--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us not fear the opposition of men…" description: "\"Let us not fear the opposition of men; every great movement in the Church from Paul down to modern times has been criticized on the ground that it prom..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/john-gresham-machen-19008_being-faithful_let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-ev_1464094.jpg" --- # Let us not fear the opposition of men; every great… ![“Let us not fear the opposition of men; every great movement in the Church from Paul down to modern times has been criticized on the ground that it promoted scensoriousness and intolerance and disputing. Of course the gospel of Christ, in a world of sin and doubt will cause disputing; and if does…” quote by John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/john-gresham-machen-19008_being-faithful_let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-ev_1464094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/john-gresham-machen-19008_being-faithful_let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-ev_1464094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/john-gresham-machen-19008_being-faithful_let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-ev_1464094.jpg) > “Let us not fear the opposition of men; every great movement in the Church from Paul down to modern times has been criticized on the ground that it promoted scensoriousness and intolerance and disputing. Of course the gospel of Christ, in a world of sin and doubt will cause disputing; and if does not cause disputing and arrouse bitter opposition, that is a fairly sure sign that it is not being faithfully proclaimed.” [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True Christian teaching provokes strong opposition; controversy signals faithful proclamation. **In simple terms:** Controversy shows true gospel work. Key Takeaway Embrace bold proclamation despite criticism. Themes faith church controversy propagation truth Mood determined reflective serious Type theological motivational When to use this quote - preaching - public debate - church leadership - media statements Key Concepts Theology ecclesiology cultural conflict Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when your convictions are challenged? - What role does opposition play in strengthening belief? A Different Perspective Critics may misinterpret intent, causing division. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-faithful/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Intolerance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intolerance/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Modern times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-times/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“how much Jesus had broken away from the historically conditioned attitudes of his time, for the prevailing idea at that time was that good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-sanford/how-much-jesus-had-broken-away-from-the-historically-conditioned/) [John A. Sanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-sanford/) > [My principal sin is doubt. I doubt everything, and am in doubt most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/my-principal-sin-is-doubt-i-doubt-everything-and-am-in-doubt-most-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“And indeed there is little opportunity for the old and poor to sin, except to doubt God’s goodness, and if God cannot understand why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/and-indeed-there-is-little-opportunity-for-the-old-and-poor-to-sin/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [It is no sin to doubt some things but it may be fatal to believe everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/it-is-no-sin-to-doubt-some-things-but-it-may-be-fatal-to-believe/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Lust was his favorite sin, without a doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/lust-was-his-favorite-sin-without-a-doubt/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [“Before the war, a white man named Jonathan Edwards came to Stockbridge to teach my people about sin, but I doubt very much he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-clare/before-the-war-a-white-man-named-jonathan-edwards-came-to-stockbridge/) [Pamela Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-clare/) > [I find that doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-find-that-doing-of-the-will-of-god-leaves-me-no-time-for-disputing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [There is no disputing about taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/there-is-no-disputing-about-taste/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“disputing nothing is the first step through the difficult door of happiness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padgett-powell/disputing-nothing-is-the-first-step-through-the-difficult-door-of/) [Padgett Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padgett-powell/) > [Fashion is the only thing on earth about which no one will take interest in disputing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/fashion-is-the-only-thing-on-earth-about-which-no-one-will-take/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I am not disputing the need for this money. What I am disputing and calling attention to is the fact that we are taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spratt/i-am-not-disputing-the-need-for-this-money-what-i-am-disputing-and/) [John Spratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spratt/) > [What Tully said of war may be applied to disputing: "It should be always so managed as to remember that the only true end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/what-tully-said-of-war-may-be-applied-to-disputing-it-should-be/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I'm undisputed and there's no disputing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennox-lewis/i-m-undisputed-and-there-s-no-disputing-that/) [Lennox Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennox-lewis/) > [“Doing the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/doing-the-will-of-god-leaves-me-no-time-for-disputing-about-his-plans/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“God's word will stand, and we shall get nothing by disputing it, or delaying to submit to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-s-word-will-stand-and-we-shall-get-nothing-by-disputing-it-or/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## More by John Gresham Machen > [Conservative New Testament studies could also provide an intellectually satisfying alternative to German biblical criticism and to the liberal theology that accompanied it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/conservative-new-testament-studies-could-also-provide-an/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [Certainly it does make the greatest possible difference what we think about God; the knowledge of God is the very basis of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/certainly-it-does-make-the-greatest-possible-difference-what-we-think/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [And God grant that His fire be not quenched! God save us from any smoothing over of these questions in the interests of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/and-god-grant-that-his-fire-be-not-quenched-god-save-us-from-any/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [The type of religion which rejoices in the pious sound of traditional phrases, regardless of their meanings, or shrinks from "controversial" matters, will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/the-type-of-religion-which-rejoices-in-the-pious-sound-of-traditional/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [Vastly more important than all questions with regard to methods of preaching is the root question as to what it is that shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/vastly-more-important-than-all-questions-with-regard-to-methods-of/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [In many respects, my work is very enjoyable, for I seem to get on pretty well with the fellows and enjoy the work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/in-many-respects-my-work-is-very-enjoyable-for-i-seem-to-get-on/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [Afternoon classes - that evil invention!