--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem is that, regardless of what…" description: "\"The problem is that, regardless of what our theologies tell us about the purpose of the clergy, the actual effect of the clergy profession is to make t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/christian-smith-24268_body_the-problem-is-that-regardless-of-what-o_1296554.jpg" --- # The problem is that, regardless of what our theologies… ![“The problem is that, regardless of what our theologies tell us about the purpose of the clergy, the actual effect of the clergy profession is to make the body of Christ lame. This happens not because clergy intend it (they usually intend the opposite) but because the objective nature of the…” quote by Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/christian-smith-24268_body_the-problem-is-that-regardless-of-what-o_1296554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/christian-smith-24268_body_the-problem-is-that-regardless-of-what-o_1296554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/christian-smith-24268_body_the-problem-is-that-regardless-of-what-o_1296554.jpg) > “The problem is that, regardless of what our theologies tell us about the purpose of the clergy, the actual effect of the clergy profession is to make the body of Christ lame. This happens not because clergy intend it (they usually intend the opposite) but because the objective nature of the profession inevitably turns the laity into passive receivers.” [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clergy roles unintentionally create passivity among laypeople, limiting active participation. **In simple terms:** Clergy can make believers passive. Key Takeaway Encourage active engagement in faith communities. Themes religion institution authority Mood critical analytical Type sociological theoretical When to use this quote - church leadership - community groups - volunteer programs - faith education Key Concepts Passive reception institutional dynamics empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can churches foster active lay involvement? - What structures support empowerment? A Different Perspective Clergy may also empower active lay participation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body of christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-of-christ/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Clergy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clergy/) [Clergy Actual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clergy-actual-4242956/) [Clergy Intend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clergy-intend-4242957/) [Clergy Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clergy-profession-2513518/) [Effect Clergy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effect-clergy-4242954/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Lame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lame/) [Objectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectives/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Passive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passive/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Clergy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-clergy-4242955/) [Receiver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receiver/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) ## Related quotes > [The clergy profession is fundamentally self-defeating. Its stated purpose is to nurture spiritual maturity in the church - a valuable goal. In actuality, however;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/the-clergy-profession-is-fundamentally-self-defeating-its-stated/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [“Some attempts are still making, but they are inconsiderable in comparison of what might be done if the whole body of Christians entered heartily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carey/some-attempts-are-still-making-but-they-are-inconsiderable-in/) [William Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carey/) > [When a human body is out of balance we call that disease, which indicates dis-ease of the body. Likewise, when the body of Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-a-human-body-is-out-of-balance-we-call-that-disease-which/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Let us look upon a crucified Christ, the remedy of all our miseries. His cross hath procured a crown, his passion hath expiated our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-charnock/let-us-look-upon-a-crucified-christ-the-remedy-of-all-our-miseries/) [Stephen Charnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-charnock/) > [“Chan is drawn to his coauthor because he says they have, "different gifts but similar convictions".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/chan-is-drawn-to-his-coauthor-because-he-says-they-have-different/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [...it is proper that the duty of helping the poor and unfortunate should especially stir Catholics, since they are members of the Mystical Body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-xxii/it-is-proper-that-the-duty-of-helping-the-poor-and-unfortunate-should/) [Pope John XXII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-xxii/) > [The next 10 to 20 years will bring Native cultural expressions to the body of Christ that will be a tremendous blessing to many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-twiss/the-next-10-to-20-years-will-bring-native-cultural-expressions-to-the/) [Richard Twiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-twiss/) > [“Comparison is a trap. It will kill our joy. It will rob us of our peace. It makes us act foolish and stupid. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-w-bubna/comparison-is-a-trap-it-will-kill-our-joy-it-will-rob-us-of-our-peace/) [Kurt W. Bubna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-w-bubna/) > [“Just like the person of Jesus, the local church as the body of Christ must understand what it is created and called to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mancini/just-like-the-person-of-jesus-the-local-church-as-the-body-of-christ/) [Will Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mancini/) > [The focus in the Western pictorial tradition is on the body of Christ, the bit you can paint, the Nativity and the infancy, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macgregor/the-focus-in-the-western-pictorial-tradition-is-on-the-body-of-christ/) [Neil MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macgregor/) > [“In Acts, every believer was living in a direct relationship with Him (Christ) and each one functioned normally as a member of His body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/in-acts-every-believer-was-living-in-a-direct-relationship-with-him/) [Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/) > [I'm frustrated with the fact that it's harder to remember things now because I can so easily find them on the Web. I hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricia-rhodes/i-m-frustrated-with-the-fact-that-it-s-harder-to-remember-things-now/) [Tricia Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricia-rhodes/) > [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [In an attempt to hinder, if not altogether halt, the next move of God, Satan has sent forth an army of faultfinding demons against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-frangipane/in-an-attempt-to-hinder-if-not-altogether-halt-the-next-move-of-god/) [Francis Frangipane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-frangipane/) > [“the key: at least in the body of Christ, never presume that someone intended to offend you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-riccardo/the-key-at-least-in-the-body-of-christ-never-presume-that-someone/) [John Riccardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-riccardo/) ## More by Christian Smith > [Adults have their own issues and their own problems, which are understandable, and some adults are working through their own adolescent issues.-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/adults-have-their-own-issues-and-their-own-problems-which-are/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [“From the isolated, individualistic perspective of most white evangelicals and many other Americans, there really is no race problem other than bad interpersonal relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/from-the-isolated-individualistic-perspective-of-most-white/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [“variety of kinds of practices of generosity are positively and significantly associated with five important good life outcomes. 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Thus, they are generally not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/because-evangelicals-view-their-primary-task-as-evangelism-and/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [“Are we simply self-conscious animals improbably appearing for a moment in a cosmos without purpose or significance? If so, that has implications for life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/are-we-simply-self-conscious-animals-improbably-appearing-for-a/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [“generosity involved in proactively forgiving other people. This form of generosity, and the positive feelings it evokes in generous forgivers, have been shown by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/generosity-involved-in-proactively-forgiving-other-people-this-form/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [“Some sacred projects are so doggedly committed to advancing their particular, packaged views of believed orthodoxies that they can become blinded to good evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/some-sacred-projects-are-so-doggedly-committed-to-advancing-their/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [The clergy profession is fundamentally self-defeating. Its stated purpose is to nurture spiritual maturity in the church - a valuable goal. 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They do so because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/the-emergent-properties-of-my-computer-have-existence-not-because/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) > [“American sociology as a collective enterprise is at heart committed to the visionary project of realizing the emancipation, equality, and moral affirmation of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-smith/american-sociology-as-a-collective-enterprise-is-at-heart-committed/) [Christian Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) [Explore all 24 Christian Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-smith/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) [Jennifer Siebel Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-siebel-newsom/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Racism is a cancer. 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My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) [Browse all 20,814 Body quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The problem is that, regardless of what our theologies tell us about the purpose of the clergy, the actual effect of the clergy profession is to make the body of Christ lame. 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