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One’s hard-pressed to find guidance therein that is not useful, mature and time-tested. 

The longer I live, the more I realize that the morality – love, service, responsibility, moderation and truth being standout examples – found through biblical words and example are an extraordinarily valuable bedrock in a wobbly world.

Needless to say, the Bible has never been on The N.Y. Times Best Seller list.

Modern man, like men throughout history, likes to chart his own course.

The idea of a central benevolent authority who wants to guide us through the hazards of life is an afront to our will to run our own ship – even if it means running that ship into a rock.

There are lots of ways we do that – and downgrade our culture at the same time.

If you’re a committed or searching child of God, it’s important to watch out for such people.

On the negative side, they can pull you down. On the positive, they can show you what not to do and why not to do it.

Know any of these agents of harm?

People of the lie — Nothing works without truth. Unfortunately, we live in a time where winning, proving, succeeding and controlling are viewed as higher goals warranting an abuse of truth. People who believe that truth is in the eye of the beholder aren’t looking for truth so much as whatever they need to validate their agenda.

Angry people —  Little of value comes from anger. It’s a lazy emotion we use to prop up weak character, fear and spotty facts. Anger is highly addictive and poisons the container that holds it.

Narcissists —  These days this label is being tossed about like confetti. Perhaps that’s because so many people are truly ‘preoccupied with their self and their needs.’ Self-absorbed people are almost always empty and ravenous and eat the heart out of their environment with a smile.

Power-trippers — Like anger, power is highly addictive. Power offers a temporary high of confidence, clarity and control that few drugs can match. That’s why so many politicians sell their soul to stay in office. They may win elections, but over time they transition from being a person to a hollowed out performer.

Feel-gooders — Speaking of addictions, feeling good is the No. 1 addiction in America. Every compulsion we have – food, alcohol, drugs, sex, money, phones, TV, etc. – is tied to a desire to feel good. We’re not here just to feel good. We’re here to leap, live, learn and love – all of which involve a rainbow of pleasant and not-so-pleasant emotions.

Pretenders — In today’s America, sincerity is almost as elusive as truth. So many of us are living like actors on a stage that it’s increasingly hard to sort fact from fiction. No wonder so many individuals are becoming cave dwellers and missing the blessings of human relationships.

Dependent personalities — Big government advocates have been successful in creating a mini-nation of Uncle Sam dependents. It’s become easy to have children you can’t care for; aliments that render a pass on the responsibility of carrying your own load; and entitlement enthusiasms that  treat public services like a lottery. Healthy cultures are built with the hands of people who contribute, not the appetites of those who take.

Vanity kings — Seems like everyone today has an opinion – informed or otherwise. Witness Hollywood actors as self-declared experts on politics and social values; Popes willing to ignore the Bible; and scientists and healthcare providers indifferent to the stringent protocol demands of real science. 

Judgers — One of the worst ‘sins’ of professed Christians is an epidemic enthusiasm for condemnation. That this is a big biblical no-no seems to be so easily overlooked in our confusion on the difference between grounded discernment and feckless judgment. Sure, the left practices condemnation with enthusiasm. It’s part of their script. It should not be part of yours.

Haters — Political pundits love to talk about “haters,” but note that they often do it in a hateful way. Hate can’t be defeated by more hate. Hate can be defeated by maturity, responsibility, love, integrity, etc.

Toxic people are a reality of life. Though they don’t glow in the dark, watching for bad patterns of behavior can give you a peek around their masks.

As always, the best way to protect yourself from forces of darkness is to keep your own compass locked on the light. 

It helps to remember that darkness doesn’t really exist – darkness is missing of in absence of light.