--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The acid test for any theology is this…" description: "\"The acid test for any theology is this: Is the God presented one that can be loved, heart, soul, mind, and strength? ... If it fails to set a lovable G..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dallas-willard-819_acid_the-acid-test-for-any-theology-is-this-i_561858.png" --- # The acid test for any theology is this: Is the God… ![“The acid test for any theology is this: Is the God presented one that can be loved, heart, soul, mind, and strength? ... If it fails to set a lovable God--a radiant, happy, friendly, accessible, and totally competent being--before ordinary people, we have gone wrong” quote by Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dallas-willard-819_acid_the-acid-test-for-any-theology-is-this-i_561858.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dallas-willard-819_acid_the-acid-test-for-any-theology-is-this-i_561858.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/dallas-willard-819_acid_the-acid-test-for-any-theology-is-this-i_561858.png) > “The acid test for any theology is this: Is the God presented one that can be loved, heart, soul, mind, and strength? ... If it fails to set a lovable God--a radiant, happy, friendly, accessible, and totally competent being--before ordinary people, we have gone wrong” [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A true test of theology is whether the God described is loving and accessible in all aspects of human experience; otherwise the concept fails. **In simple terms:** God must be loveable and relatable. Key Takeaway Seek a God who is fully relatable. Themes theology faith divine nature Mood inquisitive thoughtful Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious teaching - personal belief - spiritual counseling Key Concepts love accessibility comprehensiveness Questions to Reflect On - Can God be fully comprehensible? - Does love alone define divinity? A Different Perspective Some may argue divine mystery is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Ordinary people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-people/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) ## Related quotes > [“Why is anyone lovable - if it be not that God put His love into each of us?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/why-is-anyone-lovable-if-it-be-not-that-god-put-his-love-into-each-of/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [My lovable god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-shiva/my-lovable-god/) Lord Shiva > [God has presented this opportunity for us and we are stepping up to the plate. The pastor knows the area we work in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nugent-lynch/god-has-presented-this-opportunity-for-us-and-we-are-stepping-up-to/) Robert Nugent Lynch > [Don't create theology about God so that you can feel better about Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/don-t-create-theology-about-god-so-that-you-can-feel-better-about-him/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [A theology whose god is a metaphor is wasting its time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/a-theology-whose-god-is-a-metaphor-is-wasting-its-time/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“We reduce our theology of God to match the “facts” of our circumstances, instead of the truth of who He is. In our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-m-smeltzer/we-reduce-our-theology-of-god-to-match-the-facts-of-our-circumstances/) [Kristen M. Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-m-smeltzer/) > [In Reformed theology, if God is not sovereign over the entire created order, then he is not sovereign at all. The term sovereignty too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/in-reformed-theology-if-god-is-not-sovereign-over-the-entire-created/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“God is love, John’s Gospel tells us. That’s a whole theology in three words. The practical application of that theology—God is love—is nearly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-braestrup/god-is-love-john-s-gospel-tells-us-that-s-a-whole-theology-in-three/) [Kate Braestrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-braestrup/) > [A mystery, in Christian theology, is what God knows and man cannot, and must instead believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/a-mystery-in-christian-theology-is-what-god-knows-and-man-cannot-and/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [I would say that teleology is theology, and that God is not a "because," but rather an "in order to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-unamuno/i-would-say-that-teleology-is-theology-and-that-god-is-not-a-because/) [Miguel de Unamuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-unamuno/) > [The third major characteristic of God - "infinitude" - is the catchall, the universal modifier of Christian theology. 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May the tears that stream down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and-may-none-fail-because-of/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) ## More by Dallas Willard > [Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/today-it-is-the-skeptics-who-are-the-social-conformists-though/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > ["Spirituality" wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spirituality-wrongly-understood-or-pursued-is-a-major-source-of-human/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Sabbath is a way of life (Heb 4:3; 9-11). 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