---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the standard churchy spirituality…"
description: "\"But the standard churchy spirituality doesn't require any real action, courage, or sacrifice from its attendees.\" — Alan Hirsch"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/alan-hirsch-8667_action_but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-do_1630143.png"
---

#  But the standard churchy spirituality doesn't require any…

![“But the standard churchy spirituality doesn't require any real action, courage, or sacrifice from its attendees.” quote by Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/alan-hirsch-8667_action_but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-do_1630143.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/alan-hirsch-8667_action_but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-do_1630143.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/alan-hirsch-8667_action_but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-do_1630143.png)

> “But the standard churchy spirituality doesn't require any real action, courage, or sacrifice from its attendees.”

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Spirituality without action lacks substance, requiring courage and sacrifice from believers.

**In simple terms:** Faith needs action.

Key Takeaway

Act on beliefs.

Themes

faith action courage

Mood

challenging inspirational

Type

theological motivational

When to use this quote

- volunteering
- social activism
- personal discipline

Key Concepts

spiritual practice commitment community service

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you integrate belief with action?
- What sacrifices align with your values?

A Different Perspective

Not all spiritual paths emphasize outward deeds.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Churchy Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/churchy-spirituality-474981/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Sacrifice Attendees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice-attendees-474983/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Spirituality Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality-doesn-396993/) [Standard Churchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standard-churchy-474982/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/)

## Related quotes

> [Spirituality doesn't look like sitting down and meditating. Spirituality looks like folding the towels in a sweet way and talking kindly to the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/spirituality-doesn-t-look-like-sitting-down-and-meditating-3/)

[Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/)

> [“Spirituality doesn’t look like sitting down and meditating. Spirituality looks like folding the towels in a sweet way and talking kindly to the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-tippett/spirituality-doesn-t-look-like-sitting-down-and-meditating-2/)

[Krista Tippett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-tippett/)

> [I think spirituality is a part of everything. It doesn't need to be separated out from everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/i-think-spirituality-is-a-part-of-everything-it-doesn-t-need-to-be/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [Spirituality doesn’t exist on another level different from ordinary life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/spirituality-doesn-t-exist-on-another-level-different-from-ordinary/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [Religion comes with several diktats but spirituality doesn't have any rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-bedi/religion-comes-with-several-diktats-but-spirituality-doesn-t-have-any/)

[Pooja Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-bedi/)

> [“Spirituality doesn’t look like sitting down and meditating. Spirituality looks like folding the towels in a sweet way and talking kindly to the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-tippett/spirituality-doesn-t-look-like-sitting-down-and-meditating/)

[Krista Tippett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-tippett/)

> [When we consider the weak and nerveless periods of some literary men, who perchance in feet and inches come up to the standard oftheir…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-we-consider-the-weak-and-nerveless-periods-of-some-literary-men/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The First Amendment is not an altar on which we must sacrifice our children, families, and community standards. Obscene material that is not protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/the-first-amendment-is-not-an-altar-on-which-we-must-sacrifice-our/)

[Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/)

> [There still remains one effort of magnanimity, one sacrifice of prejudice and passion, to be made by the individuals throughout the nation who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/there-still-remains-one-effort-of-magnanimity-one-sacrifice-of/)

[John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/)

> [Boys say they don't mind how you get your hair done. But then they leave you for someone with really great standard girl hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-chung/boys-say-they-don-t-mind-how-you-get-your-hair-done-but-then-they/)

[Alexa Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-chung/)

> [In nine months, a group of children left alone with a computer in any language will reach the same standard as an office secretary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/in-nine-months-a-group-of-children-left-alone-with-a-computer-in-any/)

[Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/)

> [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [America today is a confused society, caught up in a terror war, a culture war, and a media war, where honesty and professional standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/america-today-is-a-confused-society-caught-up-in-a-terror-war-a/)

[Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/)

> [We can't win the struggle for high standards if we just talk a good game . . . we've got to play a good game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/we-can-t-win-the-struggle-for-high-standards-if-we-just-talk-a-good/)

[Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/)

> [“Standards are just the most accepted ways of doing things. They're usually unquestioned, not challenged, not the most efficient, and not the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-otton/standards-are-just-the-most-accepted-ways-of-doing-things-they-re/)

[Rick Otton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-otton/)

## More by Alan Hirsch

> [If we are going to make the change from community to communitas, and not just end up with an unsustainable adrenaline-junkie culture, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/if-we-are-going-to-make-the-change-from-community-to-communitas-and/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [Because we believe that somewhere in the nest of paradigms contained in the phrase "missional church" lies nothing less that the future viability of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/because-we-believe-that-somewhere-in-the-nest-of-paradigms-contained/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [A retreatist spirituality is not a spirituality that can, or will, transform the world in Jesus's name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/a-retreatist-spirituality-is-not-a-spirituality-that-can-or-will/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [Go among the people. Don't assume you know what church looks like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/go-among-the-people-don-t-assume-you-know-what-church-looks-like/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [“I have come to believe that the major threat to the viability of our faith is that of consumerism. This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/i-have-come-to-believe-that-the-major-threat-to-the-viability-of-our/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [Christianity is an adventure of the spirit or it is not Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/christianity-is-an-adventure-of-the-spirit-or-it-is-not-christianity/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [The fact is that if Jesus's future kingdom is secure, those who trust in its coming will enact it now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/the-fact-is-that-if-jesus-s-future-kingdom-is-secure-those-who-trust/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [Those of us with too much invested in the way things are will never embrace the revolutionary cause required for wholesale change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/those-of-us-with-too-much-invested-in-the-way-things-are-will-never/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [“All apostolic ministry in some sense involves this return to the founding message as well as purpose. The missional task that follows is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/all-apostolic-ministry-in-some-sense-involves-this-return-to-the/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [Every Christian is a sent one. There is no such thing as an unsent Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/every-christian-is-a-sent-one-there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-unsent/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [Heroes are important not only because they symbolize what we believe to be important, but because they also convey universal truths about personal self-discovery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/heroes-are-important-not-only-because-they-symbolize-what-we-believe/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [There's no such thing as an unsent Christian. You have already been SENT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/there-s-no-such-thing-as-an-unsent-christian-you-have-already-been/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [It's not so much that the church has a mission, it's that the mission of God has a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/it-s-not-so-much-that-the-church-has-a-mission-it-s-that-the-mission/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [Being the church that Jesus intended means that we must participate in God’s eternal purposes for his world. Renewal means more than reinventing ourselves;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/being-the-church-that-jesus-intended-means-that-we-must-participate/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

> [“How did we ever get to believe that faithfulness involved simply retaining past forms and thinking? With the Creator God as our Father, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/how-did-we-ever-get-to-believe-that-faithfulness-involved-simply/)

[Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

[Explore all 79 Alan Hirsch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "But the standard churchy spirituality doesn't require any real action, courage, or sacrifice from its attendees.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alan Hirsch"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-doesn-t-require-any-real-action/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-doesn-t-require-any-real-action/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/alan-hirsch-8667_action_but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-do_1630143.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/alan-hirsch-8667_action_but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-do_1630143.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c1/alan-hirsch-8667_action_but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-do_1630143.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But the standard churchy spirituality doesn't require any real action, courage, or sacrifice from its…” — Alan Hirsch",
                "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": "Alan Hirsch",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "But the standard churchy spirituality doesn't...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-doesn-t-require-any-real-action/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/but-the-standard-churchy-spirituality-doesn-t-require-any-real-action/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
