--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of what is wrong in horizontal…" description: "\"“Most of what is wrong in horizontal church flows from attempts to get green apples interested in Jesus. Green apples are very articulate about that th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/james-macdonald-4168_want-church_most-of-what-is-wrong-in-horizontal-chur_2127159.png" --- # Most of what is wrong in horizontal church flows from… ![“Most of what is wrong in horizontal church flows from attempts to get green apples interested in Jesus. Green apples are very articulate about that they do and don't want in church. They don't want to hear about money, because that is one of their idols; they don't want to be told about sin…” quote by James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/james-macdonald-4168_want-church_most-of-what-is-wrong-in-horizontal-chur_2127159.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/james-macdonald-4168_want-church_most-of-what-is-wrong-in-horizontal-chur_2127159.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/358/james-macdonald-4168_want-church_most-of-what-is-wrong-in-horizontal-chur_2127159.png) > ““Most of what is wrong in horizontal church flows from attempts to get green apples interested in Jesus. Green apples are very articulate about that they do and don't want in church. They don't want to hear about money, because that is one of their idols; they don't want to be told about sin, because that assaults pride; no interest in pressure to decide for Jesus, because that threatens their autonomy. Sadly when church becomes what green apples must have or they won't come. It ceases to be what it must be for God to attend. Church needs to be offensive to green apples or it can be helpful to those who are ripe.”” [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Church must prioritize God’s purpose over catering to the unripe, who resist spiritual depth and autonomy. **In simple terms:** Church should focus on God, not on pleasing the unripe. Key Takeaway Serve God, not the unripe. Themes church spirituality authenticity mission Mood challenging reflective Type theological provocative When to use this quote - pastor training - church planting - outreach to skeptical audiences - leadership development Key Concepts evangelism cultural critique spiritual maturity Questions to Reflect On - How can churches balance truth with hospitality? - What defines “ripe” versus “unripe” believers? A Different Perspective Unripe individuals may feel alienated, reducing attendance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decide Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-jesus-1469941/) [Green Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green-apples-635436/) [Horizontal Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horizontal-church-4367399/) [Sadly Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadly-church-4367400/) [Want Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-church-379852/) ## Related quotes > [Blind people don't decide to see. Jesus says, 'See!' and they see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/blind-people-don-t-decide-to-see-jesus-says-see-and-they-see/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [I can't rhyme for little green apples. What I can do is scan and make patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-sherman/i-can-t-rhyme-for-little-green-apples-what-i-can-do-is-scan-and-make/) [Delia Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-sherman/) > [I've eaten a bag of Green apples. Boarded the train, there's no getting off](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-ve-eaten-a-bag-of-green-apples-boarded-the-train-there-s-no-getting/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [That's the world out there, little green apples and infectious disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/that-s-the-world-out-there-little-green-apples-and-infectious-disease/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“Before green apples blush, Before green nuts embrown, Why, one day in the country, Is worth a month in town...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-green-apples-blush-before-green-nuts-embrown-why-one-day-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always had God, but now I want to go back to church for the sense of community and that feeling of positive thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-ve-always-had-god-but-now-i-want-to-go-back-to-church-for-the-sense/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [I want to see the church get closer to the people. I want to get rid of clericalism, the mundane, this closing ourselves off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-see-the-church-get-closer-to-the-people-i-want-to-get-rid/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“I don't want Church to be like all those dead pets! she burst out, suddenly tearful and furious. I don't want Church to ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-don-t-want-church-to-be-like-all-those-dead-pets-she-burst-out/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [God doesn't want you to go to church. He wants you to want to go to church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-martin/god-doesn-t-want-you-to-go-to-church-he-wants-you-to-want-to-go-to/) [Curtis Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-martin/) > [“It’s not always a bad thing to struggle. In fact, if you want to find the church alive, you look at places of struggle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/it-s-not-always-a-bad-thing-to-struggle-in-fact-if-you-want-to-find/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [My only experience with the megachurch oeuvre was a show called 'A Current Affair,' and they would sometimes put clips on of Jim and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edi-patterson/my-only-experience-with-the-megachurch-oeuvre-was-a-show-called-a/) [Edi Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edi-patterson/) > [“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-prefer-a-church-which-is-bruised-hurting-and-dirty-because-it-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want a church I can stay in for years. I don't want surprises, scandals, or secrets from my church leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/i-want-a-church-i-can-stay-in-for-years-i-don-t-want-surprises/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [“I do not want to be a part of a church that can make it without the Holy Spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-norris/i-do-not-want-to-be-a-part-of-a-church-that-can-make-it-without-the/) [Chad Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-norris/) > [When you're forced to go to church all the time, the last thing you want to do is go to church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-brown/when-you-re-forced-to-go-to-church-all-the-time-the-last-thing-you/) [Tabitha Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-brown/) ## More by James MacDonald > [Do the things you used to do, and you'll feel the feelings you used to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/do-the-things-you-used-to-do-and-you-ll-feel-the-feelings-you-used-to/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [“Church leaders raised on rationalism lead ministries where the supernatural, the Vertical, is suppressed and where God Himself is at best an observer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/church-leaders-raised-on-rationalism-lead-ministries-where-the/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [You might not think it now, but if you are one of God's children, you are going to figure it out by the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/you-might-not-think-it-now-but-if-you-are-one-of-god-s-children-you/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [What