---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If religions have one thing in common…"
description: "\"“If religions have one thing in common, it’s that they require us to do something to get to God. All except Christianity. So many people, including man..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/chris-hodges-58991_christianity_if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it_2582817.jpg"
---

#  If religions have one thing in common, it’s that they…

![“If religions have one thing in common, it’s that they require us to do something to get to God. All except Christianity. So many people, including many Christians, believe that God requires us to make changes before we can approach him. But that’s not true. We don’t get our lives together in order…” quote by Chris Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/chris-hodges-58991_christianity_if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it_2582817.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/chris-hodges-58991_christianity_if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it_2582817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/chris-hodges-58991_christianity_if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it_2582817.jpg)

> ““If religions have one thing in common, it’s that they require us to do something to get to God. All except Christianity. So many people, including many Christians, believe that God requires us to make changes before we can approach him. But that’s not true. We don’t get our lives together in order to get to God. We go to God to get our lives together! So what are we supposed to do? The answer is in God’s first cup of promise. He said, “I will bring you out.””

[Chris Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hodges/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

God invites us to seek Him first, not to earn His favor through personal improvement; divine promise precedes human effort.

**In simple terms:** Seek God before self‑fixing.

Key Takeaway

Turn to God for transformation.

Themes

faith spirituality humility

Mood

thoughtful encouraging

Type

theological inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- spiritual practice
- life planning

Key Concepts

divine promise dependence

Questions to Reflect On

- How does divine reliance affect self‑growth?
- What balance exists between faith and effort?

A Different Perspective

May overlook personal responsibility.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Answer God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-god/) [Believe God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-god/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [God Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-requires/) [Order God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order-god-502111/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Require God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/require-god-333066/)

## Related quotes

> [“The living and efficaciously acting moral order is itself God. We require no other God, nor can we grasp any other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-gottlieb-fichte/the-living-and-efficaciously-acting-moral-order-is-itself-god-we/)

[Johann Gottlieb Fichte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-gottlieb-fichte/)

> [“We will all have to answer to God in due time. However, I don't believe God is more concerned about what others do to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ambu/we-will-all-have-to-answer-to-god-in-due-time-however-i-don-t-believe/)

[Joan Ambu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ambu/)

> [“There are many who appear to be very mighty in prayer, wondrous in supplications, but they require God to do what they can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-haddon-spurgeon/there-are-many-who-appear-to-be-very-mighty-in-prayer-wondrous-in/)

[Charles Haddon Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-haddon-spurgeon/)

> [Some of us should learn to ask for bold things that require God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-roberts/some-of-us-should-learn-to-ask-for-bold-things-that-require-god/)

[Sam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-roberts/)

> [The universe is the way it is , whether we like it or not. The existence or nonexistence of a creator is independent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-m-krauss/the-universe-is-the-way-it-is-whether-we-like-it-or-not-the-existence/)

[Lawrence M. Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-m-krauss/)

> [This is the spirit of prayer--sincere, humble, believing, submissive. Other prayer than this the Bible does not require--God will not accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gardiner-spring/this-is-the-spirit-of-prayer-sincere-humble-believing-submissive/)

[Gardiner Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gardiner-spring/)

> [To require God to prove that He is able and willing to fulfill His promises would be proof positive that one does not trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-require-god-to-prove-that-he-is-able-and-willing-to-fulfill-his/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Ask God to fill your mouth with the words you need to say today. No issue is so small that it doesn't require God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/ask-god-to-fill-your-mouth-with-the-words-you-need-to-say-today-no/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [“To upset the order of nature, and even more the order of God, who, for us, is more natural than nature itself, is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-sertillanges/to-upset-the-order-of-nature-and-even-more-the-order-of-god-who-for/)

[Antonin Sertillanges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-sertillanges/)

> [God is here, right now, at our side. We can see him in this mist, in the ground we're walking on, even in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/god-is-here-right-now-at-our-side-we-can-see-him-in-this-mist-in-the/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“When you see a heron eating an innocent rabbit, what comes to your mind? Do you say ‘What a great order God has created?’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-see-a-heron-eating-an-innocent-rabbit-what-comes-to-your/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Go into the desert not to escape other men but in order to find them in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/go-into-the-desert-not-to-escape-other-men-but-in-order-to-find-them/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [The only service that you can render God is to give expression to what he is trying to give to the world, through you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/the-only-service-that-you-can-render-god-is-to-give-expression-to/)

[Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/)

> [To put labour and wages first and human ordomestic life second is to invert the order of God and of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-edward-manning/to-put-labour-and-wages-first-and-human-ordomestic-life-second-is-to/)

[Henry Edward Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-edward-manning/)

> [“Our foot step may slip without the order of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/our-foot-step-may-slip-without-the-order-of-god/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

## More by Chris Hodges

> [“I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name. PSALM 138:2”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hodges/i-praise-your-name-for-your-unfailing-love-and-faithfulness-for-your/)

[Chris Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hodges/)

> [“When people confront the past—their sins, wounds, and curses—they experience amazing joy, freedom, and spiritual growth. They move from just the assurance of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hodges/when-people-confront-the-past-their-sins-wounds-and-curses-they/)

[Chris Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hodges/)

> [“God wants his power in every person’s life. He loves taking ordinary people and using them to do extraordinary things. It didn’t take long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hodges/god-wants-his-power-in-every-person-s-life-he-loves-taking-ordinary/)

[Chris Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hodges/)

> [“Worship is love expressed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hodges/worship-is-love-expressed/)

[Chris Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hodges/)

[Explore all 5 Chris Hodges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hodges/)

## More Christianity quotes

> [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/)

[Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/)

[Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/)

> [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/)

[David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/)

> [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/)

[Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/)

> [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/)

[Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/)

> [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/)

[David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/)

> [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/)

[Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/)

[Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If religions have one thing in common, it’s that they require us to do something to get to God. All except Christianity. So many people, including many Christians, believe that God requires us to make changes before we can approach him. But that’s not true. We don’t get our lives together in order to get to God. We go to God to get our lives together! So what are we supposed to do? The answer is in God’s first cup of promise. He said, “I will bring you out.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris Hodges"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hodges/if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it-s-that-they-require-us-to-do/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christianity"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hodges/if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it-s-that-they-require-us-to-do/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/chris-hodges-58991_christianity_if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it_2582817.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/chris-hodges-58991_christianity_if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it_2582817.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/chris-hodges-58991_christianity_if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it_2582817.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If religions have one thing in common, it’s that they require us to do something to get to God. All except…” — Chris Hodges",
                "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": "Chris Hodges",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hodges/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If religions have one thing in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hodges/if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it-s-that-they-require-us-to-do/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hodges/if-religions-have-one-thing-in-common-it-s-that-they-require-us-to-do/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
