of breathing techniques and specific posturing of the body. It works. This is real. But not good.
Some Spiritual Dangers:
1. You might just reach the goal toward which yoga is aimed. The reincarnation bit is bosh of course, but I mean the part about the absence of rational thought and the dissolving of one’s individual self. Emptiness. And emptiness is a pretty poor goal! Christians empty themselves out in service to others and to God, in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit, but throughout we remain the unique individuals whom God has created, and that is good!
2. Just as yoga is self-emptying in all the wrong ways, so it is also concerned with the growth of the self in all the wrong ways. Yoga is a totally self-absorbed practice. There’s nothing in it about serving other people. It’s all about escaping the world, as opposed to engaging and redeeming it.
3. Yogic techniques open the door to the spiritual realm, occupied not only by God and angels, but demons as well. They also work, are real, and are not good.
4. In experiencing the pleasant effects of yoga, one may have the delusion that they are spiritually healthy and are even receiving consolations of the Holy Spirit, when in fact their moral life may be in shambles.
So here’s what all the Christian ladies practicing yoga say:
Father, I only do yoga for the physical benefits. I could care less about the original intention for which yoga was created.
I’d like to have a pet grizzly that I pretend is a dog. I’d take it for walks and pet it and throw sticks for it to fetch. Cute idea, but sooner or later all things work according to their nature. When it finally decides to eat me, it won’t much matter what I imagine it to be.
Yoga’s postures were designed to have a specific spiritual impact, and they do. Those spiritual goals run contrary to Christianity.
Apply the same logic to a physical action in Christianity: say, making the sign of the cross or kneeling. Even if done absent-mindedly it “counts:” we still consider it to have a spiritual significance, which it does. Likewise, “going through the motions” of yoga has a spiritual significance and effect as well. It’s no more neutral to practice yoga than it is to make the sign of the cross: both are physical, religious practices. Likewise, yoga will always work according to the purpose for which it was designed. It’s a physical means to a spiritual end, and the physical benefits are inseparable from the false spiritual underpinnings.
The desire for spiritual and bodily health is good (and much needed in our distracted and noisy culture) but it needs to be subordinated to the desire for holiness in Christ. Our Catholic Faith has a rich tradition of mental prayer that is often ignored! Ditch the feeding trough and come to the banquet!
Further Reading:
“Catechism of Mental Prayer” by Joseph Simler TAN books.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Is there salvation for Muslims?
I heard from a Protestant minister that Muslims don’t worship the same God as us and go to hell. Is that true?
Short Answer:
Each is judged according to how they respond to whatever they've been given, and God alone makes that judgment of the soul.
Long Answer:
Here’s the true but unpopular Truth: the Catholic Church is like Noah’s Ark, if you’re not on it (or at least clinging to the sides), you’ll drown. Or better put, the Church is like Peter’s fishing boat and it’s our responsibility, as Fishers of Men, to bring souls to Christ.
Jesus is the only way to heaven. He made it possible for us to get to heaven by his death on the cross, which is made present at every sacrifice of the Mass. So it is that the Catholic Church is indispensably linked to the salvation of every person anywhere, of any religion. Jesus sits in Peter’s boat and preaches from there.
There are different degrees of separation from and affiliation to this one True Church. We can hash out our relationship with the Orthodox, Protestants, Hindus, Buddhists and Packer Fans some other time. I’d like to get right to your question on Muslims.
Muslims worship the same One True God that we do. Along with ourselves and the Jews, they profess the faith of Abraham. Nevertheless they do not realize the Trinitarian nature of God: that the one God is three Divine Persons. It’s like they’re listening to the same song that we are on the radio, but they’re miles out with shoddy antennas and don’t have good reception, unable to hear the words and melody that we hear clearly.
God wants everyone to get to heaven, even those with shoddy antennas. That’s what He made us for, though it is within anyone’s power to reject God's desire for us and to go to hell instead. If someone is outside the Catholic Church, salvation is still accessible to them through the grace of God working with them where they're at. This grace has a mysterious relationship to the Church, since God always works through His Church and He reaches outward from His Church to connect to the lives of those outside it.
