---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the Christian church… to ignore…"
description: "\"For the Christian church… to ignore, euphemize, or otherwise mute the lethal reality of sin is to cut the nerve of the gospel. For the sober truth is t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/cornelius-plantinga-38829_christian_for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphe_2731314.jpg"
---

#  For the Christian church… to ignore, euphemize, or…

![“For the Christian church… to ignore, euphemize, or otherwise mute the lethal reality of sin is to cut the nerve of the gospel. For the sober truth is that without full disclosure on sin, the gospel of grace becomes impertinent, unnecessary, and finally uninteresting.” quote by Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/cornelius-plantinga-38829_christian_for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphe_2731314.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/cornelius-plantinga-38829_christian_for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphe_2731314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/cornelius-plantinga-38829_christian_for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphe_2731314.jpg)

> “For the Christian church… to ignore, euphemize, or otherwise mute the lethal reality of sin is to cut the nerve of the gospel. For the sober truth is that without full disclosure on sin, the gospel of grace becomes impertinent, unnecessary, and finally uninteresting.”

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

## About This Quote

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

Ignoring sin’s reality weakens the gospel; full disclosure makes grace relevant.

**In simple terms:** Sin must be acknowledged for gospel impact.

Key Takeaway

Address sin openly in faith teaching.

Themes

theology sin gospel

Mood

serious reflective

Type

theological educational

When to use this quote

- church sermons
- Bible study
- counseling

Key Concepts

spiritual honesty ethical preaching

Questions to Reflect On

- How to balance truth and hope?
- What is the role of grace after sin?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on sin can discourage believers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-church/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Disclosure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disclosure/) [Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Nerves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerves/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Sober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sober/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/)

## Related quotes

> [I am discontented because I have not these things which God never yet promised me, and therefore I sin much against the Gospel, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-burroughs/i-am-discontented-because-i-have-not-these-things-which-god-never-yet/)

[Jeremiah Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-burroughs/)

> [No one has ever been accused for not providing ornaments, but for those who neglect their neighbour a hell awaits with an inextinguishable fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/no-one-has-ever-been-accused-for-not-providing-ornaments-but-for/)

[Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/)

> [“If you know what He has done at infinite cost to himself—He’s put you into a relationship so that you’ll never be rejected by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-know-what-he-has-done-at-infinite-cost-to-himself-he-s-put-you/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [If the Lord's bearing our sin for us is not the gospel, I have no gospel to preach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-the-lord-s-bearing-our-sin-for-us-is-not-the-gospel-i-have-no/)

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

> [Without the gospel we hate ourselves instead of our sin. Without the gospel we’re motivated through all sorts of awful fear and pride to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/without-the-gospel-we-hate-ourselves-instead-of-our-sin-without-the/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [A gospel that does not confront sin is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/a-gospel-that-does-not-confront-sin-is-not-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ/)

[John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/)

> [“Without the consciousness of sin, the whole of the gospel will seem to be an idle tale. But how can the consciousness of sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-gresham-machen/without-the-consciousness-of-sin-the-whole-of-the-gospel-will-seem-to/)

[J. Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-gresham-machen/)

> [“The gospel is the good news that God is doing a completely new thing in Jesus - demonstrating divine righteousness, making people right in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-toews/the-gospel-is-the-good-news-that-god-is-doing-a-completely-new-thing/)

John E Toews

> [“The gospel of Christ is a glorious gospel of grace wherein the power of God is available to you in whatever area of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/the-gospel-of-christ-is-a-glorious-gospel-of-grace-wherein-the-power/)

[Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/)

> [The gospel of grace is not the license to sin. On the contrary, it is the power for them to sin no more!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/the-gospel-of-grace-is-not-the-license-to-sin-on-the-contrary-it-is/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [If my activism, however well-motivated, drives out love, then I have misunderstood Jesus’ gospel. I am stuck with law, not the gospel of grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/if-my-activism-however-well-motivated-drives-out-love-then-i-have/)

[Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/)

> [“Two measly kisses: they uncovered that I was incapable of earning my way religiously, that I couldn't achieve or even want goodness, that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-velthouse/two-measly-kisses-they-uncovered-that-i-was-incapable-of-earning-my/)

Lisa Velthouse

> [Remember God has accepted us. The gospel of grace is a message of breathtaking freedom. It must be embraced with faith and thanksgiving. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-virgo/remember-god-has-accepted-us-the-gospel-of-grace-is-a-message-of/)

Terry Virgo

> [“The gospel is the grace of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-gospel-is-the-grace-of-god/)

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

> [“The Gospel of grace must not be turned into a bait-and-switch offer. It is not one of those airline supersavers in which you read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/the-gospel-of-grace-must-not-be-turned-into-a-bait-and-switch-offer/)

[Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/)

## More by Cornelius Plantinga

> [To be a responsible person is to find one's role in the building of shalom, the re-webbing of God, humanity and all creation in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/to-be-a-responsible-person-is-to-find-one-s-role-in-the-building-of/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

> [A humble person is more likely to be self confident... a person with real humility knows how much they are loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/a-humble-person-is-more-likely-to-be-self-confident-a-person-with/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

> [Because they are human beings, addicts long for wholeness, for fulfillment, and for the final good that believers call God. Like all idolatries, addiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/because-they-are-human-beings-addicts-long-for-wholeness-for/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

> [At every stage, addiction is driven by one of the most powerful, mysterious, and vital forces of human existence. What drives addiction is longing--a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/at-every-stage-addiction-is-driven-by-one-of-the-most-powerful/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

> [... the way to thrive is to help others thrive; the way to flourish is to help others flourish; the way to fulfill yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/the-way-to-thrive-is-to-help-others-thrive-the-way-to-flourish-is-to/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

> [Patience is like good motor oil. It doesn't remove all the contaminants. It just puts them into suspension so they don't get into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/patience-is-like-good-motor-oil-it-doesn-t-remove-all-the/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

> [We know the excitement of getting a present - we love to unwrap it to see what is inside. So it is with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/we-know-the-excitement-of-getting-a-present-we-love-to-unwrap-it-to/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

> [To speak of sin without grace is to minimize the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the fruit of the Spirit, and the hope of shalom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/to-speak-of-sin-without-grace-is-to-minimize-the-resurrection-of/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

> [Recalling and confessing our sin is like taking out the garbage: once is not enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/recalling-and-confessing-our-sin-is-like-taking-out-the-garbage-once/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

> [It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular. Christians in public institutions often see this odd thing happening on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/it-must-be-an-odd-feeling-to-be-thankful-to-nobody-in-particular/)

[Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

[Explore all 11 Cornelius Plantinga quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/)

## More Christian quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [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/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

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

> [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/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [“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/)

> [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/)

[Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/)

> [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/)

[Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/)

> [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/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/)

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

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/)

[J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/)

[Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "For the Christian church… to ignore, euphemize, or otherwise mute the lethal reality of sin is to cut the nerve of the gospel. For the sober truth is that without full disclosure on sin, the gospel of grace becomes impertinent, unnecessary, and finally uninteresting.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Cornelius Plantinga"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphemize-or-otherwise-mute-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christian"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphemize-or-otherwise-mute-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/cornelius-plantinga-38829_christian_for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphe_2731314.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/cornelius-plantinga-38829_christian_for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphe_2731314.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cef/cornelius-plantinga-38829_christian_for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphe_2731314.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For the Christian church… to ignore, euphemize, or otherwise mute the lethal reality of sin is to cut the…” — Cornelius Plantinga",
                "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": "Cornelius Plantinga",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "For the Christian church… to ignore,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphemize-or-otherwise-mute-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/for-the-christian-church-to-ignore-euphemize-or-otherwise-mute-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
