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Self-Help / Motivational books

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by evangelist6589, Jul 27, 2012.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Ramsey has got some god financial advice, however he sure does like self-help/motivational authors whom rely solely on human power and not on the power of the scriptures. This saddens me. But are there things to learn in these types of books? Perhaps.. Should we buy them? Maybe a few. Opinions?
     
  2. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Would say that his ministry would be in strictly financial matters, as am concerned that he does not seem to take many opportunities to remind callers that while finacial health is important, MUCH more is spiritual health!

    And i also notice that he seems to gravitate towards thoseinto neing positive thinkers, talkers, andseem to palce apreminimum on getting out of debt befor egetting right with god!
     
  3. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    I was going to buy a book recommendation but held back as its purely self-help.
     
  4. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    A caller called up yesterday whose husband died of a brain attack recently at age 30. If he was saved and was spending all his efforts and time into getting out of debt, I would think he may not have much of a reward in Heaven as he has neglected the greater calling of evangelism, edification of the saints, and such.
     
  5. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

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    I see no problem with self help or motivation books. Some of them give the greatest advice you can get on Earth. The Bible doesn't speak much on how to deal with specific situations and how to keep a positive attitude.

    Our spiritual advice should come from spiritual people. However, emotions like happiness (not to be confused with joy) are purely tied to the physical. There is no problem with getting advice on this type of thing from a self help or motivational book, any more than there is a problem with getting health advice from a Doctor.

    When you go to the doctor, no one says anything like, "You should turn to God for all your ailments instead of a man who doesn't give spiritual counsel." It's the same with self help or motivation.
     
  6. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    I do not agree solely. We need to get wisdom from God's word. If you go down this path that you speak of, whats to stop you from listening to Joel Osteen? All he preaches is self-help. No I do not think of him as a heretic, he is just a childish believer whom is not qualified to teach.
     
  7. Sapper Woody

    Sapper Woody Well-Known Member

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    I think the phrase "All he preaches is self help" is kind of an oxymoron. IMO, self help is not preaching. In my mind, self help and the ministry are two totally separate things, totally unrelated.

    If you are looking for business advice, the Bible doesn't give any explicit instructions. It has principles, such as being fair and just, but no actual directions. You have to go to someone who's been there. The same can be said for a number of situations.

    If it's Biblical in nature, go to the Bible. If it's earthly in nature, it's ok to seek help from a secular source.
     
  8. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    If someone needs them and can gain truth from them that is based on the word of God fine. I have just always stuck with the scriptures as they seem to hold all I need. I do not believe that the bible is lacking in anything I need to live as Christ intended.
    16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
    2 Tim 3:16-17 (KJV)

    Now if I need instruction in the secular then yes books could be of a benefit. Things like auto repair, computer science, medical profession, investing and so on, but for living and conducting our lives as God intended the bible covers all we need.
     
  9. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Heard the same story!

    My biggest concern with David is that he rarely seems to take the chance to express to them the biggest problem they will face, the SIN, not financial debt!

    And still not sold on his take that ALL debt is bad, needs to pay all of it off, as think it teaches instead that debt is bad if we are unable to maintain to pay it off!

    For example, best to pay for things in cash, but what if your church took out a mortgage instead to cover cash shortage? As long as you fulfilled your obligation and paid it off, why is that sinning?
     
    #9 Yeshua1, Jul 27, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 27, 2012
  10. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    You make a good point. I use what Color is your Parachute for career advice. Weight watchers for health advice, the five love languages for relationship advice, and so on..
     
  11. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    I agree with him in principle but do agree with you that he goes on the extreme too often in this area. Last year my engine blew to my 1987 Nissan and I had no choice but to take on a car loan. However I got a small 3K loan and got a good car. The car has been paid off but I am glad I took on the loan. If I had followed his advice I would have gotten a beater and it would have cost me more money in repairs. Ramsey makes good points at times, but dont take him word for word all the time.
     
  12. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Problem though is that the "advice" still needs to get filtered through the Bible!
     
