--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our church, which has been fighting in…" description: "\"“Our church, which has been fighting in these years only for its self-preservation, as though that were an end in itself, is incapable of taking the wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_church_our-church-which-has-been-fighting-in-th_2826505.jpg" --- # Our church, which has been fighting in these years only… ![“Our church, which has been fighting in these years only for its self-preservation, as though that were an end in itself, is incapable of taking the word of reconciliation and redemption to mankind and the world.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_church_our-church-which-has-been-fighting-in-th_2826505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_church_our-church-which-has-been-fighting-in-th_2826505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_church_our-church-which-has-been-fighting-in-th_2826505.jpg) > ““Our church, which has been fighting in these years only for its self-preservation, as though that were an end in itself, is incapable of taking the word of reconciliation and redemption to mankind and the world.”” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes a church focused on self‑preservation, unable to promote reconciliation and redemption globally. **In simple terms:** Church should aim beyond self‑preservation. Key Takeaway Promote reconciliation and redemption. Themes religion social justice mission Mood hopeful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - faith communities - global outreach - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions shift from self‑preservation to service? - What steps foster global reconciliation? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched institutional mindsets is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Peacebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacebuilding/) [Reconciliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reconciliation/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“What reconciliation and redemption mean; what rebirth and Holy Spirit, love for one’s enemies, cross and resurrection mean; what it means to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schnasa-jacobsen/what-reconciliation-and-redemption-mean-what-rebirth-and-holy-spirit/) [David Schnasa Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schnasa-jacobsen/) > [Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting today for costly grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-deadly-enemy-of-our-church-we-are-fighting-today/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“What stories these are, what lessons they teach us. That the redemption of mankind comes through woman, for she takes man's seed, nurtures it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-williamson/what-stories-these-are-what-lessons-they-teach-us-that-the-redemption/) [Penelope Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-williamson/) > [And now without redemption all mankind Must have been lost, adjudged to death and hell By doom severe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-now-without-redemption-all-mankind-must-have-been-lost-adjudged/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The chief end for which He lived and died was to provide eternal redemption for mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-chief-end-for-which-he-lived-and-died-was-to-provide-eternal/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Insofar as it represents a genuine reconciliation of differences, a consensus is a fine thing; insofar as it represents a concealment of differences, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/insofar-as-it-represents-a-genuine-reconciliation-of-differences-a/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [The number one problem in our world is alienation, rich versus poor, black versus white, labor versus management, conservative versus liberal, East versus West…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-number-one-problem-in-our-world-is-alienation-rich-versus-poor/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I really work for racial reconciliation in many ways. 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