Strictly speaking one ought to say that the Church is…
““Strictly speaking one ought to say that the Church is always in a state of crisis and that its greatest shortcoming is that it is only occasionally aware of it… This ought to be the case because of the abiding tension between the church's essential nature and its empirical condition… That there were so many centuries of crisis-free existence for the Church was therefore an abnormality... And if the atmosphere of crisislessness still lingers on in many parts of the West, this is simply the result of a dangerous delusion. Let us also know that to encounter crisis is to encounter the possibility of truly being the Church. David Bosch, Transforming Mission””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The Church’s perpetual crisis stems from its tension between ideal nature and real conditions; awareness of this tension is essential for authentic existence.
In simple terms: The Church must recognize its ongoing crisis to truly exist.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and address institutional tension.
Themes
religion
institutional critique
self-awareness
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
theoretical
analytical
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- faith communities
- academic study
- public policy
Key Concepts
theology
organizational theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions balance idealism with reality?
- What steps foster healthy self‑examination?
A Different Perspective
Crisis awareness can cause instability.