Devotionals by Dr. James Dobson
Godless Chatter
Turn away from godless chatter.
1 Timothy 6:20
In the past two weeks we have talked about cultural dangers facing your family today. One of the roots of these troubles is a philosophy called postmodernism, also known as moral relativism, which teaches that truth is unknowable. Nothing is right or wrong. Nothing is good or evil. The postmodernist is convinced that God, or anything resembling ultimate values, simply doesn’t exist. One of the foremost proponents of this philosophy is Peter Singer, a tenured professor and “bioethicist” at Princeton University. Singer wrote, “Very often it is not wrong at all [to kill a child once it has left the womb]. Simply killing an infant is never equivalent to killing a person.” This is where the postmodernists are taking us—to an almost total disregard for the value of human life.
We point out these disturbing developments to emphasize the influence of ideas on your kids and their behavior. Scripture says, “As [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7, nkjv). If your children begin to believe that they are the result of nothing more than happenstance, it undermines their motivation to be moral, lawful, respectful, and thankful—and to trust in an all-knowing, merciful God.
The apostle Paul urged Timothy to “turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Timothy 6:20). That is good advice for families, too.
Before you say good night…
- Have you taught your kids that right and wrong exist and are defined not by the culture, but by the King of the universe?
- How can you keep “godless chatter” from influencing your kids?
Almighty God, we unequivocally affirm Your place as the only authority on truth! Thank You that Your unchanging Word transcends the conflicted and evil concepts that dominate our day. Show us how to teach our children to reject any ideas that do not come from You. Amen.
Quotes from Peter Singer, Practical Ethics, 2nd ed. (Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 1993), 191, and Paul Zielbauer, “Princeton Bioethics Professor Debates View on Disabilities and Euthanasia,” New York Times, 13 October 1999, B8, as quoted in Family News from Dr. James Dobson newsletter, May 2002.
Listen to today's broadcast of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk at OnePlace.com. For more from Dr. Dobson, visit the resource center at drjamesdobson.org.
This devotional is taken from Night Light for Parents. Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
About Family Talk
Family Talk is a Christian non-profit organization located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2010 by Dr. James Dobson, the ministry promotes and teaches biblical principles that support marriage, family, and child-development. Since its inception, Family Talk has served millions of families with broadcasts, monthly newsletters, feature articles, videos, blogs, books and other resources available on demand via its website, mobile apps, and social media platforms.
The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI) is a Christian non-profit ministry located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded initially as Family Talk in 2010 by Dr. James Dobson, the organization promotes and teaches biblical principles that support marriage, family, and child development. Since its inception, Family Talk has served families with broadcasts, monthly newsletters, feature articles, videos, blogs, books, and other resources available on demand via their website, mobile apps, and social media platforms. In 2017, the ministry rebranded under JDFI to expand its four core ministry divisions consisting of the Family Talk radio broadcast, the Dobson Policy and Education Centers, and the Dobson Digital Library.
Dr. Dobson's flagship broadcast called, “Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk," is aired on more than 1,500 terrestrial radio outlets and numerous digital channels that reach millions each month.
About Dr. James Dobson
Dr. James Dobson is the Founder Chairman of the James Dobson Family Institute, a nonprofit organization that produces his radio program, “Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk.” He has an earned Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and holds 18 honorary doctoral degrees. He is the author of more than 70 books dedicated to the preservation of the family including, The New Dare to Discipline, Love for a Lifetime, Life on the Edge, Love Must Be Tough, The New Strong-Willed Child, When God Doesn't Make Sense, Bringing Up Boys, Bringing Up Girls, and, most recently, Your Legacy: The Greatest Gift. Dr. Dobson served as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine for 14 years and on the attending staff of Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for 17 years in the divisions of Child Development and Medical Genetics. He has advised five U.S. presidents and served on eight national commissions. Dr. Dobson has been married to Shirley for 64 years, and they have two grown children, Danae and Ryan, and two grandchildren.
Contact Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson
540 Elkton Drive
Suite 201
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
877.732.6825