The thirteenth chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians has rightly been called the Love chapter. But it also highlights what may be described as the paradigm of the Christian life. In verse 13 , Paul identifies what has come to be known as the theological virtues. So now faith, hope, and love abide,…
Tag: Hope
Optimism is not Hope
The world is full of pessimists, people who see no light at the end of our world’s dark tunnel. In such an atmosphere, the optimist stands out as a voice for possibility amidst despair. He is likely to be hailed as a visionary or denounced as a romantic. While he is more useful than the…
A Confident Hope
Gandalf, the great (but good) wizard in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, remarked to Aragorn in a conversation: “Hope is not victory.” Few seconds later he added: “I am Gandalf, Gandalf the White, but Black is mightier still.” He was alluding to the struggle which the fellowship (the team of hobbits, humans, elves, and…
The Future of the Church
Is there a future for Christianity? Can we expect the church to thrive given the rate of ongoing persecution of Christians globally? Can faith survive and overtake secularism worldwide? Let us consider the following: Islamic extremism is growing and self-styled caliphates are increasing their operations across international borders. North Korea, with a population of 24.5…
Hope in troubling times
It is so tempting to withdraw into cynicism after all the events of the past few weeks. We might ask ourselves, “Is there still hope for our world?” “Can any person or society still speak positively of our universe?” It might seem all that is left is for the Great Judge to bring his swift…
Hope in the midst of Sorrow
As Christians, we sometimes face trials – moments when God seems distant and trouble or grief clouds our souls. It could be the death of a loved one, a perplexing illness, loss of one’s job. It could even be hostile attack or opposition from humans. At such times, we cry out to God for help,…
The Christian Mind 