--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem is not that the churches are…" description: "\"The problem is not that the churches are filled with empty pews, but that the pews are filled with empty people.\" — Charlie W Shedd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/charlie-w-shedd-64834_church_the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are_1994723.jpg" --- # The problem is not that the churches are filled with empty… ![“The problem is not that the churches are filled with empty pews, but that the pews are filled with empty people.” quote by Charlie W Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/charlie-w-shedd-64834_church_the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are_1994723.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/charlie-w-shedd-64834_church_the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are_1994723.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/charlie-w-shedd-64834_church_the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are_1994723.jpg) > “The problem is not that the churches are filled with empty pews, but that the pews are filled with empty people.” [Charlie W Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-w-shedd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Empty worshippers fill churches, not empty seats. **In simple terms:** People, not places, lack substance. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner depth, not external appearance. Themes spirituality authenticity community Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - church attendance - social gatherings - online communities Key Concepts sociology psychology faith Questions to Reflect On - What inner qualities are you neglecting? - How can you foster genuine connection? A Different Perspective Empty spaces can also inspire reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Churches Filled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/churches-filled-2531989/) [Emptiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emptiness/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Filled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filled/) [Filled Pews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filled-pews-3478136/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pews-1720502/) [Pews Filled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pews-filled-1720498/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem Churches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-churches-898400/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“As North American pastors face pews filled with citizens of a postmodern, post-Christendom culture,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-north-american-pastors-face-pews-filled-with-citizens-of-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Most churches are filled with people who love Jesus and are involved in every way that they feel capable. In reality, they are waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-helm/most-churches-are-filled-with-people-who-love-jesus-and-are-involved/) [David R. Helm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-r-helm/) > [The problem with our churches today is that the lead pastor is some sissy boy who wears cardigan sweaters, has The Carpenters dialed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-problem-with-our-churches-today-is-that-the-lead-pastor-is-some/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“The problem with churches of all sorts,” he continued, “is that so often they ignore the key teachings of the Sermon on the Mount,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holdsworth/the-problem-with-churches-of-all-sorts-he-continued-is-that-so-often/) [David Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holdsworth/) > [But how odd that in this heathen nation of empty pews, where churches' bare, ruined choirs are converted into luxury loft living, a Labour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-toynbee/but-how-odd-that-in-this-heathen-nation-of-empty-pews-where-churches/) [Polly Toynbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-toynbee/) > [Oh, Well imagine, As I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor and I can't help but to hear, No, I can't help but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/panic-at-the-disco/oh-well-imagine-as-i-m-pacing-the-pews-in-a-church-corridor-and-i-can-2/) [Panic At The Disco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/panic-at-the-disco/) > [Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited, until you try to sit in their pews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-are-kind-polite-and-sweet-spirited-until-you-try-to-sit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“(Pastor Chuck) Smith told his elders in no uncertain terms that if the church had to turn away young people because of bare feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-eskridge/pastor-chuck-smith-told-his-elders-in-no-uncertain-terms-that-if-the/) [Larry Eskridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-eskridge/) > [So many kids are still sitting in pews being told they are not worthy of God's love. 'Sissies' will show them they are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/so-many-kids-are-still-sitting-in-pews-being-told-they-are-not-worthy/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [When I was growing up, I grew up in church--my father was a pastor--so when I was growing up in Trinidad, I'd close all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-headley/when-i-was-growing-up-i-grew-up-in-church-my-father-was-a-pastor-so/) [Heather Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-headley/) > [“The Catholic Church made a serious mistake when they started caring about how many people are in the pews.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/the-catholic-church-made-a-serious-mistake-when-they-started-caring/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [Y'know, if those pews reclined, and the priests gave the Raiders scores I'd go to church every Sunday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/y-know-if-those-pews-reclined-and-the-priests-gave-the-raiders-scores/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [When will we realize that one of the greatest mission fields in the West is the pews of our churches every Sunday morning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/when-will-we-realize-that-one-of-the-greatest-mission-fields-in-the/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [We have the means of evangelizing our country, but they are slumbering in the pews of our churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/we-have-the-means-of-evangelizing-our-country-but-they-are-slumbering/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Tell the truth about your wound, and then you will get a truthful picture of the remedy to apply to it. Don't pack whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/tell-the-truth-about-your-wound-and-then-you-will-get-a-truthful/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) ## More by Charlie W Shedd > [Patience is a particular requirement. Without it, you can destroy in an hour what it might take you weeks to repair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-w-shedd/patience-is-a-particular-requirement-without-it-you-can-destroy-in-an/) [Charlie W Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-w-shedd/) > [Some of the world's best educators are grandparents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-w-shedd/some-of-the-world-s-best-educators-are-grandparents/) [Charlie W Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-w-shedd/) > [Seek a happy marriage with wholeness of heart, but do not expect to reach the Promised Land without going through some wilderness together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-w-shedd/seek-a-happy-marriage-with-wholeness-of-heart-but-do-not-expect-to/) [Charlie W Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-w-shedd/) > [What is an angel? The two words that come closest to a true biblical answer are "manifestation" and "servant".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-w-shedd/what-is-an-angel-the-two-words-that-come-closest-to-a-true-biblical/) [Charlie W Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-w-shedd/) [Explore all 5 Charlie W Shedd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-w-shedd/) ## More Church quotes > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. 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It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [The minute you walk outside of your church on Sunday you're in mission territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-minute-you-walk-outside-of-your-church-on-sunday-you-re-in/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) [Browse all 9,430 Church quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem is not that the churches are filled with empty pews, but that the pews are filled with empty people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charlie W Shedd" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-w-shedd/the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are-filled-with-empty-pews-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Church" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-w-shedd/the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are-filled-with-empty-pews-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/charlie-w-shedd-64834_church_the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are_1994723.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/charlie-w-shedd-64834_church_the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are_1994723.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ad/charlie-w-shedd-64834_church_the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are_1994723.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The problem is not that the churches are filled with empty pews, but that the pews are filled with empty…” — Charlie W Shedd", "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": "Charlie W Shedd", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-w-shedd/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The problem is not that the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-w-shedd/the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are-filled-with-empty-pews-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-w-shedd/the-problem-is-not-that-the-churches-are-filled-with-empty-pews-but/#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 } } ] } ```