In a quip that makes the rounds, Jesus preached the coming…
““In a quip that makes the rounds, Jesus preached the coming of the kingdom, but it was the church that came. All these years later, the way many of us are doing church is broken and we know it, even if we do not know what to do about it. We proclaim the priesthood of all believers while we continue with hierarchical clergy, liturgy, and architecture. We follow a Lord who challenged the religious and political institutions of his time while we fund and defend our own. We speak and sing of divine transformation while we do everything in our power to maintain our equilibrium. If redeeming things continue to happen to us in spite of these deep contradictions in our life together, then I think that is because God is faithful even when we are not.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote highlights the gap between Christian teachings of kingdom and priesthood of believers and the institutional, hierarchical reality of modern churches, urging awareness of contradictions and reliance on God’s faithfulness.
In simple terms: Church teachings clash with its structures; trust God’s faithfulness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize contradictions and seek authentic faith.
Themes
faith
institution
authenticity
contradiction
leadership
Mood
reflective
hopeful
critical
Type
theological
inspirational
critical
When to use this quote
- personal worship
- church leadership meetingscommunity building
- theological education
Key Concepts
priesthood of believers
hierarchy
religious reform
spiritual integrity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can believers embody priesthood in daily life?
- What reforms would align church practice with its original message?
A Different Perspective
Institutional inertia can resist change despite spiritual intent.