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/afternoon-classes-that-evil-invention/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [Light may seem at times to be an impertinent intruder, but it is always beneficial in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/light-may-seem-at-times-to-be-an-impertinent-intruder-but-it-is/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [The first chapters of the Bible tell us of the sin of man. The guilt of that sin had rested upon every single one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/the-first-chapters-of-the-bible-tell-us-of-the-sin-of-man-the-guilt/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [I can't die now, I have so much work to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/i-can-t-die-now-i-have-so-much-work-to-do/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [Modern culture is a mighty force. It is either subservient to the gospel or else it is the deadliest enemy of the gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/modern-culture-is-a-mighty-force-it-is-either-subservient-to-the/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [If all creeds are equally true, then since they are contradictory to one another, they are all equally false, or at least equally uncertain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/if-all-creeds-are-equally-true-then-since-they-are-contradictory-to/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [I'm so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/i-m-so-thankful-for-the-active-obedience-of-christ-no-hope-without-it/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [What is the relation between Christianity and modern culture; may Christianity be maintained in a scientific age? It is this problem which modern liberalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/what-is-the-relation-between-christianity-and-modern-culture-may/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [The most important Christian Education institution is not the pulpit or the school, important as those institutions are; but it is the Christian family.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/the-most-important-christian-education-institution-is-not-the-pulpit/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) [Explore all 33 John Gresham Machen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) ## More Being faithful quotes > [Being faithful shouldn't be challenging, cheating should. Too bad its the other way around though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-faithful-shouldn-t-be-challenging-cheating-should-too-bad-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [..ReLAtionship is just like reading a bo0k... it d0esnt w0rk if y0ur n0t on the same paGe..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megz/relationship-is-just-like-reading-a-bo0k-it-d0esnt-w0rk-if-y0ur-n0t/) Megz > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [You're trying too HARD to convince me that you're a TRUE friend & DEEP Down Inside you know you're not but you stick around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nisha-marie/you-re-trying-too-hard-to-convince-me-that-you-re-a-true-friend-deep/) [Ta'Nisha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nisha-marie/) > [Some people expect the world outta relationships, but you cant change the person. They will not become perfect cause your dating…which is what makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meagansrevolution/some-people-expect-the-world-outta-relationships-but-you-cant-change/) MeagansRevolution > [Walk by faith, and not by sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/walk-by-faith-and-not-by-sight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you fall in love. you do what ever it is just to prove that we love our love one. but we forgot to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wonderboy/when-you-fall-in-love-you-do-what-ever-it-is-just-to-prove-that-we/) [Wonderboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wonderboy/) > [When she tells you no one else can be compared to you, that's when you know you're the luckiest guy in the world. -Nesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-she-tells-you-no-one-else-can-be-compared-to-you-that-s-when-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep the faith. It will all be worth it in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/your-hardest-times-often-lead-to-the-greatest-moments-of-your-life/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Cheaters want you to be faithful while they're being unfaithful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/cheaters-want-you-to-be-faithful-while-they-re-being-unfaithful/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [First and foremost, be faithful to your superiors, keep all promises, refuse the friendship of all who are not like you; and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/first-and-foremost-be-faithful-to-your-superiors-keep-all-promises/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A woman can give a man a million reasons to be faithful, and he will find one reason to cheat. A man can give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-can-give-a-man-a-million-reasons-to-be-faithful-and-he-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To believe is to not only hold others to their word but also to prove ourselves reliable in the guarantees we have offered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-pokhrel/to-believe-is-to-not-only-hold-others-to-their-word-but-also-to-prove/) [Suman Pokhrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-pokhrel/) > [If you have 100 reasons for Leaving u have one reason to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/if-you-have-100-reasons-for-leaving-u-have-one-reason-to-stay/) Unkown > [I love women. I love their hearts. There are a lot of women who are suffering. A lot of women who have been disappointed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-love-women-i-love-their-hearts-there-are-a-lot-of-women-who-are/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) [Browse all 417 Being faithful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-faithful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us not fear the opposition of men; every great movement in the Church from Paul down to modern times has been criticized on the ground that it promoted scensoriousness and intolerance and disputing. Of course the gospel of Christ, in a world of sin and doubt will cause disputing; and if does not cause disputing and arrouse bitter opposition, that is a fairly sure sign that it is not being faithfully proclaimed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Gresham Machen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-every-great-movement-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being faithful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-every-great-movement-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/john-gresham-machen-19008_being-faithful_let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-ev_1464094.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/john-gresham-machen-19008_being-faithful_let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-ev_1464094.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06e/john-gresham-machen-19008_being-faithful_let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-ev_1464094.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let us not fear the opposition of men; every great movement in the Church from Paul down to modern times has…” — John Gresham Machen", "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 Gresham Machen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let us not fear the opposition...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-every-great-movement-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/let-us-not-fear-the-opposition-of-men-every-great-movement-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```