All then are judged according to how they respond to the graces they are given. This is quite different from the common conception that all religions are something like spokes on a wheel that lead to the same center. It’s not the case that all religions teach the same things but worship in different ways. In fact, we teach different and often contradictory things, while we actually have great similarities in the way that we worship. Incense, altars, priests, singing, sacrifices and sacred texts can be found in most religions.
If someone recognizes the fullness of Truth in the Catholic Church but refuses to enter it (or decides to abandon it), then yes, that is a gravely sinful decision and is a pretty serious place for that soul to reside. Realistically though, most people of other religions probably aren’t Catholic because the Truth has never been fully presented to them, not because of malice. We can’t read the state of souls, so we presume their innocence.
It seems a much more damnable offense to know the Truth and not seek to bring others to it, than to not live by the Truth because no one shared it. If others don’t know the Truth it may be more our own fault than theirs.
We are called to love, not to judge, and so in genuine love we must speak the truth. We must bring onto the boat those souls drowning in ignorance or confusion. All aboard!
Further Reading:
Lumen Gentium sections 14-16.
Short Answer:
Each is judged according to how they respond to whatever they've been given, and God alone makes that judgment of the soul.
Long Answer:
Here’s the true but unpopular Truth: the Catholic Church is like Noah’s Ark, if you’re not on it (or at least clinging to the sides), you’ll drown. Or better put, the Church is like Peter’s fishing boat and it’s our responsibility, as Fishers of Men, to bring souls to Christ.
Jesus is the only way to heaven. He made it possible for us to get to heaven by his death on the cross, which is made present at every sacrifice of the Mass. So it is that the Catholic Church is indispensably linked to the salvation of every person anywhere, of any religion. Jesus sits in Peter’s boat and preaches from there.
There are different degrees of separation from and affiliation to this one True Church. We can hash out our relationship with the Orthodox, Protestants, Hindus, Buddhists and Packer Fans some other time. I’d like to get right to your question on Muslims.
Muslims worship the same One True God that we do. Along with ourselves and the Jews, they profess the faith of Abraham. Nevertheless they do not realize the Trinitarian nature of God: that the one God is three Divine Persons. It’s like they’re listening to the same song that we are on the radio, but they’re miles out with shoddy antennas and don’t have good reception, unable to hear the words and melody that we hear clearly.
God wants everyone to get to heaven, even those with shoddy antennas. That’s what He made us for, though it is within anyone’s power to reject God's desire for us and to go to hell instead. If someone is outside the Catholic Church, salvation is still accessible to them through the grace of God working with them where they're at. This grace has a mysterious relationship to the Church, since God always works through His Church and He reaches outward from His Church to connect to the lives of those outside it.
All then are judged according to how they respond to the graces they are given. This is quite different from the common conception that all religions are something like spokes on a wheel that lead to the same center. It’s not the case that all religions teach the same things but worship in different ways. In fact, we teach different and often contradictory things, while we actually have great similarities in the way that we worship. Incense, altars, priests, singing, sacrifices and sacred texts can be found in most religions.
If someone recognizes the fullness of Truth in the Catholic Church but refuses to enter it (or decides to abandon it), then yes, that is a gravely sinful decision and is a pretty serious place for that soul to reside. Realistically though, most people of other religions probably aren’t Catholic because the Truth has never been fully presented to them, not because of malice. We can’t read the state of souls, so we presume their innocence.
It seems a much more damnable offense to know the Truth and not seek to bring others to it, than to not live by the Truth because no one shared it. If others don’t know the Truth it may be more our own fault than theirs.
We are called to love, not to judge, and so in genuine love we must speak the truth. We must bring onto the boat those souls drowning in ignorance or confusion. All aboard!
Further Reading:
Lumen Gentium sections 14-16.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Is there a Biblical Basis for Purgatory?
I have been married for 27 years. Both of us are cradle Catholics. My wife and I came to Christ over a decade ago. I read the Bible. I read the Catechism. I read “Catholicism For Dummies.” I went to confession and followed the rules. I would not join in the Eucharist with sin on my soul. Then I started to have questions. My family is currently attending the local Baptist church. But maybe you can convince me to come back.
Question: What is purgatory and is it truly based on scripture?
-Prison Guard
What purgatory isn’t:
-Purgatory isn’t a middle destination for those not ‘good enough for heaven’ or ‘bad enough for hell.’
-It’s not a second chance for damned souls.
