--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it hasn't already done so, the…" description: "\"If it hasn't already done so, the church... must recognize that it lives in a pagan society; it must seek for values and norms not shared by society. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f53/doris-janzen-longacre-42792_cease_if-it-hasn-t-already-done-so-the-church_1258615.jpg" --- # If it hasn't already done so, the church... must recognize… ![“If it hasn't already done so, the church... must recognize that it lives in a pagan society; it must seek for values and norms not shared by society. In short, it will either recover the Christian doctrine of nonconformity or cease to have any authentic Christian voice.” quote by Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f53/doris-janzen-longacre-42792_cease_if-it-hasn-t-already-done-so-the-church_1258615.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f53/doris-janzen-longacre-42792_cease_if-it-hasn-t-already-done-so-the-church_1258615.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f53/doris-janzen-longacre-42792_cease_if-it-hasn-t-already-done-so-the-church_1258615.jpg) > “If it hasn't already done so, the church... must recognize that it lives in a pagan society; it must seek for values and norms not shared by society. In short, it will either recover the Christian doctrine of nonconformity or cease to have any authentic Christian voice.” [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The church must either embrace nonconformity or lose its distinct Christian voice in a secular culture. **In simple terms:** Church must stay distinct or become irrelevant. Key Takeaway Choose nonconformity or risk silence. Themes faith culture identity Mood critical thoughtful Type theological sociopolitical When to use this quote - church leadership - public theology - cultural engagement Key Concepts theology social critique Questions to Reflect On - What values can the church uphold today? - How to balance relevance with distinctiveness? A Different Perspective Nonconformity may alienate believers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-doctrine/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church Recognize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-recognize-3992358/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Doctrine Nonconformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine-nonconformity-3992360/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Nonconformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonconformity/) [Norm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/norm/) [Pagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pagan/) [Pagan Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pagan-society-403125/) [Recover Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recover-christian-3992359/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-living/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Homer, Hesiod, Pythagoras, Plato, and Cicero, just to name a few, all lived in pagan societies. 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Now, not necessarily the exact same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-hanegraaff/creflo-dollar-is-compromising-confusing-or-outright-contradicting/) [Hank Hanegraaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-hanegraaff/) > [The foundation of true holiness and true Christian worship is the doctrine of the gospel, what we are to believe. So when Christian doctrine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-foundation-of-true-holiness-and-true-christian-worship-is-the/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [When understanding of the universe has become widespread, when the majority of men know that the stars are not sources of light but worlds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/when-understanding-of-the-universe-has-become-widespread-when-the/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Whosoever you are who introduce new doctrines, I beseech you to spare the ears of Romans! Spare that faith which was commended by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/whosoever-you-are-who-introduce-new-doctrines-i-beseech-you-to-spare/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Now, if the book of Genesis is an allegory, then sin is an allegory, the Fall is an allegory and the need for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/now-if-the-book-of-genesis-is-an-allegory-then-sin-is-an-allegory-the/) [Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/) > [When a minister or a clergyman takes seriously unfashionable Christian doctrines which condemn sex outside marriage, homosexuality, abortion, and feminism, and injects his views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hart/when-a-minister-or-a-clergyman-takes-seriously-unfashionable/) [Benjamin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hart/) > [The conviction that Christian doctrine matters for Christian living is one of the most important growth points of the Christian life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-conviction-that-christian-doctrine-matters-for-christian-living/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [“Later orthodox theologians would have found this view completely inadequate. In stressing that the Father was “greater” than the Son, Tertullian articulated a view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/later-orthodox-theologians-would-have-found-this-view-completely/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [It is no credit to the orthodox that they do not now believe all the absurdities that were believed 150 years ago. The gradual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-is-no-credit-to-the-orthodox-that-they-do-not-now-believe-all-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More by Doris Janzen Longacre > [The best reason for listening to and learning from the poor is that this is one way God is revealed to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-janzen-longacre/the-best-reason-for-listening-to-and-learning-from-the-poor-is-that/) [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) > [Medical experts now estimate that 80 percent of diseases are directly linked to frantic living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-janzen-longacre/medical-experts-now-estimate-that-80-percent-of-diseases-are-directly/) [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) > [Five Life Standards of Voluntary Simplicity Do Justice Learn from the World Community Nurture People Cherish the Natural Order Non-Conform Freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-janzen-longacre/five-life-standards-of-voluntary-simplicity-do-justice-learn-from-the/) [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) > [About cars: They can list with faithful accuracy each model they acquired through the years, how much they paid for each one, its main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-janzen-longacre/about-cars-they-can-list-with-faithful-accuracy-each-model-they/) [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) > [We become victims of the great disease of technological society - meaninglessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-janzen-longacre/we-become-victims-of-the-great-disease-of-technological-society/) [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) > [There are two ways to be rich: 1. Acquire great wealth 2. Acquire few needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-janzen-longacre/there-are-two-ways-to-be-rich-1-acquire-great-wealth-2-acquire-few/) [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) > [The trouble with simple living is that, though it can be joyful, rich, and creative, it isn't simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-janzen-longacre/the-trouble-with-simple-living-is-that-though-it-can-be-joyful-rich/) [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) > [Now and then, living more with less means paying more money. It may mean buying better quality - leaving behind repetitive purchases of discount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-janzen-longacre/now-and-then-living-more-with-less-means-paying-more-money-it-may/) [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) > [Time with yourself, with your family, and with your God may prove to be the ultimate saving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-janzen-longacre/time-with-yourself-with-your-family-and-with-your-god-may-prove-to-be/) [Doris Janzen Longacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) [Explore all 10 Doris Janzen Longacre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-janzen-longacre/) ## More Cease quotes > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [In the name of Jerusalem. If I forget the extermination of the Jews, may my right hand wither, may my tongue stick to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/in-the-name-of-jerusalem-if-i-forget-the-extermination-of-the-jews/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [But if you will recall the history of our civil troubles, you will see half the nation bathe itself, out of piety, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/but-if-you-will-recall-the-history-of-our-civil-troubles-you-will-see/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) [Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/) > [Without a function, we cease to be. So, I will write till I die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farley-mowat/without-a-function-we-cease-to-be-so-i-will-write-till-i-die/) [Farley Mowat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farley-mowat/) > [We have won an armistice on a single battlefield, not peace in our world. We may not now relax our guard nor cease our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-have-won-an-armistice-on-a-single-battlefield-not-peace-in-our/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [My child, seek those things which make for peace. Cease to stir up the King against the Church, and urge upon him a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-child-seek-those-things-which-make-for-peace-cease-to-stir-up-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To write is to make oneself the echo of what cannot cease speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/to-write-is-to-make-oneself-the-echo-of-what-cannot-cease-speaking/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [When fear ceases to scare you, it cannot stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-fear-ceases-to-scare-you-it-cannot-stay/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [He who ceases to pray ceases to prosper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurney-benham/he-who-ceases-to-pray-ceases-to-prosper/) [William Gurney Benham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurney-benham/) > [For we must share, if we would keep, that blessing from above; ceasing to give, we cease to have; such is the law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chenevix-trench/for-we-must-share-if-we-would-keep-that-blessing-from-above-ceasing/) [Richard Chenevix Trench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chenevix-trench/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) [Browse all 1,358 Cease quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If it hasn't already done so, the church... must recognize that it lives in a pagan society; it must seek for values and norms not shared by society. 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