Joshua Harris Quotes

Powerful Joshua Harris for Daily Growth

About Joshua Harris

Joshua Harris (born March 14, 1971) is an influential American Christian author, pastor, and speaker. Raised in a Christian home in New Jersey, Harris's faith journey was significantly impacted by the Teen Mania Ministries youth group, where he served as a leader. In 1997, at the age of 26, Harris published his first book, "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," which became an international bestseller and sparked widespread discussion on courtship versus dating among evangelical Christians. The book advocated for abstinence in dating relationships and emphasized a focus on spiritual growth and service to God instead. Following the success of his debut work, Harris went on to write several more books, including "Boy Meets Girl: Say Yes to Courtship" (1999), "Stop Dating the Church" (2004), and "Not Even a Hint" (2006). In 2008, Harris stepped down from his leadership role at Teen Mania Ministries after acknowledging that some of his teachings had been misguided. This period marked a significant turning point in Harris's life and faith journey, as he began to reassess his beliefs and experiences. In 2019, Harris announced that he was no longer a Christian, citing doubts about the existence of God and questioning the validity of his previous works. His decision sparked debate within evangelical circles and led many to reconsider their own faith journeys. Today, Joshua Harris continues to reflect on his experiences and share his insights through speaking engagements and writing. Despite the controversies that have surrounded him, he remains a significant figure in contemporary Christian thought, inspiring introspection and dialogue among believers and non-believers alike.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Take every thought captive."

This quote by Joshua Harris encourages individuals to control their thoughts, rather than letting them control them. In essence, it's a call to consciously manage and direct our mental processes, ensuring they align with positive, productive, and virtuous values. The phrase "Take every thought captive" suggests the need for self-discipline in monitoring one's thoughts and correcting any that may be harmful or counterproductive. By doing so, we can transform our minds and cultivate a healthier, more fulfilling mental state.


"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle."

This quote emphasizes a perceived disconnect between words and actions that some people perceive in self-proclaimed Christians. The idea is that when individuals claim faith in Jesus but do not live according to His teachings, they may unintentionally contribute to atheism. This inconsistency can make it challenging for others to believe in Christianity, as the actions of these individuals seem to contradict the values and beliefs they profess.


"True love asks for nothing but gives everything."

This quote by Joshua Harris implies that genuine love is characterized by selflessness, generosity, and a desire to give rather than take. In contrast to selfish or conditional affection, true love seeks nothing in return and instead invests itself fully into the relationship, offering care, understanding, and compassion without any expectation of reciprocation.


"Your attitude determines your altitude."

This quote by Joshua Harris emphasizes the significant influence our mindset, or attitude, has on our personal success and growth. The more positive and optimistic we are, the higher we can soar in life. In essence, a good attitude empowers us to reach greater heights and overcome challenges effectively.


"If I am not willing to love you without getting anything in return, I obviously don't love you."

The quote emphasizes the selflessness and authenticity required in genuine love. To genuinely love someone, one should not expect or demand reciprocation or rewards; instead, the love must be freely given, without any expectation of return. This quote serves as a reminder that relationships built on conditions are not true expressions of love, but rather transactions. Authentic love is giving without expecting to receive.


I am a sucker for romance and I love girls and that is a terrible combination, because romance has the ability to overwhelm your perspective.

- Joshua Harris

Love, Romance, Sucker, Overwhelm

One of my defining beliefs is that Jesus Christ has taken all of my guilt before God, and that he has been raised from the dead. That gives incredible hope and meaning to every day of my life - that nothing done in this world is wasted when it's done for him and his glory, and that there will be a day of justice and reward for the entire world.

- Joshua Harris

My Life, Been, Before, Defining

A defining reality for me is what Scripture teaches in Hebrews 12, that God is our father, and that a sign that he loves us is that he disciplines us, he takes us through hardship to build character in us that could not be shaped apart from difficulty.

- Joshua Harris

Father, Through, Shaped, Defining

God will make right all that is wrong, He will take away the lingering effect of sin and what's not right in our lives. He knows how painful life in this world can be.

- Joshua Harris

Will, Away, Lives, Lingering

You get up and you preach a sermon and people walk away thinking what a great guy - and that's a failure as a pastor. Our job is to proclaim Christ.

- Joshua Harris

Away, Christ, Great Guy, Pastor

Dating now is a lot like going shopping when you don't have any money. Even if you find the right thing, you can't do anything about it.

- Joshua Harris

Like, Going, About, Shopping

I'm not saying dating is sinful, and I'm not saying a guy and a girl should never spend time alone together. I'm saying let's wait until we can be purposeful, so there's a reason behind our relationship, and we're not just stirring up passion for the sake of a good time.

- Joshua Harris

Reason, Wait, Behind, Stirring

The thing about relationships is, when you are in the middle of one, they consume your focus.

- Joshua Harris

Focus, Middle, About, Relationships

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.