[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fcTx2efPHLrwdvRx0sv8zXccIJBDqfd9qQJgVp2xf9PI":3,"$f4DwxFZ2_Xzh1KasPvAu9NuqHF8zmVmpGkfGlcZoEm2E":10},{"tag":4},{"id":5,"tag_name":6,"tag_first_letter":7,"tag_count":8,"tag_description":9},2765,"church","c",2024,"The concept of \"church\" extends far beyond the physical walls of a building; it embodies a sense of community, faith, and spiritual refuge. For many, the church represents a sanctuary where individuals gather to find solace, share in collective worship, and seek guidance. It is a place where the intangible elements of hope, love, and unity are nurtured and celebrated. People are often drawn to quotes about the church because they encapsulate the profound sense of belonging and purpose that such a community can provide. These quotes resonate with those who seek inspiration and comfort, offering timeless wisdom and encouragement. They remind us of the strength found in fellowship and the enduring power of faith. Whether one is searching for peace, understanding, or a deeper connection to their spirituality, the church serves as a beacon of light and a source of unwavering support. In a world that can often feel fragmented and chaotic, the church stands as a symbol of continuity and resilience, drawing individuals together in shared belief and mutual support.",{"quotes":11,"pagination":228},[12,39,62,85,104,124,139,159,182,205],{"id":13,"quote_text":14,"author_id":15,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":18,"source":24,"quote_tag":25,"commentary":23},2819293,"But it's a poor church that cares only for what happens to a soul after it leaves this life.\" -Damien",21096,5,false,{"id":15,"author_name":19,"slug":20,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":22,"image_url":23},"Alan Brennert","alan-brennert","A",84,null,{},[26,31,34],{"id":27,"tag":28},5805623,{"id":29,"tag_name":30},746,"care",{"id":32,"tag":33},5805621,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},{"id":35,"tag":36},5805619,{"id":37,"tag_name":38},2945,"soul",{"id":40,"quote_text":41,"author_id":42,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":43,"source":47,"quote_tag":48,"commentary":23},2819187,"The notion that the church, the press, and the universities should serve the state is essentially a Communist notion. In a free society these institutions must be wholly free - which is to say that their function is to serve as checks upon the state.",48679,{"id":42,"author_name":44,"slug":45,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":46,"image_url":23},"Alan Barth","alan-barth",9,{},[49,54,57],{"id":50,"tag":51},5805323,{"id":52,"tag_name":53},1048,"liberty",{"id":55,"tag":56},5805318,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},{"id":58,"tag":59},5805313,{"id":60,"tag_name":61},4954,"government",{"id":63,"quote_text":64,"author_id":65,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":66,"source":70,"quote_tag":71,"commentary":23},2819055,"The question is: until reinforced, can we learn the ways of church mice.",199016,{"id":65,"author_name":67,"slug":68,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":69,"image_url":23},"Al Swearengen","al-swearengen",13,{},[72,77,80],{"id":73,"tag":74},5804938,{"id":75,"tag_name":76},308,"way",{"id":78,"tag":79},5804936,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},{"id":81,"tag":82},5804940,{"id":83,"tag_name":84},50655,"mice",{"id":86,"quote_text":87,"author_id":88,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":89,"source":93,"quote_tag":94,"commentary":103},2818095,"Always the most revealing thing about the church is her idea of God.",188993,{"id":88,"author_name":90,"slug":91,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":92,"image_url":23},"Aiden Wilson Tozer","aiden-wilson-tozer",1028,{},[95,100],{"id":96,"tag":97},5802161,{"id":98,"tag_name":99},2130,"ideas",{"id":101,"tag":102},5802163,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},"**The Backstory**\nThis quote is likely from A.W. Tozer's book \"The Knowledge of the Holy\", published in 1961. At the time, Tozer was a pastor and evangelist, deeply concerned about the state of Christianity in America. He was critiquing the way the church had become complacent and materialistic, losing sight of its true purpose.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nThe revealing thing about the church is not its doctrine or its rituals, but its concept of God. Tozer is saying that the church's idea of God is a reflection of its own values and priorities, and that this idea often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, shaping the church's behavior and decisions.\n\n**How to Use This**\nWhen evaluating an organization or community, pay attention to its idea of God, or its ultimate values and goals. This will reveal its true priorities and motivations, and help you understand its potential for growth, innovation, or stagnation.",{"id":105,"quote_text":106,"author_id":88,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":107,"source":108,"quote_tag":109,"commentary":123},2818092,"In many churches Christianity has been watered down until the solution is so weak that if it were poison it would not hurt anyone, and if it were medicine it would not cure anyone!",{"id":88,"author_name":90,"slug":91,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":92,"image_url":23},{},[110,115,118],{"id":111,"tag":112},5802147,{"id":113,"tag_name":114},1130,"hurt",{"id":116,"tag":117},5802157,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},{"id":119,"tag":120},5802150,{"id":121,"tag_name":122},5532,"medicine","**The Backstory**\nAiden Wilson Tozer, a renowned pastor and writer, penned this critique in the mid-20th century, a time when American Christianity was undergoing significant cultural and theological shifts. As the church grew in numbers, some of its core convictions began to erode, and Tozer's words serve as a warning against the dilution of the Gospel message.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nOn the surface, Tozer's statement appears to be a lament about the watered-down state of Christianity. However, the deeper insight lies in the paradox that the solution, or the Gospel, is not just a set of principles or practices, but a person – Jesus Christ. The \"solution\" being \"weak\" implies that the church has lost sight of the person and the power of the Gospel, replacing it with a more palatable, human-centered approach.