kind of future is in God's plan? A good one which you can look forward to - That's why you can Hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/what-kind-of-future-is-in-god-s-plan-a-good-one-which-you-can-look/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [His disposition is kindness. His default action is for your benefit. He's good! And someday you will taste it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/his-disposition-is-kindness-his-default-action-is-for-your-benefit-he/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [“Preachers who pride themselves on never giving a public invitation to be saved, never calling for a response of any kind, reveal not greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/preachers-who-pride-themselves-on-never-giving-a-public-invitation-to/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [“The people sang to the Lord, not about Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/the-people-sang-to-the-lord-not-about-him/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [“We don’t worship so that preaching will be more impactful for us; we preach so that worship will be more impactful for God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/we-don-t-worship-so-that-preaching-will-be-more-impactful-for-us-we/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [I will not fail: God is always victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/i-will-not-fail-god-is-always-victorious/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [God looked through eternity past and He saw you and He chose to reach out and redeem you by His own grace. It's hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/god-looked-through-eternity-past-and-he-saw-you-and-he-chose-to-reach/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [“to be about helping people discover what they can’t get anywhere else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/to-be-about-helping-people-discover-what-they-can-t-get-anywhere-else/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [Trust means you anchor your heart in the reality of God's awareness of your situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/trust-means-you-anchor-your-heart-in-the-reality-of-god-s-awareness/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [Repentance is the key that unlocks the door to all that God has for us, but it is not easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/repentance-is-the-key-that-unlocks-the-door-to-all-that-god-has-for/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [I want to be a part of the grand plan. Being on board with God's objectives means I understand that this is not about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/i-want-to-be-a-part-of-the-grand-plan-being-on-board-with-god-s/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [Our prayer must be , Father I'm waiting for You because I know You are good in what You do and in when You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/our-prayer-must-be-father-i-m-waiting-for-you-because-i-know-you-are/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) [Explore all 115 James MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) ## More Want Church quotes > [When you're forced to go to church all the time, the last thing you want to do is go to church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-brown/when-you-re-forced-to-go-to-church-all-the-time-the-last-thing-you/) [Tabitha Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-brown/) > [“I do not want to be a part of a church that can make it without the Holy Spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-norris/i-do-not-want-to-be-a-part-of-a-church-that-can-make-it-without-the/) [Chad Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-norris/) > [I want a church I can stay in for years. I don't want surprises, scandals, or secrets from my church leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-haggard/i-want-a-church-i-can-stay-in-for-years-i-don-t-want-surprises/) [Ted Haggard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-haggard/) > [“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-prefer-a-church-which-is-bruised-hurting-and-dirty-because-it-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My only experience with the megachurch oeuvre was a show called 'A Current Affair,' and they would sometimes put clips on of Jim and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edi-patterson/my-only-experience-with-the-megachurch-oeuvre-was-a-show-called-a/) [Edi Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edi-patterson/) > [“It’s not always a bad thing to struggle. In fact, if you want to find the church alive, you look at places of struggle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/it-s-not-always-a-bad-thing-to-struggle-in-fact-if-you-want-to-find/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [God doesn't want you to go to church. He wants you to want to go to church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-martin/god-doesn-t-want-you-to-go-to-church-he-wants-you-to-want-to-go-to/) [Curtis Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-martin/) > [“I don't want Church to be like all those dead pets! she burst out, suddenly tearful and furious. I don't want Church to ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-don-t-want-church-to-be-like-all-those-dead-pets-she-burst-out/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I want to see the church get closer to the people. I want to get rid of clericalism, the mundane, this closing ourselves off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-see-the-church-get-closer-to-the-people-i-want-to-get-rid/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I've always had God, but now I want to go back to church for the sense of community and that feeling of positive thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-ve-always-had-god-but-now-i-want-to-go-back-to-church-for-the-sense/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [I don't pray. When I was young, I vowed I never would be caught begging God. If I want something I get it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/i-don-t-pray-when-i-was-young-i-vowed-i-never-would-be-caught-begging/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [I want the Church to go out onto the streets, I want us to resist everything worldly, everything static, everything comfortable...eve rything that might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-the-church-to-go-out-onto-the-streets-i-want-us-to-resist/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [We do not want, as the newspapers say, a church that will move with the world. We want a church that will move the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/we-do-not-want-as-the-newspapers-say-a-church-that-will-move-with-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I want a church service with New Orleans funeral jazz music. I'd like people to say a few words about me and I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-young/i-want-a-church-service-with-new-orleans-funeral-jazz-music-i-d-like/) [Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-young/) > [I do not want church groups controlling the schools of our country. They must remain free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/i-do-not-want-church-groups-controlling-the-schools-of-our-country/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) [Browse all 24 Want Church quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-church-379852/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Most of what is wrong in horizontal church flows from attempts to get green apples interested in Jesus. Green apples are very articulate about that they do and don't want in church. 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