--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the Christian religion, which in its…" description: "\"Only the Christian religion, which in its essence is communicated by the eternal child of God, keeps alive in its believers the lifelong awareness of t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_alive_only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its_55021.jpg" --- # Only the Christian religion, which in its essence is… ![“Only the Christian religion, which in its essence is communicated by the eternal child of God, keeps alive in its believers the lifelong awareness of their being children, and therefore of having to ask and give thanks for things.” quote by Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_alive_only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its_55021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_alive_only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its_55021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_alive_only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its_55021.jpg) > “Only the Christian religion, which in its essence is communicated by the eternal child of God, keeps alive in its believers the lifelong awareness of their being children, and therefore of having to ask and give thanks for things.” [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that Christianity uniquely sustains a childlike consciousness in believers, fostering continual gratitude and humility. **In simple terms:** Childlike gratitude in faith Key Takeaway Faith nurtures perpetual thankfulness Themes spirituality humility gratitude identity childhood Mood reverent hopeful reflective Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - community worship - life milestones - times of hardship Key Concepts theology psychology devotional practice Practical Applications - spiritual counseling - faith‑based education Questions to Reflect On - How does viewing oneself as a child affect moral behavior? - What practices reinforce this awareness? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Child of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-of-god/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-religion/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [If you are a child of God, you don’t lose your status if you have a bad week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-a-child-of-god-you-don-t-lose-your-status-if-you-have-a/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I wonder many times that ever a child of God should have a sad heart, considering what the Lord is preparing for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/i-wonder-many-times-that-ever-a-child-of-god-should-have-a-sad-heart-2/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [It is not the absence of sin but the grieving over it which distinguishes the child of God from empty professors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-the-absence-of-sin-but-the-grieving-over-it-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be called a child of God - there is no greater distinction. I love the final sentence of that Scripture with that emphatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-west/to-be-called-a-child-of-god-there-is-no-greater-distinction-i-love/) [Matthew West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-west/) > [Child of God, you cost Christ too much for him to forget you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/child-of-god-you-cost-christ-too-much-for-him-to-forget-you/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Each girl is special-one of a kind-a child of God, and each must be taught to live his commandments in order to inherit his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-h-tingey/each-girl-is-special-one-of-a-kind-a-child-of-god-and-each-must-be/) Martha H. Tingey > [As Christians we know, in theory at least, that in the life of a child of God there are no second causes, that even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-hurnard/as-christians-we-know-in-theory-at-least-that-in-the-life-of-a-child/) [Hannah Hurnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-hurnard/) > [The child of God knows his good works do not make him acceptable to God, for he was acceptable to God by Jesus Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-child-of-god-knows-his-good-works-do-not-make-him-acceptable-to/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I wonder many times that ever a child of God should have a sad heart, considering what their Lord is preparing for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/i-wonder-many-times-that-ever-a-child-of-god-should-have-a-sad-heart/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [“Just because you are a child of God, that doesn’t mean you can act like a child." ~Renaud”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-a-gilbert/just-because-you-are-a-child-of-god-that-doesn-t-mean-you-can-act/) Robert J.A. Gilbert > [Good things don't happen to the child of God; the child of God brings forth good things out of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/good-things-don-t-happen-to-the-child-of-god-the-child-of-god-brings/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [I am the child of a lunatic. Not a child of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/i-am-the-child-of-a-lunatic-not-a-child-of-god/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself incapable of forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/no-child-of-god-sins-to-that-degree-as-to-make-himself-incapable-of/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [I am a child of God, and therefore I do not inherit sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myrtle-fillmore/i-am-a-child-of-god-and-therefore-i-do-not-inherit-sickness/) [Myrtle Fillmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myrtle-fillmore/) > [You are more than human. You are a child of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-e-corbridge/you-are-more-than-human-you-are-a-child-of-god/) [Lawrence E. Corbridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-e-corbridge/) ## More by Hans Urs von Balthasar > [The work with which we embark on this first volume of a series of theological studies is a work with which the philosophical person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-work-with-which-we-embark-on-this-first-volume-of-a-series-of/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [The Holy Spirit knows what a particular age's most pressing need is far better than men with their programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-holy-spirit-knows-what-a-particular-age-s-most-pressing-need-is/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [The first attempt at a response: there must have been a fall, a decline, and the road to salvation can only be the return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-first-attempt-at-a-response-there-must-have-been-a-fall-a-decline/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [There is a moment when the interior light of the "eyes of faith" becomes one with the exterior light that shines from Christ, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/there-is-a-moment-when-the-interior-light-of-the-eyes-of-faith/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [A truth that is merely handed on, without being thought anew from its very foundations, has lost its vital power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without-being-thought-anew-from-its/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [But the issue is not only life and death but our existence before God and our being judged by him. All of us were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/but-the-issue-is-not-only-life-and-death-but-our-existence-before-god/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Faith means the fundamental response to the love that has offered itself up for me. It thus becomes clear that faith is ordered primarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/faith-means-the-fundamental-response-to-the-love-that-has-offered/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Hell is to be contemplated strictly as a matter which concerns me alone. As part of the spiritual life it belongs behind the 'closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/hell-is-to-be-contemplated-strictly-as-a-matter-which-concerns-me/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/what-you-are-is-god-s-gift-to-you-what-you-become-is-your-gift-to-god/) [Hans Urs Von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Above all we must not wish to cling to our suffering. Suffering surely deepens us and enhances our person, but we must not desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/above-all-we-must-not-wish-to-cling-to-our-suffering-suffering-surely/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [The inner reality of love can be recognized only by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-inner-reality-of-love-can-be-recognized-only-by-love/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [To be a child means to owe one's existence to another, and even in our adult life we never quite reach the point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/to-be-a-child-means-to-owe-one-s-existence-to-another-and-even-in-our/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [There is much in Christianity which can be subjected to exact analysis. But the ultimate things are shrouded in the silent mysteries of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/there-is-much-in-christianity-which-can-be-subjected-to-exact/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [“For all his gentleness and humility unto death on the Cross, God does not relinquish his attribute of being judge and consuming fire. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/for-all-his-gentleness-and-humility-unto-death-on-the-cross-god-does/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Lovers are the ones who know most about God; the theologian must listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/lovers-are-the-ones-who-know-most-about-god-the-theologian-must/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) [Explore all 73 Hans Urs von Balthasar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only the Christian religion, which in its essence is communicated by the eternal child of God, keeps alive in its believers the lifelong awareness of their being children, and therefore of having to ask and give thanks for things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hans Urs von Balthasar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its-essence-is-communicated-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its-essence-is-communicated-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_alive_only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its_55021.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_alive_only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its_55021.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_alive_only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its_55021.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only the Christian religion, which in its essence is communicated by the eternal child of God, keeps alive…” — Hans Urs von Balthasar", "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": "Hans Urs von Balthasar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only the Christian religion, which in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its-essence-is-communicated-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its-essence-is-communicated-by/#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 } } ] } ```