--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Too often in its history the church…" description: "\"“Too often in its history the church confused Christ and Caesar. Jesus became a tool of violence and oppression: the cross became a symbol of conquest,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/bruce-g-epperly-69053_history_too-often-in-its-history-the-church-conf_1914321.jpg" --- # Too often in its history the church confused Christ and… ![“Too often in its history the church confused Christ and Caesar. Jesus became a tool of violence and oppression: the cross became a symbol of conquest, exclusion, and judgment, rather than companionship and healing.” quote by Bruce G. Epperly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/bruce-g-epperly-69053_history_too-often-in-its-history-the-church-conf_1914321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/bruce-g-epperly-69053_history_too-often-in-its-history-the-church-conf_1914321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/734/bruce-g-epperly-69053_history_too-often-in-its-history-the-church-conf_1914321.jpg) > ““Too often in its history the church confused Christ and Caesar. Jesus became a tool of violence and oppression: the cross became a symbol of conquest, exclusion, and judgment, rather than companionship and healing.”” [Bruce G. Epperly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-g-epperly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religious institutions sometimes merge spiritual teachings with political authority, turning faith into a tool for domination rather than compassion. **In simple terms:** Church can become oppressive when mixed with power. Key Takeaway Separate spiritual guidance from political ambition. Themes religion politics authority Mood critical hopeful Type theological social commentary When to use this quote - political rallies - church sermons - social movements - human rights debates Key Concepts power violence compassion Questions to Reflect On - What role should religion play in public life? - How can communities resist oppressive religious narratives? A Different Perspective Faith can be reclaimed through inclusive, compassionate practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caesar Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caesar-jesus-560963/) [Christ Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-caesar-1417418/) [Confused Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confused-christ-2902432/) [Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Oppression Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression-cross-2902431/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Oh Ireland my first and only love Where Christ and Caesar are hand in glove!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/oh-ireland-my-first-and-only-love-where-christ-and-caesar-are-hand-in/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [“Father, I serve the Messiah, the Christ. Not any Caesar. His kingdom is not of this world, and no man need fight for it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holdsworth/father-i-serve-the-messiah-the-christ-not-any-caesar-his-kingdom-is/) [David Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holdsworth/) > [“If you are to shape your world in following Christ, you are called, prayerfully, to discern where in your discipline the human project is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/if-you-are-to-shape-your-world-in-following-christ-you-are-called/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/tell-us-therefore-what-thinkest-thou-is-it-lawful-to-give-tribute/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“The kingdom is finally to be identified as the Lord Jesus himself. When we say “Come, Lord Jesus” on this Christmas Day, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-kingdom-is-finally-to-be-identified-as-the-lord-jesus-himself/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [The Son of God goes forth to war,A kingly crown to gain;His blood red banner streams afar:Who follows in His train?Who best can drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-heber/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war-a-kingly-crown-to-gain-his-blood-red/) [Reginald Heber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-heber/) > [There is a very thin line dividing characterisation from impersonation. I've to make sure I don't cross over into mimicry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushant-singh-rajput/there-is-a-very-thin-line-dividing-characterisation-from/) [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushant-singh-rajput/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“My religious convictions and scientific views cannot at present be more specifically defined than as those of a believer in creative evolution. I desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/my-religious-convictions-and-scientific-views-cannot-at-present-be/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“You can always count on the promise of forever that He made when He died on that cross and rose again three days later.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-s/you-can-always-count-on-the-promise-of-forever-that-he-made-when-he/) [Naya S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-s/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [In the Christianity of Christendom the Cross has become something like the child’s hobby-horse and trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-christianity-of-christendom-the-cross-has-become-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do enjoy intense, bloodthirsty action, but I like to blend and cross genres. I don't want to be too predictable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-do-enjoy-intense-bloodthirsty-action-but-i-like-to-blend-and-cross/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) ## More by Bruce G. Epperly > [“God does not determine everything, but presents a vision of beauty and the energy to achieve it for every moment of experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-g-epperly/god-does-not-determine-everything-but-presents-a-vision-of-beauty-and/) [Bruce G. Epperly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-g-epperly/) > [“Following Jesus doesn’t mean believing outdated creeds or literal understandings of scripture or turning my back on science. I respect my childhood church. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-g-epperly/following-jesus-doesn-t-mean-believing-outdated-creeds-or-literal/) [Bruce G. Epperly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-g-epperly/) > [“A living bible is always open-ended, subject to interpretation, and inspirational in new and creative ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-g-epperly/a-living-bible-is-always-open-ended-subject-to-interpretation-and/) [Bruce G. Epperly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-g-epperly/) [Explore all 4 Bruce G. Epperly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-g-epperly/) ## More Cross quotes > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [I do enjoy intense, bloodthirsty action, but I like to blend and cross genres. I don't want to be too predictable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-do-enjoy-intense-bloodthirsty-action-but-i-like-to-blend-and-cross/) [Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/) > [In the Christianity of Christendom the Cross has become something like the child’s hobby-horse and trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-christianity-of-christendom-the-cross-has-become-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know it's a film and all of that, and it's a Hollywood film, but it kind of feels like this sometimes, when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marber/i-know-it-s-a-film-and-all-of-that-and-it-s-a-hollywood-film-but-it/) [Patrick Marber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marber/) > [“You can always count on the promise of forever that He made when He died on that cross and rose again three days later.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-s/you-can-always-count-on-the-promise-of-forever-that-he-made-when-he/) [Naya S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-s/) > [“My religious convictions and scientific views cannot at present be more specifically defined than as those of a believer in creative evolution. I desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/my-religious-convictions-and-scientific-views-cannot-at-present-be/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [There is a very thin line dividing characterisation from impersonation. I've to make sure I don't cross over into mimicry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushant-singh-rajput/there-is-a-very-thin-line-dividing-characterisation-from/) [Sushant Singh Rajput](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushant-singh-rajput/) > [The Son of God goes forth to war,A kingly crown to gain;His blood red banner streams afar:Who follows in His train?Who best can drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-heber/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war-a-kingly-crown-to-gain-his-blood-red/) [Reginald Heber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-heber/) > [Sin is the second most powerful force in the universe, for it sent Jesus to the cross. Only one force is greater-the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/sin-is-the-second-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-for-it-sent/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“God has chosen to save the world through the cross, through the shameful and powerless death of the crucified Messiah. If that shocking event…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hays/god-has-chosen-to-save-the-world-through-the-cross-through-the/) [Richard Hays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hays/) > [God makes me play well. That is why I always make the sign of a cross when I walk out on to the pitch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-maradona/god-makes-me-play-well-that-is-why-i-always-make-the-sign-of-a-cross/) [Diego Maradona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-maradona/) > [Do you love the cross because it makes much of you? Or do you love it because it enables you to enjoy and eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-love-the-cross-because-it-makes-much-of-you-or-do-you-love-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The point of trying to understand the cross better is not so that we can congratulate ourselves for having solved an intellectual crossword puzzle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-point-of-trying-to-understand-the-cross-better-is-not-so-that-we/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) [Browse all 986 Cross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Too often in its history the church confused Christ and Caesar. Jesus became a tool of violence and oppression: the cross became a symbol of conquest, exclusion, and judgment, rather than companionship and healing.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bruce G. 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