--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was ordained as a pastor, I walked…" description: "\"When I was ordained as a pastor, I walked away from secular music for seven, eight years. It took me that time to learn that God is love.\" — Al Green" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7e/al-green-14955_god_when-i-was-ordained-as-a-pastor-i-walked_2565371.png" --- # When I was ordained as a pastor, I walked away from… ![“When I was ordained as a pastor, I walked away from secular music for seven, eight years. It took me that time to learn that God is love.” quote by Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7e/al-green-14955_god_when-i-was-ordained-as-a-pastor-i-walked_2565371.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7e/al-green-14955_god_when-i-was-ordained-as-a-pastor-i-walked_2565371.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7e/al-green-14955_god_when-i-was-ordained-as-a-pastor-i-walked_2565371.png) > “When I was ordained as a pastor, I walked away from secular music for seven, eight years. It took me that time to learn that God is love.” [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Through years away from secular music, he learned that the core of God is love. **In simple terms:** God is love, learned over time. Key Takeaway Seek love as the essence of faith. Themes faith love spiritual growth music Mood contemplative hopeful Type spiritual reflective When to use this quote - worship - personal transformation - community building - spiritual teaching Key Concepts theology personal journey Questions to Reflect On - How does love shape your spiritual practice? - What does “God is love” mean in daily life? A Different Perspective Understanding may vary across traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) [Secular music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular-music/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When I was in my early teens, I joined a cult. And we weren't allowed to listen to secular music or anything that wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-kills/when-i-was-in-my-early-teens-i-joined-a-cult-and-we-weren-t-allowed/) [Natalia Kills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-kills/) > [I grew up in a very strict household, where secular music was forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-bream/i-grew-up-in-a-very-strict-household-where-secular-music-was-forbidden/) [Shannon Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-bream/) > [I'm from a small town where everybody always has something to say - you shouldn't sing secular music, you shouldn't do this or do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/i-m-from-a-small-town-where-everybody-always-has-something-to-say-you/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [“There is no such thing as Christian rap and secular rap. Only people can become Christians. Music can't accept Jesus into its heart. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae-moore/there-is-no-such-thing-as-christian-rap-and-secular-rap-only-people/) [Lecrae Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae-moore/) > [You say, 'Well, I love secular music.' Let me just share something with you: I don't care. I'm not going to go there; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/you-say-well-i-love-secular-music-let-me-just-share-something-with/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [Secular music, do you say, belongs to the devil? Does it? Well, if it did I would plunder him for it, for he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/secular-music-do-you-say-belongs-to-the-devil-does-it-well-if-it-did/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [We weren't allowed to have secular music in the house growing up. I was home-schooled, and gospel was the only choice we had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/we-weren-t-allowed-to-have-secular-music-in-the-house-growing-up-i/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Music is either sacred or secular. The sacred agrees with its dignity, and here has its greatest effect on life, an effect that remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/music-is-either-sacred-or-secular-the-sacred-agrees-with-its-dignity/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [My musical influences growing up were limited to Korean folk songs and hymns as I went to a Christian boarding school where I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jihae/my-musical-influences-growing-up-were-limited-to-korean-folk-songs/) [Jihae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jihae/) > [Secular music was not allowed in our household.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brandt/secular-music-was-not-allowed-in-our-household/) [Paul Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brandt/) > [I wasn't allowed to listen to secular music when I was a kid, but there was a time when I was hanging out at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-wasn-t-allowed-to-listen-to-secular-music-when-i-was-a-kid-but/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [Mike Judge, who I've become friends with over the years never took himself seriously as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/mike-judge-who-i-ve-become-friends-with-over-the-years-never-took/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [It was a slow process. You gotta remember I hadn't recorded a song sober in seven years. So it took me awhile to even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/it-was-a-slow-process-you-gotta-remember-i-hadn-t-recorded-a-song/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [I had been off TV for seven-eight years, and I took up 'Khatron Ke Khiladi' on an impulse. I wanted to do something adventurous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranvir-shorey/i-had-been-off-tv-for-seven-eight-years-and-i-took-up-khatron-ke/) [Ranvir Shorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranvir-shorey/) > [ “By the age of twenty-five, \[Louis T. Wigfall\] had managed to squander his considerable inheritance, settle three affairs of honor on the dueling ground,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-goodheart/by-the-age-of-twenty-five-louis-t-wigfall-had-managed-to-squander-his/) Adam Goodheart ## More by Al Green > [Teach success before teaching responsibility. Teach them to believe in themselves. Teach them to think, 'I'm not stupid'. No child wants to fail. Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/teach-success-before-teaching-responsibility-teach-them-to-believe-in/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [This is a ministry that has been given to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/this-is-a-ministry-that-has-been-given-to-me/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [No child wants to fail. Everyone wants to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/no-child-wants-to-fail-everyone-wants-to-succeed/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [My dad didn't believe that I was going to make it through school, and that was the only thing I was determined to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/my-dad-didn-t-believe-that-i-was-going-to-make-it-through-school-and/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [I was knocking on people's doors. I knocked on a white couple's door, and I told them, I says, 'Excuse me, but I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/i-was-knocking-on-people-s-doors-i-knocked-on-a-white-couple-s-door/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [Take Me to the River.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/take-me-to-the-river/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [I figured that if we had to choose the woman president, she'd be the first woman president, and if we had the kid from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/i-figured-that-if-we-had-to-choose-the-woman-president-she-d-be-the/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [God told me, 'I gave you the music, Al. Sing the music I gave you - all the music.' So I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/god-told-me-i-gave-you-the-music-al-sing-the-music-i-gave-you-all-the/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [Before I knew it, I was singing, 'I'm so tired of being alone,' and that's Al right there. From then, my attitude was, 'Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/before-i-knew-it-i-was-singing-i-m-so-tired-of-being-alone-and-that-s/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [Theres a lot of churches that hide their dirty laundry under the rug, and I know about that from being in the church 27…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/theres-a-lot-of-churches-that-hide-their-dirty-laundry-under-the-rug/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [Why, why some people break up. Then turn around and make up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/why-why-some-people-break-up-then-turn-around-and-make-up/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [I want to thank Freddie Mac, Hibernia Bank, and Usher's New Look Foundation for their work to rebuild the lives of those who lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/i-want-to-thank-freddie-mac-hibernia-bank-and-usher-s-new-look/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [There's a lot of churches that hide their dirty laundry under the rug, and I know about that from being in the church 27…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/there-s-a-lot-of-churches-that-hide-their-dirty-laundry-under-the-rug/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [I started singing when I was a little kid. I was about nine when we had a group with my four brothers. We sang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/i-started-singing-when-i-was-a-little-kid-i-was-about-nine-when-we/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) > [I know why I wrote those songs. I was a fornicator, an adulterer. The celestial will not mix with the terrestrial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-green/i-know-why-i-wrote-those-songs-i-was-a-fornicator-an-adulterer-the/) [Al Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) [Explore all 44 Al Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-green/) ## More God quotes > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/) [Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/) > [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) [Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was ordained as a pastor, I walked away from secular music for seven, eight years. 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