--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not enough for the Church to be…" description: "\"It is not enough for the Church to be engaged with the State in healing social ills, though this is important at times. But when the world can turn aro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/francis-schaeffer-2607_areas_it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-en_1469918.jpg" --- # It is not enough for the Church to be engaged with the… ![“It is not enough for the Church to be engaged with the State in healing social ills, though this is important at times. But when the world can turn around and see a group of God's people exhibiting substantial healing in the area of human relationships in their present life, then the world will…” quote by Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/francis-schaeffer-2607_areas_it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-en_1469918.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/francis-schaeffer-2607_areas_it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-en_1469918.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/francis-schaeffer-2607_areas_it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-en_1469918.jpg) > “It is not enough for the Church to be engaged with the State in healing social ills, though this is important at times. But when the world can turn around and see a group of God's people exhibiting substantial healing in the area of human relationships in their present life, then the world will take notice. Each group of Christians is, as it were, a pilot plant, showing that something can be done in the present situation, if only we begin in the right way.” [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christian communities must demonstrate tangible healing in relationships now, not just partner with state institutions, to inspire broader societal change. **In simple terms:** Christians should show real relational healing to influence the world. Key Takeaway Model healthy relationships today. Themes faith service social impact community healing Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - church outreach - family counseling - conflict mediation - community building - public policy Key Concepts theology social ethics practical ministry Questions to Reflect On - How can your group start healing relationships? - What obstacles might you encounter? A Different Perspective Changing deep relational patterns is difficult and may face cultural resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Areas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/areas/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church Engaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-engaged-3938041/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Engaged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engaged/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Group Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/group-christians-2151046/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Healing Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing-social-5331505/) [Human relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-relations/) [Human relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-relationship/) [Human relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-relationships/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pilots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilots/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Present life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-life/) [Present situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/present-situation/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [State Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-healing-5331506/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [One of the greatest thrills in all of life is to feel the hand of God working through you and to be a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/one-of-the-greatest-thrills-in-all-of-life-is-to-feel-the-hand-of-god/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [One of the ways that your project, your personal healing, or your social invention can change the world is through story. But even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/one-of-the-ways-that-your-project-your-personal-healing-or-your/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [There's a whole group of Christians who believe the individual is more important, but in the end I don't think that's what Christ was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/there-s-a-whole-group-of-christians-who-believe-the-individual-is/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [“As a group, Christians are known more for what we are against than for our love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-putman/as-a-group-christians-are-known-more-for-what-we-are-against-than-for/) [Jim Putman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-putman/) > [I want people to understand that there is a group of Christians out there who want to be more open and understanding and tolerant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-chenoweth/i-want-people-to-understand-that-there-is-a-group-of-christians-out/) [Kristin Chenoweth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-chenoweth/) > [But the fact that Christ as the bridegroom brings forth fruit through me as the bride, through the agency of the indwelling Holy Spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/but-the-fact-that-christ-as-the-bridegroom-brings-forth-fruit-through/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [There are two main reasons why we may not be bringing forth the fruit we should. It may be because of ignorance, because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/there-are-two-main-reasons-why-we-may-not-be-bringing-forth-the-fruit/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [We can choose to gather to our hearts the thorns of disappointment, failure, loneliness, and dismay in our present situation. Or we can gather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/we-can-choose-to-gather-to-our-hearts-the-thorns-of-disappointment/) [Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/) > [You need only examine your present situation to discover unlimited resources and opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-kiev/you-need-only-examine-your-present-situation-to-discover-unlimited/) [Ari Kiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-kiev/) > [It is always the sign of the second-rate man when the decision merely meets the present situation. It is the left-over in a decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/it-is-always-the-sign-of-the-second-rate-man-when-the-decision-merely/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [I think the thing that made this stand out the most was just the fact that there's a lot more character to these characters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/i-think-the-thing-that-made-this-stand-out-the-most-was-just-the-fact/) [Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/) > [On the contrary, the characteristic element of the present situation is that economic questions have finally and irrevocably invaded the domain of public life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-henderson/on-the-contrary-the-characteristic-element-of-the-present-situation/) [Arthur Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-henderson/) > [I take complete and sole responsibility for my present situation,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-delp/i-take-complete-and-sole-responsibility-for-my-present-situation/) [Brad Delp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-delp/) > [Always remember that your present situation is not your final dastination. The best is yet to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran/always-remember-that-your-present-situation-is-not-your-final-2/) [Kiran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran/) > [Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikkie/always-remember-that-your-present-situation-is-not-your-final/) [Nikkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikkie/) ## More by Francis Schaeffer > [Jesus taught that the mark of the Christian is the observable love shown among all true believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/jesus-taught-that-the-mark-of-the-christian-is-the-observable-love/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [As evangelical Christians we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life we feel is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/as-evangelical-christians-we-have-tended-to-relegate-art-to-the-very/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Belief does not change what