--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If ever there were a true \"just as I am\"…" description: "\"If ever there were a true \"just as I am\" church, if ever there were a community where everybody could bring all their baggage and brokenness with them ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/john-ortberg-932_age_if-ever-there-were-a-true-just-as-i-am-c_1186803.png" --- # If ever there were a true "just as I am" church, if ever… ![“If ever there were a true "just as I am" church, if ever there were a community where everybody could bring all their baggage and brokenness with them without neat and tidy happy endings quite yet, if ever there was a group where everyone was loved and no one pretended - we could not make enough…” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/john-ortberg-932_age_if-ever-there-were-a-true-just-as-i-am-c_1186803.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/john-ortberg-932_age_if-ever-there-were-a-true-just-as-i-am-c_1186803.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fe/john-ortberg-932_age_if-ever-there-were-a-true-just-as-i-am-c_1186803.png) > “If ever there were a true "just as I am" church, if ever there were a community where everybody could bring all their baggage and brokenness with them without neat and tidy happy endings quite yet, if ever there was a group where everyone was loved and no one pretended - we could not make enough room inside the building.” [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A truly inclusive community that embraces everyone's flaws would be so full it cannot accommodate all, highlighting human limits in acceptance. **In simple terms:** Perfect acceptance is impossible; community has limits. Key Takeaway Seek realistic community, not impossible perfection. Themes community acceptance imperfection limits Mood hopeful thoughtful Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - church groups - therapy circles - friendship circles Key Concepts theology social dynamics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries are healthy in community? - How can we balance love with realistic expectations? A Different Perspective Idealized acceptance can ignore necessary boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Baggage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baggage/) [Brokenness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brokenness/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-community/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Happy ending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-ending/) [Happy endings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-endings/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Neat and tidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neat-and-tidy/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Growing up in a small community where everybody knows everybody, it was a lot of fun. 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