--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But lost in that sea of (valid) criticism…" description: "\"“But lost in that sea of (valid) criticism is the perhaps subtler critique that in an age of consumerism, economic imperialism and what Martin Luther K..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/c-christopher-smith-40090_criticism_but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism_3006352.jpg" --- # But lost in that sea of (valid) criticism is the perhaps… ![“But lost in that sea of (valid) criticism is the perhaps subtler critique that in an age of consumerism, economic imperialism and what Martin Luther King Jr. called “jumboism,” the sacrificial way of Jesus may be calling us to forsake the supersized life.” quote by C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/c-christopher-smith-40090_criticism_but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism_3006352.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/c-christopher-smith-40090_criticism_but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism_3006352.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/c-christopher-smith-40090_criticism_but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism_3006352.jpg) > ““But lost in that sea of (valid) criticism is the perhaps subtler critique that in an age of consumerism, economic imperialism and what Martin Luther King Jr. called “jumboism,” the sacrificial way of Jesus may be calling us to forsake the supersized life.”” [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern consumerism distracts from spiritual sacrifice; Jesus calls us to reject excess. **In simple terms:** Consumerism distracts; Jesus urges simplicity. Key Takeaway Choose modesty over material excess. Themes consumerism spirituality minimalism social critique Mood critical thought‑provoking Type theological social When to use this quote - church sermons - eco‑activism - personal budgeting - academic courses Key Concepts theology economics cultural studies Questions to Reflect On - How does consumer culture shape your values? - What sacrifices could you make today? A Different Perspective Economic pressures may resist simplicity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Valid criticism is something that we are open for, and we take it in the spirit in which it is given and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urjit-patel/valid-criticism-is-something-that-we-are-open-for-and-we-take-it-in/) [Urjit Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urjit-patel/) > [Valid criticism does you a favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/valid-criticism-does-you-a-favor/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Long ago, I made up my mind that when things were said involving only me, I would pay no attention to them, except when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/long-ago-i-made-up-my-mind-that-when-things-were-said-involving-only/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [ \[N\]o scientist likes to be criticized. ... But you don't reply to critics: "Wait a minute, wait a minute; this is a really good… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/n-o-scientist-likes-to-be-criticized-but-you-don-t-reply-to-critics/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/without-the-spirit-of-god-we-can-do-nothing-we-are-as-ships-without/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“The difference between a ‘man’ and a ‘father’ is that the former shares his genes, but latter gives his life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-difference-between-a-man-and-a-father-is-that-the-former-shares/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Sacrifice” and “self” both begin with the same letter, but the spelling is way different after that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/sacrifice-and-self-both-begin-with-the-same-letter-but-the-spelling/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“The sacrificial death of the Son wasn’t an accident, it was an appointment (Acts 2:23; 4:27–28), for He was “slain from the foundation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-sacrificial-death-of-the-son-wasn-t-an-accident-it-was-an/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Perform your actions without desires, without attachment and without seeking the fruit of your actions, as a sacrificial offering to God, accepting Him as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/perform-your-actions-without-desires-without-attachment-and-without/) Senoraroy > [“Some might say that abundance is not what you hold in your hand, but what you have in your heart. And I would say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/some-might-say-that-abundance-is-not-what-you-hold-in-your-hand-but/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“There is no way to make a human being accept the role of a sacrificial animal except by destroying his self-esteem. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/there-is-no-way-to-make-a-human-being-accept-the-role-of-a/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“Every hunchback has his gypsy, each phantom his diva, and flames of passion consume witches and martyrs alike. For any lonely monster, tradition demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dunbar/every-hunchback-has-his-gypsy-each-phantom-his-diva-and-flames-of/) [Robert Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dunbar/) > [“In conclusion, the death of Christ was not about God the Father needing to vent His rage and fury upon a sacrificial victim in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-turner/in-conclusion-the-death-of-christ-was-not-about-god-the-father/) [Jeff Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-turner/) > [Everywhere I've turned somebody has wanted to sacrifice me for my own good—only /they/ were the ones who benefited. And now we start on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/everywhere-i-ve-turned-somebody-has-wanted-to-sacrifice-me-for-my-own/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/pray-to-christ-for-me-that-the-animals-will-be-the-means-of-making-me/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) ## More by C. Christopher Smith > [“In addition to the transience of their members, churches themselves face a crisis of hypermobility. Many churches have put down only shallow roots in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/in-addition-to-the-transience-of-their-members-churches-themselves/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [“As someone once said, we’re in the world but not