Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot
Week 7: Chapters 13–14 — Commitment and the Fear of It
Read Chapters 13–14 of Passion and Purity. Primary Scripture: Joshua 24:15; Ruth 1:16–17.
Previewing Week 7 of Passion and Purity
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
Elliot argues that one of the deepest problems in modern relationships is a terror of commitment — a desire for the benefits of love without its cost. These chapters press into what it means to choose someone fully.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Why does Elliot think commitment has become so frightening in contemporary culture? What has changed culturally, and what are the spiritual roots of the fear?
2.She draws on the story of Ruth — "where you go I will go" — as a picture of the kind of whole-hearted, cost-counting commitment she is describing. What makes Ruth's commitment remarkable, and how does it contrast with how people typically approach romantic relationships today?
3.Elliot argues that commitment is not a feeling but a decision — and that the decision must precede, and often produce, the feeling. How does that sequencing challenge the common belief that we should only commit when we feel certain?