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, consider the following strategy: as you navigate your own work or creative pursuits, ask yourself what aspects of your approach might be \"watering down\" the Gospel or the core message of your craft. Be willing to strip away the extraneous and refocus on the essential, person-centered aspects of your work, even if it means challenging prevailing norms or expectations.",{"id":125,"quote_text":126,"author_id":88,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":127,"source":128,"quote_tag":129,"commentary":138},2818088,"Wherever we turn in the church of God, there is Jesus. He is the beginning, middle and end of everything to us.",{"id":88,"author_name":90,"slug":91,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":92,"image_url":23},{},[130,135],{"id":131,"tag":132},5802141,{"id":133,"tag_name":134},91,"jesus",{"id":136,"tag":137},5802142,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},"**The Backstory**\nAiden Wilson Tozer, a renowned Christian pastor and writer, penned these words in the mid-20th century, a time of great spiritual upheaval in the United States. As the church was grappling with modernity, Tozer's writings reflected his deep desire to anchor the faithful in the timeless truth of Jesus Christ. This quote is likely from one of his many devotional books or sermons, where he sought to guide his audience in their pursuit of a more intimate relationship with God.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nAt first glance, Tozer's statement appears to be a straightforward affirmation of Jesus' centrality in the Christian faith. However, upon closer examination, it reveals a profound tension between the static and dynamic aspects of our relationship with God. Tozer is not merely stating that Jesus is the beginning, middle, and end of everything; he is also implying that our understanding of Jesus is constantly evolving, yet always remains rooted in the same unchanging truth.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset in your own spiritual journey, consider embracing the paradox of growth and stability. Rather than seeking to \"arrive\" at a static understanding of Jesus, cultivate a willingness to have your perceptions of Him continually refined and expanded, even as you remain anchored in the bedrock of His unchanging character. By embracing this dynamic tension, you can foster a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus, one that is both grounded in the past and open to the possibilities of the future.",{"id":140,"quote_text":141,"author_id":88,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":142,"source":143,"quote_tag":144,"commentary":158},2818079,"I would like to live to see the time when the men and woman of God - holy, separated and spiritually enlightened - walk out of the evangelical",{"id":88,"author_name":90,"slug":91,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":92,"image_url":23},{},[145,150,153],{"id":146,"tag":147},5802112,{"id":148,"tag_name":149},326,"men",{"id":151,"tag":152},5802116,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},{"id":154,"tag":155},5802114,{"id":156,"tag_name":157},6362,"storm","**The Backstory**\nThis quote is attributed to Aiden Wilson Tozer, a renowned Christian pastor and author, likely from the mid-20th century. During this time, Tozer was grappling with the spiritual state of the evangelical church, which he perceived as becoming increasingly watered down and compromised by worldly influences. His words reflect his concern for the erosion of spiritual vitality within the church.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nOn the surface, Tozer's statement appears to be a call for a return to spiritual purity within the evangelical community. However, the counter-intuitive truth lies in the fact that he is not advocating for a rejection of the evangelical movement altogether. Rather, he is suggesting that true spiritual leaders should be willing to separate themselves from a movement that has become too comfortable with the world, thereby losing its distinctiveness and spiritual edge.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset today, consider the areas where you feel the pursuit of your goals or passions is becoming too comfortable or complacent. Are there aspects of your work or personal life where you've become too enamored with the status quo? Recognize the tension between conforming to the expectations of others and staying true to your spiritual or artistic vision. This quote encourages you to be willing to take a stand and separate yourself from the crowd, even if it means being labeled as unconventional or radical.",{"id":160,"quote_text":161,"author_id":162,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":163,"source":167,"quote_tag":168,"commentary":23},2816416,"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses...",198852,{"id":162,"author_name":164,"slug":165,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":166,"image_url":23},"Adlai Stevenson I","adlai-stevenson-i",97,{},[169,174,177],{"id":170,"tag":171},5797285,{"id":172,"tag_name":173},63,"funny",{"id":175,"tag":176},5797288,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},{"id":178,"tag":179},5797287,{"id":180,"tag_name":181},20727,"golf",{"id":183,"quote_text":184,"author_id":185,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":186,"source":190,"quote_tag":191,"commentary":23},2815766,"I am the product of the sustained indignation of a branded grandfather, the militant protest of my grandmother, the disciplined resentment of my father and mother, and the power of the mass action of the church.",198800,{"id":185,"author_name":187,"slug":188,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":189,"image_url":23},"Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.","adam-clayton-powell-jr",21,{},[192,197,200],{"id":193,"tag":194},5795412,{"id":195,"tag_name":196},429,"father",{"id":198,"tag":199},5795413,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},{"id":201,"tag":202},5795410,{"id":203,"tag_name":204},4434,"mother",{"id":206,"quote_text":207,"author_id":208,"source_id":16,"has_image":17,"author":209,"source":213,"quote_tag":214,"commentary":23},2815244,"A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.",1027,{"id":208,"author_name":210,"slug":211,"author_name_first_letter":21,"article_count":212,"image_url":23},"Abigail Van Buren","abigail-van-buren",79,{},[215,220,223],{"id":216,"tag":217},5793916,{"id":218,"tag_name":219},102,"religion",{"id":221,"tag":222},5793922,{"id":5,"tag_name":6},{"id":224,"tag":225},5793905,{"id":226,"tag_name":227},7857,"museums",{"currentPage":229,"totalPages":230,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":231},1,203,10]