-It’s not a place where the dead make up for a lack in the saving work of Christ by their own good deeds.
What purgatory is:
Imagine your mother telling you as a little boy not to touch a hot stove. You touch it anyway and are burnt. She quickly forgives you, of course, but that doesn’t make the burn on your hand go away! The effect of the sin is still there and needs healing. Catholics would look on sin as a sort of BURN on our souls: the Ten Commandments aren’t arbitrary rules, they are a safety net to keep us from the consequences of sin. Purgatory then would be a healing of any ‘burns’ caused by our sinfulness which we have at the time of our death.
It probably involves suffering, because sanctification involves suffering. (Rom. 5:3–5) (Heb. 12:6, 11) Though it is also quite joyful I imagine: freedom from sin and the desire to sin, and having certitude in one’s final salvation in a way unimaginable to us here!
Though it involves suffering, purgatory in no way stands contrary to the fact that Christ’s suffering on the cross is sufficient for our salvation, because those who enter purgatory are already saved. Any pain experienced there doesn't make them 'more redeemed.’ It's a one-way street of becoming acclimatized to Glory.
Where it is and isn’t in the Bible:
You won’t find the word purgatory in your Bible. You also won’t find the words ‘Trinity,’ ‘Incarnation,’ or’ Sola Scriptura.’ (Sola Scriptura being the Protestant teaching that the Scriptures are the exclusive authority for the Christian faith: a teaching not actually found in the Scriptures themselves).
All that being said, here is one argument on your terms:
The book of Revelation in describing heaven, states that "nothing unclean shall enter it." (21:27) I think we would agree that the large majority of people aren’t perfect when they die (I can only think of one or two exceptions). According to this verse then, either there must be some manner of being made clean after death and before entering heaven or else there is no one in heaven except for those who die utterly perfect, with no trace of sin or anything unclean on their soul. This cleansing and sanctification is an application of the purifying power of the cross. Unlike the prison you work in, purgatory is a gift, not a punishment.
Also, check out Mt.5:25-26 and 1Cor.3:12-15 and 1Pet.3:18-20. If these verses aren’t about purgatory, I can’t imagine what exactly they are about.
Write me again if that doesn’t convince you, I’ve got a lot more to say than that, but we can take it one piece at a time.
Purgatory is either going to be there or not when you die, but Christ truly present in the Eucharist is one thing that is certain NOW. Come back to the Catholic Church: if not for yourself then for us, we need men like you.
Question: What is purgatory and is it truly based on scripture?
-Prison Guard
What purgatory isn’t:
-Purgatory isn’t a middle destination for those not ‘good enough for heaven’ or ‘bad enough for hell.’
-It’s not a second chance for damned souls.
-It’s not a place where the dead make up for a lack in the saving work of Christ by their own good deeds.
What purgatory is:
Imagine your mother telling you as a little boy not to touch a hot stove. You touch it anyway and are burnt. She quickly forgives you, of course, but that doesn’t make the burn on your hand go away! The effect of the sin is still there and needs healing. Catholics would look on sin as a sort of BURN on our souls: the Ten Commandments aren’t arbitrary rules, they are a safety net to keep us from the consequences of sin. Purgatory then would be a healing of any ‘burns’ caused by our sinfulness which we have at the time of our death.
It probably involves suffering, because sanctification involves suffering. (Rom. 5:3–5) (Heb. 12:6, 11) Though it is also quite joyful I imagine: freedom from sin and the desire to sin, and having certitude in one’s final salvation in a way unimaginable to us here!
Though it involves suffering, purgatory in no way stands contrary to the fact that Christ’s suffering on the cross is sufficient for our salvation, because those who enter purgatory are already saved. Any pain experienced there doesn't make them 'more redeemed.’ It's a one-way street of becoming acclimatized to Glory.
Where it is and isn’t in the Bible:
You won’t find the word purgatory in your Bible. You also won’t find the words ‘Trinity,’ ‘Incarnation,’ or’ Sola Scriptura.’ (Sola Scriptura being the Protestant teaching that the Scriptures are the exclusive authority for the Christian faith: a teaching not actually found in the Scriptures themselves).
