If you keep burning the candle at both ends, sooner or later you will indulge in more and more mean cynicism – and the line between cynicism and doubt is a very thin one. Of course, different individuals require different numbers of hours of sleep: moreover, some cope with a bit of tiredness better than others. Nevertheless, if you are among those who become nasty, cynical, or even full of doubt when you are missing your sleep, you are morally obligated to try to get the sleep you need. We are whole, complicated beings; our physical existence is tied to our spiritual well-being, to our mental outlook, to our relationships with others, including our relationship with God. Sometimes the godliest thing you can do in the universe is get a good night’s sleep – not pray all night, but sleep. I’m certainly not denying that there may be a place for praying all night; I’m merely insisting that in the normal course of things, spiritual discipline obligates you get the sleep your body needs.

— D.A. Carson (b. 1946), Neutestamentler, Theologieprofessor und Autor

Topics: Illness & Weakness, Growth & Character, Wisdom & Understanding

D.A. Carson

Der kanadische Neutestamentler Donald Arthur Carson (* 1946) lehrte über vier Jahrzehnte an der Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in den USA und ist Mitgründer des Netzwerks The Gospel Coalition. Er steht für eine reformiert-baptistische Theologie, biblische Irrtumslosigkeit sowie detaillierte Exegese und trat publizistisch als scharfer Kritiker liberaler und postmodern-relativistischer Strömungen auf. Bibellesern bietet sein Werk fundierte konservative Kommentare und theologische Orientierung, während andere Stimmen seine hermeneutische Unnachgiebigkeit kritisieren.

All quotes by D.A. Carson (51)

D.A. Carson

More on this topic