  13. IANMO(IAMNTMYOWN)

    IANMO(IAMNTMYOWN) New Member

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    :thumbsup:Well said Yeshua!

    I would agree that secular self help books and the like are definitely beneficial. Anything outside of the Bible will always need to be critiqued. Very rarely will we be able to totally agree with anyone, Christian or not. Studying for my Bachelors here, I have had to delve into numerous books that would be considered non Christian. However, there is no way that the Bible could help explain to me advanced grammar, Spanish, or copy writing and editing. It provides the motivation and standards I need to accomplish these things, but the information and insight that is necessary for me to make it must be found somewhere else.
     
  14. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Would say that there are topics that are "neutral", in that regardless if a Christian does it or not, it will get done same way! Such as accounting, car repairs, etc...

    ITs those areas where the bible world view on relationships/ethics/ how to live etc has to be considered that many times thsoe we seek advisefrom fail to use it!

    Examples would be trying to get marriage help, help with kids acting up, finances etc, as sometimes the 'experts" say they are christian, yet rarely if ever quote/use the scriptures in their advise!
     
  15. IANMO(IAMNTMYOWN)

    IANMO(IAMNTMYOWN) New Member

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    Good point!
     
  16. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    Help me out here. If you have to buy a book to help you, how is that a self-help book? Isn't it just a help book?
     
  17. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Exactly… Sometimes 48 Days to the work you love goes on the self-help wagon. I usually filter out that garbage, and focus on the quality content in th book.
     
  18. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    Dan Miler quotes it along with secular sources. He has a mix of truth and error in his books. Susan Whitcomb's career books are more biblical, however she is not a very good writer.
     
  19. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    This falls though under the Sovereignty of god, His will and plans for your life etc...

    Shouldn't the answers be found in the Bible, at least the principles, and in prayer?

    Also, why does Dave had his rabbi friend on a lot going over how to get wealthy the Jewish OT way?

    is he even saved? Are we to assume that the promises made to an isrealite by god under OT still in force for money under NT?

    Does God want all to be financial wealthy than?
     
  20. ktn4eg

    ktn4eg New Member

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    Some of the various comments made thus far by some of my BB family members on this thread led me to recall a train of thought I encountered many years ago (mid 1970s maybe?).

    What it all boils down to is a concept supposedly attributed to St. Augustine, viz.:

    "All Truth is God's Truth"

    In essence, this concept summarizes what Jesus said of Himself in John 14:6a -- "I [Jesus, God the Son, the living Word] am ... the truth...."

    To me (based on what woefully limited grasp I have of such weighty philosophical matters) this seems to be telling me that, while the Word of God from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 (rightly interpreted and understood of course) is infallible, inerrant, etc., and thus our PRIMARY source for "truth," there is also a body of "truth" that may be gleaned from extrabiblical sources.

    Naturally, this extrabiblical body of truth must be filtered through the lenses of God's PRIMARY repository of truth--His Written Word!

    So long as this extrablblical body of truth does not contradict God's Written Word (here again, being rightly interpreted and understood), we, as His children through Christ Jesus, can use that so-called extrabiblical body of truth to our advantage/benefit..

    With regard to Ramsey, et. al., I say, use what he says within his realm of proven expertise, and disregard what he says outside of his realm of expertise.

    And don't be averse to use what some pagan/unbeliever/secularist writes simply because he/she doesn't always cite "chapter and verse" for some truth he/she has happened upon. Did not the Apostle Paul do this in his Mars Hill address to the Athenians in Acs 17?

    Even if some secular humanist should happen to publish something that is true, we need not summarily dismiss it simply because that secular humanist doesn't meet all of our so-called "tests of fellowship."

    IOW, if what that secular humanist said IS, in fact, true, that "truth" is "truth" not because that secular humanist said it is true. Rather, it is true because God Himself is, as to His nature, TRUTH!

    Hence, "All Truth Is God's Truth"!

    ("That's my story, and I'm sticking with it.")
     
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