--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With an abstract idea it is possible to…" description: "\"With an abstract idea it is possible to enter into a relation of formal knowledge, to become enthusiastic about it, and perhaps even to put it into pra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_abstract_with-an-abstract-idea-it-is-possible-to_2142742.jpg" --- # With an abstract idea it is possible to enter into a… ![“With an abstract idea it is possible to enter into a relation of formal knowledge, to become enthusiastic about it, and perhaps even to put it into practice; but it can never be followed in personal obedience. Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship…” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_abstract_with-an-abstract-idea-it-is-possible-to_2142742.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_abstract_with-an-abstract-idea-it-is-possible-to_2142742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_abstract_with-an-abstract-idea-it-is-possible-to_2142742.jpg) > “With an abstract idea it is possible to enter into a relation of formal knowledge, to become enthusiastic about it, and perhaps even to put it into practice; but it can never be followed in personal obedience. Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” [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. Abstract ideas inspire enthusiasm, but true Christianity requires living practice and personal obedience. **In simple terms:** Ideas need action to become real faith. Key Takeaway Live out your beliefs daily. Themes faith practice obedience authenticity community Mood contemplative serious Type theological motivational When to use this quote - church leadership - personal study - community service - spiritual formation Key Concepts theology discipleship personal obedience Questions to Reflect On - Can you identify a belief you practice? - What hinders you from living your faith? A Different Perspective Intellectual understanding alone may feel hollow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christianity Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-discipleship-2469718/) [Christianity Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity-living-3588418/) [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Discipleship Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship-christianity-2469719/) [Enthusiastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enthusiastic/) [Formal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Obedience Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience-christianity-4469253/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relation/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/christianity-without-the-living-christ-is-inevitably-christianity/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Christianity without the living Jesus Christ remains necessarily a Christianity without discipleship; and a Christianity without discipleship is always a Christianity without Jesus Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/christianity-without-the-living-jesus-christ-remains-necessarily-a/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Discipleship means adherence to Christ and, because Christ is the object of that adherence, it must take the form of discipleship. An abstract theology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/discipleship-means-adherence-to-christ-and-because-christ-is-the-2/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/christianity-without-discipleship-is-always-christianity-without/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“I do not politicize Christianity nor my discipleship as Jesus did not politicize either His divinity nor his humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/i-do-not-politicize-christianity-nor-my-discipleship-as-jesus-did-not/) [R. 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Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-grace-we-bestow-on-ourselves-cheap-grace-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“All that the follower of Jesus has to do is to make sure that his obedience, following and love are entirely spontaneous and unpremeditated.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/all-that-the-follower-of-jesus-has-to-do-is-to-make-sure-that-his/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [If our Christianity has ceased to be serious about discipleship, if we have watered down the gospel into emotional uplift which makes no costly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/if-our-christianity-has-ceased-to-be-serious-about-discipleship-if-we/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Any honours that come our way are only stolen from him to whom alone they really belong, the Lord who sent us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/any-honours-that-come-our-way-are-only-stolen-from-him-to-whom-alone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [But discipleship never consists in this or that specific action: it is always a decision, either for or against Jesus Christ...Christ speaks to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/but-discipleship-never-consists-in-this-or-that-specific-action-it-is/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Discipleship means adherence to Christ, and, because Christ is the object of that adherence, it must take the form of discipleship. An abstract Christology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/discipleship-means-adherence-to-christ-and-because-christ-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [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/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. 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No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. 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