--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If our theology does not quicken the…" description: "\"If our theology does not quicken the conscience and soften the heart, it actually hardens both.\" — J. I. Packer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/j-i-packer-1856_conscience_if-our-theology-does-not-quicken-the-con_2830756.png" --- # If our theology does not quicken the conscience and soften… ![“If our theology does not quicken the conscience and soften the heart, it actually hardens both.” quote by J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/j-i-packer-1856_conscience_if-our-theology-does-not-quicken-the-con_2830756.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/j-i-packer-1856_conscience_if-our-theology-does-not-quicken-the-con_2830756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/871/j-i-packer-1856_conscience_if-our-theology-does-not-quicken-the-con_2830756.png) > “If our theology does not quicken the conscience and soften the heart, it actually hardens both.” [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Theology that fails to awaken conscience and soften heart actually hardens both. **In simple terms:** Bad theology hardens heart and mind. Key Takeaway Cultivate theology that nurtures compassion. Themes theology conscience spiritual growth Mood reflective inspirational Type religious philosophical When to use this quote - church sermons - personal study - spiritual counseling Key Concepts Ethics religious practice emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How does doctrine affect heart? - What practices soften conscience? A Different Perspective Not all theology is harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) ## Related quotes > [“Theology that does not touch the heart—that does not resonate with your inner spirit so that it changes you—has failed at its task.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rhodes/theology-that-does-not-touch-the-heart-that-does-not-resonate-with/) [Ron Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rhodes/) > [“Theology does not thrive in the world of action and reaction, change: it grows on calm, like the scum on a stagnant pool. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/theology-does-not-thrive-in-the-world-of-action-and-reaction-change/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [“BECAUSE OF PIETY’S PENCHANT for taking itself too seriously, theology does well to nurture a modest, unguarded sense of comedy. Some droll sensibility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-c-oden/because-of-piety-s-penchant-for-taking-itself-too-seriously-theology/) [Thomas C. Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-c-oden/) > [Any theology that does not lead to song is, at a fundamental level, a flawed theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/any-theology-that-does-not-lead-to-song-is-at-a-fundamental-level-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Allow God to continually soften your heart so that it beats for what his heart beats for - people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-caine/allow-god-to-continually-soften-your-heart-so-that-it-beats-for-what/) [Christine Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-caine/) > [“These scenes,’ said Valancourt, at length, ‘soften the heart, like the notes of sweet music, and inspire that delicious melancholy which no person, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-radcliffe/these-scenes-said-valancourt-at-length-soften-the-heart-like-the/) Anne Radcliffe > [“Don’t look at me like that,” I said. “I’m not broken because I don’t want the same thing as everyone else. And, no, you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/don-t-look-at-me-like-that-i-said-i-m-not-broken-because-i-don-t-want/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [Sharpen the mind, harden the body, soften the heart, and be of service to others!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sharpen-the-mind-harden-the-body-soften-the-heart-and-be-of-service/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To sharpen your understanding is to soften your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlene05/to-sharpen-your-understanding-is-to-soften-your-heart/) Sharlene05 > [“Humbleness is the best secret to soften the heart God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-hagonoy/humbleness-is-the-best-secret-to-soften-the-heart-god/) M.T.Hagonoy > [“Trials, setbacks, and disappointments tend to harden people's hearts, and they then decide not to help others because no one was there for them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/trials-setbacks-and-disappointments-tend-to-harden-people-s-hearts/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [Mere communion with nature, mere contact with the free air, exercise a soothing yet comforting and strengthening influence on the wearied mind, calm the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-von-humboldt/mere-communion-with-nature-mere-contact-with-the-free-air-exercise-a/) [Alexander von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-von-humboldt/) > [Push hard to get better, become smarter, grow your devotion to the truth, fuel your commitment to beauty, refine your emotional intelligence, hone your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/push-hard-to-get-better-become-smarter-grow-your-devotion-to-the/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [Pelagianism is the natural heresy of zealous Christians who are not interested in theology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/pelagianism-is-the-natural-heresy-of-zealous-christians-who-are-not/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [“As I see it the world is undoubtedly in need of a new religion, and that religion must be founded on humanist principles. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/as-i-see-it-the-world-is-undoubtedly-in-need-of-a-new-religion-and/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) ## More by J. I. Packer > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/what-matters-supremely-therefore-is-not-in-the-last-analysis-the-fact/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [For what higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to know God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/for-what-higher-more-exalted-and-more-compelling-goal-can-there-be/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Fanciful spiritualizing, so far from yielding God's meaning, actually obscured it. The literal sense is itself the spiritual sense, coming from God and leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/fanciful-spiritualizing-so-far-from-yielding-god-s-meaning-actually/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Grace means God sending his only Son to the cross to descend into hell so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/grace-means-god-sending-his-only-son-to-the-cross-to-descend-into/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [God made life, and God alone can tell us its meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/god-made-life-and-god-alone-can-tell-us-its-meaning/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God's near presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/revival-is-the-visitation-of-god-which-brings-to-life-christians-who/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Calvinism is the consistent endeavor to acknowledge the Creator as the Lord, working all things after the counsel of His will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/calvinism-is-the-consistent-endeavor-to-acknowledge-the-creator-as/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [There are few things stressed more strongly in the Bible than the reality of God's work as Judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/there-are-few-things-stressed-more-strongly-in-the-bible-than-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Maturity is a compound of wisdom, goodwill, resilience, and creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/maturity-is-a-compound-of-wisdom-goodwill-resilience-and-creativity/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [The peace of God is first and foremost peace with God; it is the state of affairs in which God, instead of being against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-peace-of-god-is-first-and-foremost-peace-with-god-it-is-the-state/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Today, on our own turf, we face pagan ignorance about God every bit as deep as that which the early church faced in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/today-on-our-own-turf-we-face-pagan-ignorance-about-god-every-bit-as/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [God is triune; there are within the Godhead three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and the work of salvation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/god-is-triune-there-are-within-the-godhead-three-persons-the-father/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [It is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and the Son is most vivid and sweet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/it-is-often-the-case-as-all-the-saints-know-that-fellowship-with-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [A little knowledge OF God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge ABOUT him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/a-little-knowledge-of-god-is-worth-more-than-a-great-deal-of/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Explore all 203 J. I. Packer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) ## More Conscience quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) Rabelaise > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesketh-pearson/d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-which-is-another-name-for/) [Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesketh-pearson/) [Browse all 3,490 Conscience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If our theology does not quicken the conscience and soften the heart, it actually hardens both.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. I. 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