Christianity Quote by Frank Schaeffer
““Maybe our blindness started when the first Christians didn’t believe what Jesus told them about the kingdom of God: “Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21, emphasis added). Irrespective of Jesus’ teaching we continue to tie faith to doctrine, geography, nation, male prerogatives, homophobia and race. It is as if we’ve rewritten Jesus’ saying as: “They shall say, Lo here! And, Lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is only found in correct doctrine believed by the chosen few of our tribe!” Jesus took the long view. “He presented another””
About This Quote
The quote argues that Jesus taught the kingdom of God is internal, yet modern believers often externalize it through doctrine and identity.
In simple terms: Jesus said God's kingdom is within, not tied to external labels.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner spiritual truth over external affiliation.
Themes
spirituality
interpretation
religious identity
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
theological
reflective
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- interfaith dialogue
- personal meditation
- social activism
Key Concepts
theology
inner vs outer
dogma
personal faith
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you experience the kingdom within?
- What external ties limit your spiritual growth?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on doctrine can alienate seekers.
