Skip to main content
Home

Encouraging, Equipping, and Engaging Ideas from Local Church Leaders

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Categories
  • Contributors
  • Resources
  • About

Search form

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Resources

How Faith Is Destroyed

How Faith Is Destroyed

Samuel Clemens, more commonly known by his pen name, Mark Twain was a gifted writer. Yet Twain held a deep contempt for Christianity. He once referred to it as a “slaughterhouse religion” because of the doctrine of the blood atonement, and he often turned his ridicule on those who believed the Bible. He met and fell in love with Olivia Langdon, a young woman from a good Christian family. While they were courting he appeared to have downplayed his lack of faith, and she agreed to marry him.

After their marriage, Twain began to openly mock Christianity once again, and before too much time passed, Olivia stopped attending church. Twain and his family suffered many great reversals, including a complete financial collapse and the death of a beloved daughter. At one point Twain attempting to comfort his grieving wife said, “Livy, if it comforts you to lean on your faith, do so.” She replied sadly, “I cannot. I do not have any faith left.”

The people we spend most of our time with, and cultural influences such as books, music, social media, and television that we allow into our hearts and minds have a dramatic influence on us. This is why Solomon warned of the dangers of wanting to spend time with those who are evil.

“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.” Proverbs 24:1-2

Source: The Courtship of Olivia Langdon and Mark Twain, Susan K. Harris
Illustration Topics
Marriage
Friendship
Influence

Weekly Email Digest

 
 

Sign up to receive a weekly email digest of new articles and resources from Ministry127.

View a sample email

 

West Coast Baptist College

Home

Encouraging, Equipping, and Engaging Ideas from Local Church Leaders

ministry127.com is a ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Paul Chappell

Stay Connected

Ministry Links

  • Lancaster Baptist Church
  • Striving Together Publications
  • West Coast Baptist College
  • Daily in the Word
  • Dr. Paul Chappell’s Blog
  • Spiritual Leadership Conference