All that being said, here is one argument on your terms:
The book of Revelation in describing heaven, states that "nothing unclean shall enter it." (21:27) I think we would agree that the large majority of people aren’t perfect when they die (I can only think of one or two exceptions). According to this verse then, either there must be some manner of being made clean after death and before entering heaven or else there is no one in heaven except for those who die utterly perfect, with no trace of sin or anything unclean on their soul. This cleansing and sanctification is an application of the purifying power of the cross. Unlike the prison you work in, purgatory is a gift, not a punishment.
Also, check out Mt.5:25-26 and 1Cor.3:12-15 and 1Pet.3:18-20. If these verses aren’t about purgatory, I can’t imagine what exactly they are about.
Write me again if that doesn’t convince you, I’ve got a lot more to say than that, but we can take it one piece at a time.
Purgatory is either going to be there or not when you die, but Christ truly present in the Eucharist is one thing that is certain NOW. Come back to the Catholic Church: if not for yourself then for us, we need men like you.
Friday, April 2, 2010
This whole thing is actually just a sequel...
If you're interested, here is a "completed" blog which tells of my adventures in the Holy Land while I was on an extended pilgrimage there as a seminarian:
http://www.yooperpilgrims.blogspot.com/
I had kept this blog along with a classmate of mine who is now a brother priest.
His current blog is:
http://www.snowshoetracks.blogspot.com/
http://www.yooperpilgrims.blogspot.com/
I had kept this blog along with a classmate of mine who is now a brother priest.
His current blog is:
http://www.snowshoetracks.blogspot.com/
Campaign Against the NYT
Here is a link to Fr. Longenecker's blog, "Standing on My Head"
http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/2010/04/write-ny-times.html
Please read this: I highly encourage the campaign he speaks of-
http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/2010/04/write-ny-times.html
Please read this: I highly encourage the campaign he speaks of-
Monday, March 15, 2010
Young Upstart
What makes you think that you, as a young upstart priest with no experience, know enough to answer questions about the Catholic Church, Life, the Universe and Everything?
You have a point. The joke here is that, at nine months ordained and 28 years old, I’m the youngest and least qualified priest in the Diocese to write this column. The flip side to that is that I’m asking a hundred questions myself every day, so we may just as well throw yours on the pile!
Next question.
How does this work?
The good people of the Diocese of Marquette shall send me their burning questions concerning the Catholic Church, Life, the Universe and Everything. If you don’t have any questions yourself, then bring me the questions of the person whose conversion you are working toward. If you don’t have anyone whose conversion you are working toward, then start.
With your various inquiries in hand I shall then respond in a manner which is succinct, accurate, orthodox, and irresistibly entertaining. Or I won’t, and this column will be really short-lived.
I’m not going to give you complete answers with academic citations, or this would get way too boring, overly scholastic and longwinded! So when you write me your (brief) letters, do it like this:
1. Ask your Question. Be it from your own honest searching or the desperate hunt for a sensible reply to some seemingly solid stance against Church Teaching.
2. Explain why you want to know the answer, or at least put it in context. This is important so that other readers will see the situations in which they may also be called upon to know the answers to these questions, which will cause them to see how relevant and interesting my column is, which will then cause them to read it faithfully, which will cause them to be filled with an abundance of knowledge and a love for Truth, which will then cause them to desire holiness, become saints, and go to heaven where we shall have much fun.
3. Include your name, or how I should refer to you in my response (Extra points if you sign with a clever acronym which denotes both your disposition and location). I won’t be able to offer personal responses, whether it’s signed or not. Just keep reading the column.
So that’s the HOW, and here’s the WHY:
As a priest, I’m not the only one called upon to give readily apparent reasoning for Church Teaching on the fly. Be wary of the mindset which pigeonholes evangelization solely as the responsibility of the priest! You are the ones out in the world while I’ve got churchy stuff to do. I’ll do what I can to give you a hand though, so bring me your questions from the workplace, and from fallen away or faithless relatives, from doorstep evangelists of other religions, and from those suddenly deep conversations which threaten to sever the fragile ties of pleasantry that exist among acquaintances. Let us both get in the practice of prayerfully preparing our pithy, powerful and persuasive responses!
So, whether you yourself are questioning a specific teaching or tradition, or you know someone who is, the goal here isn’t to win the argument (that’s easy, and we’ll be doing plenty of that) but to win souls for Christ and to convert hearts, including our own. Lord willing, we’ll be doing plenty of that as well!
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