--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christ did not come to civilize. He came…" description: "\"Christ did not come to civilize. He came to save. Civilization is not the solution; it does not destroy the works of the devil. All civilization aims a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/arno-c-gaebelein-44682_aim_christ-did-not-come-to-civilize-he-came_1616552.jpg" --- # Christ did not come to civilize. He came to save… ![“Christ did not come to civilize. He came to save. Civilization is not the solution; it does not destroy the works of the devil. All civilization aims at world improvement, at the gradual elimination of the curse; it is a process of evolution. It is like a man who is suffering from a terrible…” quote by Arno C. Gaebelein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/arno-c-gaebelein-44682_aim_christ-did-not-come-to-civilize-he-came_1616552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/arno-c-gaebelein-44682_aim_christ-did-not-come-to-civilize-he-came_1616552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/arno-c-gaebelein-44682_aim_christ-did-not-come-to-civilize-he-came_1616552.jpg) > “Christ did not come to civilize. He came to save. Civilization is not the solution; it does not destroy the works of the devil. All civilization aims at world improvement, at the gradual elimination of the curse; it is a process of evolution. It is like a man who is suffering from a terrible disease, and the physician who comes to help him gives him a salve to apply. He treats the skin symptoms but the source of the disease he never considers and never touches. Such is a boasted and progressive civilization. It is a delusion.” [Arno C. Gaebelein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arno-c-gaebelein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilization focuses on external reforms while neglecting spiritual redemption, offering only temporary fixes to deeper moral decay. **In simple terms:** Civilization fixes surface problems, not spiritual ones. Key Takeaway Seek spiritual salvation over societal reforms. Themes spirituality civilization redemption illusion Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type philosophical theological social commentary When to use this quote - personal faith decisionschurch reform - social activism - public policy - education Key Concepts theology social critique human nature Questions to Reflect On - Is societal reform ever sufficient without spiritual change? - How can we balance material improvement with inner transformation? A Different Perspective Civilization can also inspire genuine moral progress when aligned with spiritual values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) [Delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusion/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Improvement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvement/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Physicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physicians/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [A lot is said, by foreigners and the left, about America being a violent society. 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Gaebelein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arno-c-gaebelein/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. 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With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. 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