Christian Living

By Al Felder Christians sometimes look at the world around them and wonder how much further society can move away from God. Ideas once widely recognized as immoral are increasingly accepted, defended, and even celebrated. Biblical teaching about marriage, sexuality, modesty, the family, worship, honesty, and the difference between right and wrong is often treated as outdated or restrictive. Living faithfully in such a culture can feel increasingly difficult, especially when t

By Al Felder Kindness does not become a way of life by accident. Most people believe kindness is good. They want to be patient, merciful, thoughtful, responsible, and helpful, but good desires do not automatically become daily habits. If we don't practice kindness intentionally, selfishness will usually take over. Convenience will win, complaints will grow, harsh words will slip out, needs will be overlooked, and burdens will be shifted to someone else. Jesus said, “Therefore

By Al Felder Excuses can sound reasonable. They often come dressed in explanation, tiredness, busyness, disappointment, personality, past hurt, or even religious language. A person may say, “I know I should be more patient, but…” or “I know I should help, but…” or “I know I should apologize, but…” or “I know I should forgive, but…” The problem is not always that we do not understand what Jesus said. Sometimes the problem is that we have become skilled at explaining why we are

By Al Felder The Golden Rule is easy to understand. Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). A child can grasp the basic idea. Treat people the way you would want to be treated. Show patience if you want patience. Show mercy if you want mercy. Speak with care if you want others to speak with care. Help others if you would want help. Most people agree with it, so why do so many people fail to live it? The problem is not usual

By Al Felder The Golden Rule is not limited to the home and the church building. Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). That command follows the Christian into every part of life. It applies when we are with family. It applies when we assemble with the church. It applies at work, in a store, on the road, in a restaurant, at school, at a ballgame, online, or standing in line with strangers. Christianity is not a Sunday-only

By Al Felder The Golden Rule sounds simple when we talk about it in general. Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). Most people agree that this is right. We want patience, mercy, fairness, respect, forgiveness, encouragement, and thoughtfulness. We want people to listen before judging, help when they can, correct without cruelty, and treat us with dignity, but the real test of the Golden Rule is not whether we agree with i

By Al Felder Conflict reveals the heart. It is easy to speak kindly when everyone agrees. It is easy to be patient when no one frustrates us. It is easy to sound spiritual when the conversation is calm, but when tension rises, feelings are hurt, someone misunderstands us, correction is needed, or we believe we have been wronged, the real condition of the heart begins to show. Jesus’ Golden Rule doesn't disappear in conflict. He said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to

By Al Felder Compassion is easy to admire. Most people like the idea of being compassionate. We speak well of people who care. We appreciate tenderness when we are hurting. We value those who show up in difficult seasons, but biblical compassion is more than feeling sorry for someone. It is love that moves toward another person’s burden. Jesus did not merely notice suffering. He responded to it. He saw the weary, the grieving, the sick, the sinful, the hungry, the lonely, and

By Al Felder Some people think courtesy is too small to be spiritual. They think of it as manners, etiquette, or personal preference. Saying “thank you,” speaking kindly, holding a door, listening carefully, cleaning up after yourself, respecting someone’s time, and being mindful of others may seem like small matters compared to larger questions of faith. However, Jesus’ teaching reaches into the small places. He said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also t

By Al Felder Some of the most revealing moments in life are not dramatic. They happen after we use a room, finish a meal, borrow something, speak in frustration, leave a conversation, or pass through a place someone else will use next. In those ordinary moments, we reveal whether we are thinking only about ourselves or considering the people who come after us. The Golden Rule says, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). That command r

By Al Felder The cross is the greatest picture of love in action. Many people speak of kindness as though it is mainly a feeling—being pleasant, gentle, or friendly. Those qualities matter, but the kindness of Christ goes far deeper. His kindness did not remain in heaven as a thought. It came into the world. It walked among sinners. It served the undeserving. It moved toward the greatest need man has ever had. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, bu

By Al Felder The world often measures greatness by position, power, recognition, wealth, influence, and control. People want to be noticed, respected, followed, and served. They want the seat of honor. They want their preferences considered first. They want others to adjust around them. Jesus turns that thinking upside down. He said, “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant” (Mark 10:43). Then He pointed to Himself as the perfect example: “For even the

By Al Felder Truth matters. Christians must never act as though truth is optional, flexible, or unimportant. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). We must identify sin. Error must be corrected. Souls must be warned. The gospel must be taught plainly. Love does not require silence when truth is needed, but we must also face another danger: speaking truth in a way that crushes people. Some people use truth like a hammer when they should use it like a surgeon’s instrument. They are

By Al Felder One of the most beautiful things about the life of Jesus is that He saw people others ignored. He saw the sick when others only saw an interruption. He saw the sinner when others only saw a reputation. He saw the poor when others only saw a burden. He saw children when others thought they were unimportant. He saw the grieving when others did not know what to say. He saw the lonely, the ashamed, the weak, the outcast, and the forgotten. Jesus never treated people

By Al Felder The Golden Rule is often quoted, but one word deserves more attention than it usually receives. Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). The word is do. Jesus did not merely say, “Think kindly about others.” He did not say, “Feel sympathy for others.” He did not say, “Wish good things for others.” Those attitudes may have their place, but Christ's command goes beyond intention. He says, “do.” The Golden Rule req

By Al Felder The Golden Rule does not stand alone. Jesus placed it after a beautiful teaching on prayer and the Father's goodness. He said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Then He explained that even earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to their children. A father does not give his son a stone when he asks for bread. He does not give him a serpent when he asks for a fish (Matthew 7:9–10). T

By Al Felder Correction is one of the hardest parts of Christian living. Sometimes correction is necessary. Sin must not be ignored. Error must not be treated as truth. Harmful behavior must not be excused. A brother or sister may need help seeing something clearly. A child may need instruction. A friend may need warning. A congregation may need truth spoken plainly. Jesus teaches that correction must begin in a place many people want to skip: self-examination. In Matthew 7:3

By Al Felder Few words of Jesus are quoted more often, and misunderstood more often, than these: “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Some people use those words to suggest that Christians should never identify sin, never correct error, and never make moral distinctions. However, that cannot be what Jesus meant. In the same chapter, Jesus warns about false prophets and says, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). That requires discernment. Therefor

By Al Felder Sometimes one small word can change the way we understand an entire passage. Matthew 7:12 begins with a word that is easy to rush past: “Therefore.” Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Many people quote the Golden Rule as though it stands alone. They treat it like a general moral saying: “Be nice to people.” However, Jesus did not give Matthew 7:12 as an isolated prover

By Al Felder Kindness is one of those words people often admire but do not always define carefully. Many think of kindness as a pleasant attitude, a warm smile, or a friendly personality. Those things can be good, but biblical kindness is much deeper. It is not merely something we feel. It is something we do. Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). That command does not allow kindness to remain still. It gives kindness move