Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health

1. What is "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney about?

• Self-diagnosis for spiritual growth: The book provides a framework of ten probing questions designed to help Christians evaluate the state of their spiritual health and growth.
• Biblical foundation: Each question is rooted in Scripture and draws on biblical principles, Puritan wisdom, and practical Christian living.
• Focus on transformation: Whitney’s goal is to move readers beyond superficial self-assessment to genuine transformation and Christlikeness.
• Practical and reflective: The book combines theological depth with practical steps, encouraging meditation, prayer, and actionable change.

2. Why should I read "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney?

• Personal spiritual checkup: The book acts as a “physician of the soul,” helping readers identify areas of spiritual strength and weakness.
• Encourages intentional growth: It motivates Christians to pursue deeper intimacy with God and greater Christlikeness.
• Accessible and actionable: Whitney offers clear, practical advice and steps for spiritual improvement, making it suitable for both new and mature believers.
• Widely endorsed: The book is recommended by respected Christian leaders and is useful for individuals, small groups, and church settings.

3. What are the ten diagnostic questions in "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney?

• Thirst for God: Do you thirst for God?
• Governed by God’s Word: Are you increasingly governed by God’s Word?
• Growth in love: Are you more loving?
• Sensitivity to God’s presence: Are you more sensitive to God’s presence?
• Concern for others: Do you have a growing concern for the spiritual and temporal needs of others?
• Delight in the church: Do you delight in the Bride of Christ?
• Value of spiritual disciplines: Are the spiritual disciplines increasingly important to you?
• Grief over sin: Do you still grieve over sin?
• Quickness to forgive: Are you a quicker forgiver?
• Yearning for heaven: Do you yearn for heaven and to be with Jesus?

4. How does Donald S. Whitney define and explain "spiritual health" in "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health"?

• Spiritual health as Christlikeness: Whitney defines spiritual health as growing in likeness to Jesus Christ, both in character and practice.
• Life and growth: He emphasizes that spiritual health presupposes spiritual life—knowing God through faith in Christ—and is evidenced by ongoing growth.
• Biblical standard: Jesus is presented as both the source and standard of spiritual health, with Scripture as the measuring stick.
• Self-examination: The book encourages regular, honest self-examination using biblical criteria rather than cultural or personal standards.

5. What practical steps does "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney recommend for spiritual growth?

• Meditation on Scripture: Whitney urges readers to meditate deeply on God’s Word, not just read it, to absorb its truths and apply them.
• Praying through Scripture: He recommends using passages, especially Psalms, as a basis for personal prayer to foster intimacy with God.
• Engagement with spiritual disciplines: The book highlights the importance of regular practices like Bible reading, prayer, worship, fasting, and fellowship.
• Active love and service: Whitney encourages practical acts of love, forgiveness, and meeting both spiritual and temporal needs of others.

6. How does "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney address the role of the Bible in spiritual growth?

• Centrality of Scripture: Whitney teaches that being increasingly governed by God’s Word is essential for spiritual health and growth.
• Scripture as nourishment: The Bible is compared to food, water, light, and other essentials, emphasizing its necessity for the soul.
• Application over information: He stresses reading the Bible for transformation and application, not just for knowledge.
• Scripture in decision-making: Whitney advocates consulting the Bible for guidance in all areas of life, making it the authority for beliefs and actions.

7. What does Donald S. Whitney say about love as a mark of spiritual health in "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health"?

• Love as the Christian badge: Whitney asserts that love, especially for other Christians, is the clearest mark of a true disciple.
• Growth in love: He challenges readers to evaluate whether they are becoming more loving over time, not just maintaining natural affection.
• Counterfeit loves: The book distinguishes true Christian love from natural affection, self-serving love, and reciprocal love.
• Practical expressions: Whitney encourages tangible acts of love, including caring for family, the lost, and the church, as evidence of spiritual maturity.

8. How does "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney help readers deal with sin and forgiveness?

• Grieving over sin: Whitney teaches that a growing Christian will increasingly grieve over sin, recognizing its offense against God.
• Lifelong repentance: He emphasizes that repentance and faith are ongoing, not one-time events, and that godly sorrow leads to real change.
• Quickness to forgive: The book highlights the importance of being ready and willing to forgive others, reflecting God’s forgiveness toward us.
• Practical forgiveness: Whitney clarifies the difference between being ready to forgive and actually extending forgiveness, and addresses common misconceptions like “forgive and forget.”

9. What is the significance of spiritual disciplines in "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney?

• Means of grace: Spiritual disciplines are presented as God-ordained means for encountering Him and growing in Christlikeness.
• Personal and corporate practices: Whitney covers both private (e.g., prayer, meditation, fasting) and corporate (e.g., worship, fellowship) disciplines.
• Balance and motivation: He warns against legalism and imbalance, urging readers to pursue disciplines out of love for Christ, not mere duty.
• No shortcuts: The book stresses that there are no quick fixes to spiritual maturity; consistent practice of the disciplines is essential.

10. How does "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney encourage concern for others’ needs?

• Dual focus: Whitney teaches that spiritual health involves growing concern for both the spiritual and temporal needs of others.
• Christ’s example: He points to Jesus’ ministry as the model for meeting both physical and spiritual needs.
• Practical compassion: The book encourages readers to look for and respond to needs in their communities, families, and churches.
• Historical perspective: Whitney highlights the legacy of Christians throughout history who have led in caring for orphans, widows, the poor, and the lost.

11. What are the best quotes from "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney and what do they mean?

• “Christians are Christlike: none deserve the name of Christians that are not so, in their prevailing character.” (Jonathan Edwards, quoted by Whitney) – True Christianity is marked by a growing resemblance to Christ.
• “The more a person loves, the closer he approaches the image of God.” (Martin Luther, quoted) – Love is the essence of godliness and spiritual maturity.
• “It is not the absence of sin but the grieving over it which distinguishes the child of God from empty professors [of faith].” (A.W. Pink, quoted) – Sensitivity to sin is a sign of genuine faith.
• “Nothing causes us to so nearly resemble God as the forgiveness of injuries.” (John Chrysostom, quoted) – Forgiveness is a key mark of Christlikeness.
• “The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.” (Jonathan Edwards, quoted) – Ultimate fulfillment is found in God alone.

12. What are the key takeaways from "Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health" by Donald S. Whitney?

• Self-examination is vital: Regular, honest self-assessment using biblical questions is crucial for spiritual growth.
• Christlikeness is the goal: Spiritual health is measured by increasing conformity to Jesus in love, holiness, and service.
• Scripture and disciplines matter: Deep engagement with God’s Word and the spiritual disciplines is essential for transformation.
• Love and forgiveness are central: Growing in love for others and being quick to forgive are non-negotiable marks of spiritual maturity.
• Longing for God and heaven: A healthy Christian life is marked by a deepening thirst for God, sensitivity to His presence, and a yearning for eternal fellowship with Christ.