The Human Condition | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Free E-mail Newsletters:

RSS Feed | More Feeds | RSS Help

Home > 2008 > July

Christianity Today, July, 2008 |

REFLECTIONS

The Human Condition

Quotations to stir heart and mind.

Compiled by Richard A. Kauffman | posted 7/17/2008 08:49AM

Related articles and links |

1 of 1

I HAVE DISCOVERED that all the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.
Blaise Pascal, Pensées

IT IS NO EASY TASK to walk this earth and find peace. Inside of us, it would seem, something is at odds with the very rhythm of things and we are forever restless, dissatisfied, frustrated, and aching. We are so overcharged with desire that it is hard to come to simple rest. Desire is always stronger than satisfaction.
Ronald Rolheiser, The Holy Longing

ONE OF the uncomfortable facts about ourselves is that we all must live in a way that meets our own approval.
Paul Holmer, Making Christian Sense

DOES DISCOVERING who you are awaken a kind of inner unrest? … If you started accusing yourself of all that is in you, would your nights and days be long enough?
Brother Roger of Taizé, Essential Writings

A MAN'S AT ODDS to know his mind cause his mind is aught he has to know it with. He can know his heart, but he don't want to. Best not to look in there.
Cormac Mccarthy, Blood Meridian

ONE OF the strangest things that people say is, "I'm a good person." I am always amazed when people claim to know that about themselves. … History demonstrates, repeatedly, that if enough people begin to define themselves as "good" in contrast to others who are "bad," those others come to be seen as less than human.
Kathleen Norris, Amazing Grace

THE POWER of temptation is not in its appeal to our baser instincts; if that were the case, it would be natural to be repulsed by it. The power of temptation is in its appeal to our idealism.
Helmut Thielicke, Our Heavenly Father

THE EVIL WROUGHT by those who intend evil is negligible. The greater evil is wrought by those who intend good, and are convinced they know how to bring it about; and the greater their power to bring it about, the greater the evil they achieve while trying to do it.
Allen Wheelis, The Way We Are

TO TRIUMPH FULLY evil needs two victories, not one. The first victory happens when an evil deed is perpetrated; the second victory, when evil is returned. After the first victory, evil would die if the second victory did not infuse it with new life.
Miroslav Volf, The End of Memory

PERFECT LOVE may cast out fear, but fear is remarkably potent in casting out love.
P. D. James, Time to Be in Earnest

SATAN DOES NOT here fill us with hatred of God, but with forgetfulness of God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Creation and Fall/Temptation

Related Elsewhere:

Previous Reflections include columns about Home, On Being a Parent, Children, Death and Resurrection, Miracles.

1 of 1

July 2008, Vol. 52, No. 7

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment

Reader Reviews are below

Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required.

Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.

If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.

Click here for international orders

2-for-1 Gifts!

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Displaying 1 - 3 of 4 comments.

See all comments

Mark Eaton

Posted: July 21, 2008 7:24 AM

Not one mention of God or Jesus in this article. I really want to vote zero but the system will not let me. Why do we wonder why we struggle with faith when all we pay attention to is philosophy? Colossians 2:8 says "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceipt, according to the tradition of men, accoring to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ". While these men and women may be Belivers, what we must pay attention to is the Word of God and not the word of men.

Jesse

Posted: July 21, 2008 6:00 PM


any philosphy with any sense in it points to Christ, Christians can do better at reading between the lines of anything a placing either christ or satan their

Isaiah

Posted: July 17, 2008 5:17 PM

The fundamental question is not a matter of how we conduct ourselves, or what philosophy we have in life. Primarily and utterly it is a matter of whether we are in Christ or in Adam (Romans 5-6), in the spirit or in the flesh (Romans 7-8). Let us rather be occupied and be so consumed with our Lord yet living a life of normality whilst on this earth (1 Tim. 2, Titus 2). I believe we should not be concerned as a matter of priority the manner of our living and thoughts per se, but rather much more how this Christ can be applied and enjoyed as our life in every aspect of our life (Rom. 5:10, Col. 3:4) for His divine purpose (Eph. 1:9-11) Our Christ must be all and in all (Col. 3:11)! Let us not lose our focus on Him in whom the Father so utterly delights!