--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Allow me to sum it up this way; if the…" description: "\"“Allow me to sum it up this way; if the Church allows this secular humanistic \"social gospel\" into its hallowed halls, then it is putting its very exis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/curtis-a-chamberlain-36495_christianity_allow-me-to-sum-it-up-this-way-if-the-ch_1890256.jpg" --- # Allow me to sum it up this way; if the Church allows this… ![“Allow me to sum it up this way; if the Church allows this secular humanistic "social gospel" into its hallowed halls, then it is putting its very existence at risk, for it will subject itself to the government. And the Church must be subject to Christ---not the government.” quote by Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/curtis-a-chamberlain-36495_christianity_allow-me-to-sum-it-up-this-way-if-the-ch_1890256.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/curtis-a-chamberlain-36495_christianity_allow-me-to-sum-it-up-this-way-if-the-ch_1890256.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/168/curtis-a-chamberlain-36495_christianity_allow-me-to-sum-it-up-this-way-if-the-ch_1890256.jpg) > ““Allow me to sum it up this way; if the Church allows this secular humanistic "social gospel" into its hallowed halls, then it is putting its very existence at risk, for it will subject itself to the government. And the Church must be subject to Christ---not the government.”” [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that mixing secular humanism with church doctrine endangers the church’s independence by making it answerable to the state, rather than solely to Christ. **In simple terms:** Mixing secular ideas with church risks its independence. Key Takeaway Preserve church autonomy from government influence. Themes religion politics authority separation of church and state Mood cautious defensive reflective Type warning political theological When to use this quote - church governance - public policy debates - faith community decisions - legislative lobbying Key Concepts theocracy secularism institutional integrity Questions to Reflect On - How can churches engage with social issues without compromising doctrine? - What safeguards protect religious freedom? A Different Perspective May limit constructive dialogue between faith and society. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [For ritual allows those who cannot will themselves out of the secular to perform the spiritual, as dancing allows the tongue-tied man a ceremony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-dubus/for-ritual-allows-those-who-cannot-will-themselves-out-of-the-secular/) [Andre Dubus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-dubus/) > [“That part of the judicial law which was typical of Christ's government has ceased, but that part which is of common and general equity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-bolton/that-part-of-the-judicial-law-which-was-typical-of-christ-s/) [Samuel Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-bolton/) > [“If anyone attempted to rule the world by the gospel and to abolish all temporal law and sword on the plea that all are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-anyone-attempted-to-rule-the-world-by-the-gospel-and-to-abolish/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The government and the church are two different realms of service, and those in political office have to face a subtle but important difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/the-government-and-the-church-are-two-different-realms-of-service-and/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Democracy, I do not conceive that ever God did ordain as a fit government either for church or commonwealth. If the people be governors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/democracy-i-do-not-conceive-that-ever-god-did-ordain-as-a-fit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't believe there is a separation of church and state. I think the Constitution is very clear. The only separation is that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-don-t-believe-there-is-a-separation-of-church-and-state-i-think-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [I don't trust the church or the government, and anything the church or the government tells me I assume to be a lie or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-don-t-trust-the-church-or-the-government-and-anything-the-church-or/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [“This is exactly why the preservation of the world is not a priority for the true Christian. We are not of this world. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/this-is-exactly-why-the-preservation-of-the-world-is-not-a-priority/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“When I see a church auditorium start to resemble a mosh pit, I know something's wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/when-i-see-a-church-auditorium-start-to-resemble-a-mosh-pit-i-know/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“Fundamentalism is not motivated by fear. It is motivated by conviction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/fundamentalism-is-not-motivated-by-fear-it-is-motivated-by-conviction/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“Now, I think we can all agree that fear is a motivator. The problem is that fear can motivate us to do the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/now-i-think-we-can-all-agree-that-fear-is-a-motivator-the-problem-is/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [I don't preach a social gospel; I preach the Gospel, period. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is concerned for the whole person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-don-t-preach-a-social-gospel-i-preach-the-gospel-period-the-gospel/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“Desmond Tutu, a South African bishop and leader in the movement to end apartheid, said, “I don’t preach a social gospel; I preach the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/desmond-tutu-a-south-african-bishop-and-leader-in-the-movement-to-end/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Often the Jesus-focused churches are leaning towards a 'social gospel' interpretation of the kingdom, and the 'Paul' churches are talking about being saved from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/often-the-jesus-focused-churches-are-leaning-towards-a-social-gospel/) [N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/) > [“The so-called "social gospel" lays stress upon this life, not on the next. In many quarters it is now regarded as very old-fashioned and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/the-so-called-social-gospel-lays-stress-upon-this-life-not-on-the/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) ## More by Curtis A. Chamberlain > [“But why is the Church so ready to embrace the culture of the unbelieving world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/but-why-is-the-church-so-ready-to-embrace-the-culture-of-the/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“This is exactly why the preservation of the world is not a priority for the true Christian. We are not of this world. Our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/this-is-exactly-why-the-preservation-of-the-world-is-not-a-priority/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“When I see a church auditorium start to resemble a mosh pit, I know something's wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/when-i-see-a-church-auditorium-start-to-resemble-a-mosh-pit-i-know/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“There has been, down through the ages, a very real and "purposeful" conspiracy to thwart the plans of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/there-has-been-down-through-the-ages-a-very-real-and-purposeful/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“Compromise with the world leads to nothing but a falling away from Christ.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/compromise-with-the-world-leads-to-nothing-but-a-falling-away-from/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“One of the primary reasons that men undertake the teaching of false doctrine is greed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/one-of-the-primary-reasons-that-men-undertake-the-teaching-of-false/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“Now, I think we can all agree that fear is a motivator. The problem is that fear can motivate us to do the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/now-i-think-we-can-all-agree-that-fear-is-a-motivator-the-problem-is/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“...we, as human beings, do not "enable" God to do anything. We are subject to His divine will---it is not the other way around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/we-as-human-beings-do-not-enable-god-to-do-anything-we-are-subject-to/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“Science will always be the source of authority for those who wish to remove God from their thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/science-will-always-be-the-source-of-authority-for-those-who-wish-to/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“Fundamentalism is not motivated by fear. It is motivated by conviction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/fundamentalism-is-not-motivated-by-fear-it-is-motivated-by-conviction/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“Plainly stated, these false teachers enjoy so much success because they tell people what they want to hear, whether it's the truth or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/plainly-stated-these-false-teachers-enjoy-so-much-success-because/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) > [“Folks, the message of Christ is simple. It's not heady, or high-minded, or supremely intellectual at all. It is simple on purpose. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-a-chamberlain/folks-the-message-of-christ-is-simple-it-s-not-heady-or-high-minded/) [Curtis A. Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) [Explore all 13 Curtis A. Chamberlain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-a-chamberlain/) ## 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. 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