is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/belief-does-not-change-what-is/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The overall way of thinking in the United States has shifted away from basic Biblical values, and the media share in the responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-overall-way-of-thinking-in-the-united-states-has-shifted-away/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [In God's world the individual counts. Therefore, Christian art should deal with the individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/in-god-s-world-the-individual-counts-therefore-christian-art-should/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [As evangelical Christians, we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life we feel is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/as-evangelical-christians-we-have-tended-to-relegate-art-to-the-very-2/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [In the 20th century, evangelical Christians in America have naively accepted the role assigned to us by an anti-religious, anti-Christian consensus in our society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/in-the-20th-century-evangelical-christians-in-america-have-naively/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Humanism is not wrong in its cry for sociological healing, but humanism is not producing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/humanism-is-not-wrong-in-its-cry-for-sociological-healing-but/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [To die is to be with the Lord. It is not just an idea, it is a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/to-die-is-to-be-with-the-lord-it-is-not-just-an-idea-it-is-a-reality/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The purpose of apologetics is not just to win an argument or a discussion, but that people with whom we are in contact may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-purpose-of-apologetics-is-not-just-to-win-an-argument-or-a/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [If the church is what it should be, young people will be there. But they will not just 'be there' - they will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-the-church-is-what-it-should-be-young-people-will-be-there-but/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [With the Fall all became abnormal. It is not just that the individual is separated from God by his true moral guilt, but each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/with-the-fall-all-became-abnormal-it-is-not-just-that-the-individual/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [There is nothing more ugly than an orthodoxy without understanding or compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/there-is-nothing-more-ugly-than-an-orthodoxy-without-understanding-or/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [This is not an age in which to be a soft Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/this-is-not-an-age-in-which-to-be-a-soft-christian/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [The great distinction of a true Christian is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. How careful should he be, lest anything in his thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/the-great-distinction-of-a-true-christian-is-the-indwelling-of-the/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) [Explore all 158 Francis Schaeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) ## More Areas quotes > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The earliest language was body language and, since this language is the language of questions, if we limit the questions, and if we only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-earliest-language-was-body-language-and-since-this-language-is/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [People don't want to believe that technology is broken. Pharmaceuticals, robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology - all these areas where the progress has been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/people-don-t-want-to-believe-that-technology-is-broken/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [It's absolutely fun to walk around and have people respect you. When Michael Jackson did Thriller, I was in the park one day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/it-s-absolutely-fun-to-walk-around-and-have-people-respect-you-when/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [Software will get to be somewhat more mature, ah, but it will never be as predictable as most areas of engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-will-get-to-be-somewhat-more-mature-ah-but-it-will-never-be/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [If I were entering adulthood now instead of in the environment of fifty years ago, I would choose a career that kept me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/if-i-were-entering-adulthood-now-instead-of-in-the-environment-of/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [The discrepancy between what actually happened and the version of what happened provided by sources is an enormous gray area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-jay-epstein/the-discrepancy-between-what-actually-happened-and-the-version-of/) [Edward Jay Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-jay-epstein/) > [Louisville is a place with no labels. It’s not the South, it’s not Chicago, and you don’t think of it as you think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-james/louisville-is-a-place-with-no-labels-it-s-not-the-south-it-s-not/) [Jim James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-james/) > [It turns out that this part of the brain is one of the first areas that's attacked by Alzheimer's disease. So we can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-keefe/it-turns-out-that-this-part-of-the-brain-is-one-of-the-first-areas/) [John O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-keefe/) > [Engaging the city around us and ministering to its needs reveal to us the remaining bastions of sin in our lives, the areas we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/engaging-the-city-around-us-and-ministering-to-its-needs-reveal-to-us/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-believe-it-is-a-mistake-to-isolate-arms-control-from-other-areas-of/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Well, the U.N. Security Council resolution 1973 is very clear. It says all necessary measures to be taken to protect civilians and civilian areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/well-the-u-n-security-council-resolution-1973-is-very-clear-it-says/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [When in one area of the world the standard of living and the size of the middle class increases, it is going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-lagarde/when-in-one-area-of-the-world-the-standard-of-living-and-the-size-of/) [Christine Lagarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-lagarde/) [Browse all 2,612 Areas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/areas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not enough for the Church to be engaged with the State in healing social ills, though this is important at times. But when the world can turn around and see a group of God's people exhibiting substantial healing in the area of human relationships in their present life, then the world will take notice. Each group of Christians is, as it were, a pilot plant, showing that something can be done in the present situation, if only we begin in the right way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Schaeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-engaged-with-the-state-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Areas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-engaged-with-the-state-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/francis-schaeffer-2607_areas_it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-en_1469918.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/francis-schaeffer-2607_areas_it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-en_1469918.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2d/francis-schaeffer-2607_areas_it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-en_1469918.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is not enough for the Church to be engaged with the State in healing social ills, though this is…” — Francis Schaeffer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Francis Schaeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is not enough for the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-engaged-with-the-state-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/it-is-not-enough-for-the-church-to-be-engaged-with-the-state-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```