--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can be straight as a gun barrel…" description: "\"You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically, and as empty as one spiritually.\" — Aiden Wilson Tozer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_barrels_you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theo_2003939.png" --- # You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically, and as… ![“You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically, and as empty as one spiritually.” quote by Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_barrels_you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theo_2003939.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_barrels_you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theo_2003939.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_barrels_you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theo_2003939.png) > “You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically, and as empty as one spiritually.” [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing theological certainty with spiritual emptiness warns against hollow belief without inner depth. **In simple terms:** Faith without inner life is empty. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner spiritual depth. Themes faith spirituality balance Mood contemplative serious Type inspirational didactic When to use this quote - religious teaching - personal reflection Key Concepts theology inner emptiness Questions to Reflect On - How can one nurture inner spirituality while maintaining firm beliefs? - What practices prevent spiritual emptiness? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barrel Theologically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barrel-theologically-3541366/) [Barrels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barrels/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritually/) [Straight Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/straight-gun-2354342/) [Theologically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologically-294678/) [Theologically Spiritually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologically-spiritually-3541367/) ## Related quotes > [Your doctrine can be as straight as a gun barrel and just as empty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/your-doctrine-can-be-as-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-and-just-as-empty/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [The bland assumption that the Church's life will continue to be fruitful so long as we go on praying and cultivating our souls, irrespective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-blamires/the-bland-assumption-that-the-church-s-life-will-continue-to-be/) [Harry Blamires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-blamires/) > [“Mormonism is sui generis—that is to say, it offers its own unique set of questions and answers for the world that overlaps with but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-q-mason/mormonism-is-sui-generis-that-is-to-say-it-offers-its-own-unique-set/) [Patrick Q. Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-q-mason/) > [“... prayer does not have to be theologically correct. It is a conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-goldingay/prayer-does-not-have-to-be-theologically-correct-it-is-a-conversation/) [John Goldingay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-goldingay/) > [“Ironically, those with the least to say usually say the most and the most outwardly religious were often the most theologically unsophisticated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lister/ironically-those-with-the-least-to-say-usually-say-the-most-and-the/) [Michael Lister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lister/) > [I'm theologically in line with the Roman Catholic Church. I believe in the authority of the church, but I also have tremendous respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-m-theologically-in-line-with-the-roman-catholic-church-i-believe-in/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [“separation of church from mission is theologically indefensible. More”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/separation-of-church-from-mission-is-theologically-indefensible-more/) [Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/) > [“A theologically astute, immature Christian is like a 5-year-old flying an Apache helicopter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-theologically-astute-immature-christian-is-like-a-5-year-old-flying/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“When I say theologically mature, I mean just this: formed by the Bible, proudly Trinitarian, grounded in justification by grace through faith, dedicated to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fleming-rutledge/when-i-say-theologically-mature-i-mean-just-this-formed-by-the-bible/) [Fleming Rutledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fleming-rutledge/) > [The common moral praxis of Jews and Christians is most definitely theologically informed by the doctrine we share in common: The human person, male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-novak/the-common-moral-praxis-of-jews-and-christians-is-most-definitely/) [David Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-novak/) > [Its theologically irresponsible to put off the promises of God into a time when we have no responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/its-theologically-irresponsible-to-put-off-the-promises-of-god-into-a/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [We need leaders who can reflect theologically and help develop more robust thinking that understands how context affects our understanding of God, humankind, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-mcbain/we-need-leaders-who-can-reflect-theologically-and-help-develop-more/) [Ed McBain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-mcbain/) > [The great need is for us to be taught theologically, not just stirred emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/the-great-need-is-for-us-to-be-taught-theologically-not-just-stirred/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [“Are you able—theologically, personally, and resource-wise—to be harmoniously, sweetly, and deeply in love with Jesus together in marriage?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/are-you-able-theologically-personally-and-resource-wise-to-be/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-just-want-to-grow-spiritually-with-the-lord/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) ## More by Aiden Wilson Tozer > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The idea that this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-idea-that-this-world-is-a-playground-instead-of-a-battleground/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. 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And in the will of god there is nothing I fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/outside-of-the-will-of-god-there-is-nothing-i-want-and-in-the-will-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) [Explore all 720 Aiden Wilson Tozer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) ## More Barrels quotes > [It's good to find the barrel of the bat again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-utley/it-s-good-to-find-the-barrel-of-the-bat-again/) [Chase Utley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-utley/) > [The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-des-essarts/the-benevolence-of-wrapping-the-partridge-in-a-vine-leaf-brings-out/) [Emmanuel des Essarts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-des-essarts/) > [You could pay a fair market price for a barrel of oil and cut 50 cents a barrel or a dollar barrel off what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bolling/you-could-pay-a-fair-market-price-for-a-barrel-of-oil-and-cut-50/) [Eric Bolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bolling/) > [ \[Norden\] said, with the Mark 15 Norden bombsight, he could drop a bomb into a pickle barrel at 20,000 feet. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/norden-said-with-the-mark-15-norden-bombsight-he-could-drop-a-bomb/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [When the landscape buckles and jerks around, when a dust column of debris rises from the collapse of a block of buildings on bodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/when-the-landscape-buckles-and-jerks-around-when-a-dust-column-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The sudden release of five million barrels of oil, enormous quantities of methane and two million gallons of toxic dispersants into an already greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-sudden-release-of-five-million-barrels-of-oil-enormous-quantities/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [In addition, each barrel of oil we save through conservation further decreases our dangerous reliance on unstable Middle East oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/in-addition-each-barrel-of-oil-we-save-through-conservation-further/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [Muzzle control has to be a religion. You cannot point that weapon at one of your brothers-or yourself. Know where you barrel is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-couch/muzzle-control-has-to-be-a-religion-you-cannot-point-that-weapon-at/) [Dick Couch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-couch/) > [The defense budget is more than a piggy bank for people who want to get busy beating swords into pork barrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-defense-budget-is-more-than-a-piggy-bank-for-people-who-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Today's political leaders demonstrate their low opinion of the public with every social law they pass. They believe that, if given the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/today-s-political-leaders-demonstrate-their-low-opinion-of-the-public/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [Europe and North America, we are told, are less dependent on energy-intensive heavy industry than in the 1960s and 1970s. 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"I wish I could jog and sleep at the same time." "Can't you?" Ferrin asked, joining them at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/you-look-tired-rachel-told-jason-i-wish-i-could-jog-and-sleep-at-the/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) [Browse all 277 Barrels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barrels/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically, and as empty as one spiritually.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aiden Wilson Tozer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theologically-and-as-empty-as-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barrels" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theologically-and-as-empty-as-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_barrels_you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theo_2003939.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_barrels_you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theo_2003939.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/aiden-wilson-tozer-296_barrels_you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theo_2003939.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can be straight as a gun barrel theologically, and as empty as one spiritually.” — Aiden Wilson Tozer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aiden Wilson Tozer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can be straight as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theologically-and-as-empty-as-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/you-can-be-straight-as-a-gun-barrel-theologically-and-as-empty-as-one/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```