of the world, so we can be for the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/as-someone-once-said-we-re-in-the-world-but-not-of-the-world-so-we/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [“the fuller story of the New Testament is that God’s people have been resurrected as the body of Christ. Just as Jesus is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/the-fuller-story-of-the-new-testament-is-that-god-s-people-have-been/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [ “We are impatient, anxious to see the whole picture, but God lets us see things slowly, quietly. The Church \[has\] to learn how to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/we-are-impatient-anxious-to-see-the-whole-picture-but-god-lets-us-see/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [“You can’t franchise the kingdom of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/you-can-t-franchise-the-kingdom-of-god/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [“To live within limits. To want one thing. Or a few things very much and love them dearly.Cling to them, survey them from every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/to-live-within-limits-to-want-one-thing-or-a-few-things-very-much-and-2/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [“Open-handed generosity and caring for the poor and marginalized as if we were caring for Jesus himself are extensions of our worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/open-handed-generosity-and-caring-for-the-poor-and-marginalized-as-if/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [“In Western culture, we are also profoundly shaped by the ethics of individualism. We learn early on to follow our own stories wherever they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/in-western-culture-we-are-also-profoundly-shaped-by-the-ethics-of/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [“We can start work we won’t see the end of. “Plant sequoias,” urges Wendell Berry:      Put your faith in the two inches of humus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/we-can-start-work-we-won-t-see-the-end-of-plant-sequoias-urges/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) > [ “\[Our minds\] were given to us for another purpose: to raise to awareness the communal reality of nature, to overcome separateness and alienation by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/our-minds-were-given-to-us-for-another-purpose-to-raise-to-awareness/) [C. Christopher Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) [Explore all 11 C. Christopher Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/) ## More Criticism quotes > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [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'm more comfortable modelling as a man because I don't get any criticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/i-m-more-comfortable-modelling-as-a-man-because-i-don-t-get-any/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [I don't mind positive criticism, but when it is negative and personal, it is quite hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inzamam-ul-haq/i-don-t-mind-positive-criticism-but-when-it-is-negative-and-personal/) [Inzamam-ul-Haq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inzamam-ul-haq/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Everything is allowable in literature, but what is not allowable in criticism is objection on the grounds of probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/everything-is-allowable-in-literature-but-what-is-not-allowable-in/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Lots of relationships fail because we spend more time pointing out each other's mistakes and not enough time enjoying each other's company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lots-of-relationships-fail-because-we-spend-more-time-pointing-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People believe that criticism should be objective, whatever that means, but I really don't understand what people mean by that. I guess if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-christgau/people-believe-that-criticism-should-be-objective-whatever-that-means/) [Robert Christgau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-christgau/) > [I welcome criticism. I come from a - I wouldn't say mean, but you've got to have tough skin to be in my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-welcome-criticism-i-come-from-a-i-wouldn-t-say-mean-but-you-ve-got/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [The good author is he who contemplates without marked joy or excessive sorrow the adventures of his soul amongst criticisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/the-good-author-is-he-who-contemplates-without-marked-joy-or/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) [Browse all 3,954 Criticism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But lost in that sea of (valid) criticism is the perhaps subtler critique that in an age of consumerism, economic imperialism and what Martin Luther King Jr. called “jumboism,” the sacrificial way of Jesus may be calling us to forsake the supersized life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. Christopher Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism-is-the-perhaps-subtler/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Criticism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism-is-the-perhaps-subtler/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/c-christopher-smith-40090_criticism_but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism_3006352.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/c-christopher-smith-40090_criticism_but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism_3006352.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/560/c-christopher-smith-40090_criticism_but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism_3006352.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But lost in that sea of (valid) criticism is the perhaps subtler critique that in an age of consumerism…” — C. Christopher Smith", "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": "C. Christopher Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-christopher-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But lost in that sea of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism-is-the-perhaps-subtler/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-christopher-smith/but-lost-in-that-sea-of-valid-criticism-is-the-perhaps-subtler/#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 } } ] } ```