--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Paul’s view a church should not merely…" description: "\"“In Paul’s view a church should not merely survive in its unfriendly pagan environment, but advance. Christians should have nothing to do with a sad ac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/john-charles-pollock-60976_christian_in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merel_2900467.jpg" --- # In Paul’s view a church should not merely survive in its… ![“In Paul’s view a church should not merely survive in its unfriendly pagan environment, but advance. Christians should have nothing to do with a sad acceptance of harsh surroundings, bearing heavy crosses with uncomplaining gloom, cultivating an oppressive sense of sin. They were to be positive…” quote by John Charles Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/john-charles-pollock-60976_christian_in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merel_2900467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/john-charles-pollock-60976_christian_in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merel_2900467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/john-charles-pollock-60976_christian_in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merel_2900467.jpg) > ““In Paul’s view a church should not merely survive in its unfriendly pagan environment, but advance. Christians should have nothing to do with a sad acceptance of harsh surroundings, bearing heavy crosses with uncomplaining gloom, cultivating an oppressive sense of sin. They were to be positive, doing good to one another and to unbelieving Jews and pagans regardless of abuse or injury. “Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks.” No matter how adverse the circumstances, their way of life should be a rebuke to foulness and a spur to their neighbors to seek for themselves this new, extraordinary existence; Christians must outlove, outjoy, outthink, and always welcome those who opposed them.”” [John Charles Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-pollock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christians should thrive, not merely endure, by actively loving and serving despite adversity **In simple terms:** Be active, loving, and hopeful in harsh times Key Takeaway Actively love and serve despite hardship Themes faith action resilience Mood hopeful serious Type theological practical When to use this quote - community service - interfaith outreach - personal hardship Key Concepts theology ethics social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can believers balance joy with authentic grief? - What practical steps foster constructive action in hostile environments? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on positivity may neglect legitimate suffering ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advance Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advance-christians-4121179/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Christians Outlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-outlove-4121180/) [Christians Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-sad-4121181/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Existence Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-christians-4121182/) [Way of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [The history of the world for the past several centuries and current events at home and abroad confirm the existence of such a conspiracy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-h-freedman/the-history-of-the-world-for-the-past-several-centuries-and-current/) [Benjamin H. Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-h-freedman/) > [We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-not-to-preach-the-doing-of-good-things-good-deeds-are-not-to/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The pulpit only "teaches" to be honest; the market-place "trains" to overreaching and fraud; and teaching has not a tithe of the efficiency of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-pulpit-only-teaches-to-be-honest-the-market-place-trains-to/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [We've always tried to convey these strong messages of strength and power and doing good in the world and, at the same time, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-halford/we-ve-always-tried-to-convey-these-strong-messages-of-strength-and/) [Rob Halford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-halford/) > [My mum supported me after she saw I was doing good in weightlifting, I was able to get a scholarship, I was able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hidilyn-diaz/my-mum-supported-me-after-she-saw-i-was-doing-good-in-weightlifting-i/) [Hidilyn Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hidilyn-diaz/) > [As long as any one has the means of doing good to his neighbours, and does not do so, he shall be reckoned a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irenaeus-of-lyons/as-long-as-any-one-has-the-means-of-doing-good-to-his-neighbours-and/) [Irenaeus of Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irenaeus-of-lyons/) > [Being a good person is appreciable. But doing good things in life is what shows others who really you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-a-good-person-is-appreciable-but-doing-good-things-in-life-is/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“What is an artist? For every thousand people there's nine hundred doing the work, ninety doing well, nine doing good, and one lucky bastard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/what-is-an-artist-for-every-thousand-people-there-s-nine-hundred/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [There is only one way of not hating those who do us wrong, and that is by doing them good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/there-is-only-one-way-of-not-hating-those-who-do-us-wrong-and-that-is/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [“Rich and famous and doing good," mused Schlichtmann. "Rich isn't so difficult. Famous isn't so difficult. Rich and famous together aren't so difficult. Rich,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-harr/rich-and-famous-and-doing-good-mused-schlichtmann-rich-isn-t-so/) [Jonathan Harr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-harr/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“doing good required taking risks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/doing-good-required-taking-risks/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [When things are going bad that does not mean God has stopped doing good It's mean He is shifting things around you to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christianquotes/when-things-are-going-bad-that-does-not-mean-god-has-stopped-doing/) [ChristianQuotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christianquotes/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) ## More by John Charles Pollock > [“Turning consciously from evil to faith did not always bring immediate awareness of how to please God”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-pollock/turning-consciously-from-evil-to-faith-did-not-always-bring-immediate/) [John Charles Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-pollock/) > [“providing the element of slight distraction to keep the mind from wandering. Each”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-pollock/providing-the-element-of-slight-distraction-to-keep-the-mind-from/) [John Charles Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-pollock/) > [“A biographer has to decide between slowing to a halt in a bog of conflicting possibilities or striding boldly across by a causeway of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-pollock/a-biographer-has-to-decide-between-slowing-to-a-halt-in-a-bog-of/) [John Charles Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-pollock/) > [“He would have considered it ironic that, the more men discovered the insignificance of their planet, the more highly they would rate themselves, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-pollock/he-would-have-considered-it-ironic-that-the-more-men-discovered-the/) [John Charles Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-pollock/) [Explore all 5 John Charles Pollock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-pollock/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [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/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In Paul’s view a church should not merely survive in its unfriendly pagan environment, but advance. Christians should have nothing to do with a sad acceptance of harsh surroundings, bearing heavy crosses with uncomplaining gloom, cultivating an oppressive sense of sin. They were to be positive, doing good to one another and to unbelieving Jews and pagans regardless of abuse or injury. “Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks.” No matter how adverse the circumstances, their way of life should be a rebuke to foulness and a spur to their neighbors to seek for themselves this new, extraordinary existence; Christians must outlove, outjoy, outthink, and always welcome those who opposed them.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Charles Pollock" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-pollock/in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merely-survive-in-its-unfriendly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-pollock/in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merely-survive-in-its-unfriendly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/john-charles-pollock-60976_christian_in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merel_2900467.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/john-charles-pollock-60976_christian_in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merel_2900467.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d85/john-charles-pollock-60976_christian_in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merel_2900467.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In Paul’s view a church should not merely survive in its unfriendly pagan environment, but advance…” — John Charles Pollock", "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": "John Charles Pollock", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-pollock/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In Paul’s view a church should...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-pollock/in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merely-survive-in-its-unfriendly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-pollock/in-paul-s-view-a-church-should-not-merely-survive-in-its-unfriendly/#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 } } ] } ```