--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us be bold enough to ask ourselves as…" description: "\"Let us be bold enough to ask ourselves as Christians whether the Church of the Lord Jesus in the United States has anything to say to our nation and it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/brennan-manning-959_asks_let-us-be-bold-enough-to-ask-ourselves-a_1296846.jpg" --- # Let us be bold enough to ask ourselves as Christians… ![“Let us be bold enough to ask ourselves as Christians whether the Church of the Lord Jesus in the United States has anything to say to our nation and its ideologies of materialism, possessiveness, and the worship of financial security. Are we courageous enough to be a sign of contradiction to…” quote by Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/brennan-manning-959_asks_let-us-be-bold-enough-to-ask-ourselves-a_1296846.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/brennan-manning-959_asks_let-us-be-bold-enough-to-ask-ourselves-a_1296846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/316/brennan-manning-959_asks_let-us-be-bold-enough-to-ask-ourselves-a_1296846.jpg) > “Let us be bold enough to ask ourselves as Christians whether the Church of the Lord Jesus in the United States has anything to say to our nation and its ideologies of materialism, possessiveness, and the worship of financial security. Are we courageous enough to be a sign of contradiction to consumerism through our living faith in Jesus Christ? Are we committed enough to his gospel to become a countercurrent to the drift?” [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christians are called to challenge materialistic values, offering a faith‑based alternative to consumer culture. **In simple terms:** Faith opposes materialism. Key Takeaway Live faith that resists consumerism. Themes faith materialism social critique courage Mood reflective determined Type inspirational ethical When to use this quote - church outreach - public policy discussions - personal budgeting - community service Key Concepts theology ethics cultural critique Questions to Reflect On - What materialistic habit could you replace with a spiritual practice? - How can your community model a counter‑consumerist lifestyle? A Different Perspective Balancing spiritual convictions with societal pressures can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Courageous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courageous/) [Faith in jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-in-jesus/) [Financial security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial-security/) [Ideology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideology/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Lord jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-jesus/) [Materialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialism/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Overconsumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overconsumption/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [“To be mature is, we're told, to move beyond possessiveness. Jealousy is for babies. The mature person knows that no one owns anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/to-be-mature-is-we-re-told-to-move-beyond-possessiveness-jealousy-is/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“He broke away from my mouth and trailed his lips down the front of my throat. I felt his lips close around my scars.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-christo/he-broke-away-from-my-mouth-and-trailed-his-lips-down-the-front-of-my/) [Rose Christo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-christo/) > [“Deuce take it, he was in over his head. But it didn’t matter. He’d ruined her, and marriage was the only way to fix…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-jeffries/deuce-take-it-he-was-in-over-his-head-but-it-didn-t-matter-he-d/) [Sabrina Jeffries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-jeffries/) > [And he understands. He understands why people hold hands: he’d always thought it was about possessiveness, saying This is mine. But it’s about maintaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-he-understands-he-understands-why-people-hold-hands-he-d-always/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [A lil possessiveness is must in any relationships!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetybharadwaj/a-lil-possessiveness-is-must-in-any-relationships/) Sweetybharadwaj > [“You’re just going to have your fiancé as your chaperone, and he isn’t allowed to touch. And you, Mrs. Gavarreen will remain untouchable, until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-delagair/you-re-just-going-to-have-your-fianc-as-your-chaperone-and-he-isn-t/) [Lindsay Delagair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-delagair/) > [“He wanted to make her scream with delight, to cry his name as she orgasmed until she couldn’t remember the last time another man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-probst/he-wanted-to-make-her-scream-with-delight-to-cry-his-name-as-she/) [Jennifer Probst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-probst/) > [They were so much alike and they become best friends. It was a wonderful relationship. They respected each other, and they never put each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/they-were-so-much-alike-and-they-become-best-friends-it-was-a/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [Attachment is the root cause of all misery. Possessiveness is nourishment for the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/attachment-is-the-root-cause-of-all-misery-possessiveness-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Care and responsibility are constituent elements of love, but without respect for and knowledge of the beloved person, love deteriorates into domination and possessiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/care-and-responsibility-are-constituent-elements-of-love-but-without/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [See, if there is zero possessiveness in a relationship, then one needs to put a reality check to see if things are really going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/see-if-there-is-zero-possessiveness-in-a-relationship-then-one-needs/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [“She might protest that we were just friends, but I was starting to think she liked my show of possessiveness. I’d try to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-frederick/she-might-protest-that-we-were-just-friends-but-i-was-starting-to/) [Jen Frederick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-frederick/) > [“Too bad,Elizabeth. You're Stuck with me.Not for a few decades,not for centuries. You're tied to me forever. That boy and girl offspring you talked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/too-bad-elizabeth-you-re-stuck-with-me-not-for-a-few-decades-not-for/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“It surprised him how badly he wanted her to stay. It was that male possessiveness again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisey-yates/it-surprised-him-how-badly-he-wanted-her-to-stay-it-was-that-male/) [Maisey Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisey-yates/) > [“I love you. You’re mine. I’ll kill any bastard who tries to take you from me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/i-love-you-you-re-mine-i-ll-kill-any-bastard-who-tries-to-take-you/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) ## More by Brennan Manning > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Trust is our gift back to God, and he finds it so enchanting that Jesus died for love of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/trust-is-our-gift-back-to-god-and-he-finds-it-so-enchanting-that/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Genuine self-acceptance is not derived from the power of positive thinking, mind games or pop psychology. IT IS AN ACT OF FAITH in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/genuine-self-acceptance-is-not-derived-from-the-power-of-positive/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [That which is denied cannot be healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/that-which-is-denied-cannot-be-healed/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“It is not objective proof of God’s existence that we want but the experience of God’s presence. That is the miracle we are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/it-is-not-objective-proof-of-god-s-existence-that-we-want-but-the/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“He who is alone with his sins is utterly alone. It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/he-who-is-alone-with-his-sins-is-utterly-alone-it-may-be-that/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [God not only loves me as I am, but also knows me as I am. Because of this I don't need to apply spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/god-not-only-loves-me-as-i-am-but-also-knows-me-as-i-am-because-of/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Grace abounds in contemporary movies, books, novels, films and music. If God is not in the whirlwind, He may be in a Woody Allen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/grace-abounds-in-contemporary-movies-books-novels-films-and-music-if/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/my-trust-in-god-flows-out-of-the-experience-of-his-loving-me-day-in/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [I you think you've done it, then you're wrong. Because you're not finished until you have achieved everything that you never thought you could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/i-you-think-you-ve-done-it-then-you-re-wrong-because-you-re-not/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [May all your expectations be frustrated, may all your plans be thwarted, may all your desires be withered into nothingness, that you may experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/may-all-your-expectations-be-frustrated-may-all-your-plans-be/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Our identity rests in God's relentless tenderness for us revealed in Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/our-identity-rests-in-god-s-relentless-tenderness-for-us-revealed-in/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“When I get honest I admit that I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and I get discouraged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/when-i-get-honest-i-admit-that-i-am-a-bundle-of-paradoxes-i-believe/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“At Sunday worship, as in every dimension of our existence, many of us pretend to believe we are sinners. Consequently, all we can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/at-sunday-worship-as-in-every-dimension-of-our-existence-many-of-us/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“You tell others about Me - that I am a loving God. Your words are glib. My words are written in the blood of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/you-tell-others-about-me-that-i-am-a-loving-god-your-words-are-glib/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) [Explore all 320 Brennan Manning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us be bold enough to ask ourselves as Christians whether the Church of the Lord Jesus in the United States has anything to say to our nation and its ideologies of materialism, possessiveness, and the worship of financial security. 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