--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is much shallowness and levity…" description: "\"“There is much shallowness and levity among us. Prophets and psalmists would probably say of us that ‘there is no fear of God before their eyes’. In pu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fe/john-r-w-stott-15425_fear_there-is-much-shallowness-and-levity-amo_607377.jpg" --- # There is much shallowness and levity among us. Prophets… ![“There is much shallowness and levity among us. Prophets and psalmists would probably say of us that ‘there is no fear of God before their eyes’. In public worship our habit is to slouch or squat; we do not kneel nowadays, let alone prostrate ourselves in humility before God. It is more…” quote by John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fe/john-r-w-stott-15425_fear_there-is-much-shallowness-and-levity-amo_607377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fe/john-r-w-stott-15425_fear_there-is-much-shallowness-and-levity-amo_607377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fe/john-r-w-stott-15425_fear_there-is-much-shallowness-and-levity-amo_607377.jpg) > ““There is much shallowness and levity among us. Prophets and psalmists would probably say of us that ‘there is no fear of God before their eyes’. In public worship our habit is to slouch or squat; we do not kneel nowadays, let alone prostrate ourselves in humility before God. It is more characteristic of us to clap our hands with joy than to blush with shame or tears. We saunter up to God to claim his patronage and friendship; it does not occur to us that he might send us away. We need to hear again the apostle Peter’s sobering words: ‘Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives...in reverent fear.’39 In other words, if we dare to call our Judge our Father, we must beware of presuming on him. It must even be said that our evangelical emphasis on the atonement is dangerous if we come to it too quickly. We learn to appreciate the access to God which Christ has won for us only after we have first seen God’s inaccessibility to sinners. We can cry ‘Hallelujah’ with authenticity only after we have first cried ‘Woe is me, for I am lost’. In Dale’s words, ‘it is partly because sin does not provoke our own wrath, that we do not believe that sin provokes the wrath of God’.40”” [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True reverence requires recognizing God's holiness and our own sinfulness, not merely joyful worship. **In simple terms:** Respect God by acknowledging our sin. Key Takeaway Cultivate humble, reverent worship. Themes humility reverence sin worship spirituality Mood reflective serious inspirational Type scriptural theological pastoral When to use this quote - church services - personal prayer - confession - spiritual formation Key Concepts theology human nature grace Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance joy and reverence? - What practices keep you aware of God's holiness? A Different Perspective Joyful worship can mask deeper spiritual complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emphasis Atonement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emphasis-atonement-4938938/) [Evangelical Emphasis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelical-emphasis-4938939/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-god/) [Fear of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-god/) [Humility God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility-god-517663/) [Learn to appreciate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-to-appreciate/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Sin Provokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-provokes-4268036/) [Wrath of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrath-of-god/) ## Related quotes > [Every sin provokes its punishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-bronson-alcott/every-sin-provokes-its-punishment/) [Amos Bronson Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-bronson-alcott/) > [“I see in Jesus not only the supreme act of humility in God, but the supreme act of humanity in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-porcher-dubose/i-see-in-jesus-not-only-the-supreme-act-of-humility-in-god-but-the/) [William Porcher Dubose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-porcher-dubose/) > [Talent means nothing without humility. God gives it 2 who he wants 2, and I believe if your arrogant no matter how talented, u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diggy-simmons/talent-means-nothing-without-humility-god-gives-it-2-who-he-wants-2/) [Diggy Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diggy-simmons/) > [Jesus washing the disciples feet is the most supreme act of humility in all of God’s word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/jesus-washing-the-disciples-feet-is-the-most-supreme-act-of-humility/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [A man's potential for God lies not in his ability, nor in his opportunity, but in his humility before God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-berg/a-man-s-potential-for-god-lies-not-in-his-ability-nor-in-his/) [Jim Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-berg/) > [“Humility before God is nothing if not proved in humility before men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/humility-before-god-is-nothing-if-not-proved-in-humility-before-men/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [“No sooner do we believe that God loves us than there is an impulse to believe that He does so, not because He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/no-sooner-do-we-believe-that-god-loves-us-than-there-is-an-impulse-to/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [...There is a great need of more familiarity with the Scriptures and their teaching in order that we may be crushed to our knees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/there-is-a-great-need-of-more-familiarity-with-the-scriptures-and/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [“I suspect that the humility of God is difficult to accept because of the implications that such a doctrine would have for us. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/i-suspect-that-the-humility-of-god-is-difficult-to-accept-because-of/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [Humility can give everything to God. Everything comes from the source, everything returns to the source.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-can-give-everything-to-god-everything-comes-from-the-source/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The voice of humility is God's music, and the silence of humility is God's rhetoric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-voice-of-humility-is-god-s-music-and-the-silence-of-humility-is/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [“The Christian God’s power comes through his powerlessness and humility. Our God is much more properly called all-vulnerable than almighty, which we should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-christian-god-s-power-comes-through-his-powerlessness-and/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“Our humility before God has no value, except that it prepares us to reveal the humility of Jesus to our fellow men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/our-humility-before-god-has-no-value-except-that-it-prepares-us-to/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [“The Holy Spirit builds on the smooth ground of humility. That's why God will tear you down in order to build you back up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisa-hope-wagner/the-holy-spirit-builds-on-the-smooth-ground-of-humility-that-s-why/) [alisa hope wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisa-hope-wagner/) > [“You have to be truly humble and pure when you are seeking God. If you lack humility, you will never find God, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajhan-samvara/you-have-to-be-truly-humble-and-pure-when-you-are-seeking-god-if-you/) [Ajhan Samvara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajhan-samvara/) ## More by John R.W. Stott > [“The gift of singleness is more a vocation than an empowerment, although to be sure God is faithful in supporting those He calls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/the-gift-of-singleness-is-more-a-vocation-than-an-empowerment/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“The New Testament uses five main Greek words for sin, which together portray its various aspects, both passive and active. The commonest is hamartia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/the-new-testament-uses-five-main-greek-words-for-sin-which-together/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“So then, according to Jesus, the ‘evils’ which we think, say and do are not due primarily to our environment, nor are they bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/so-then-according-to-jesus-the-evils-which-we-think-say-and-do-are/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“What God said to Abraham was not 'Obey this law and I will bless you', but 'I will bless you; believe my promise'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/what-god-said-to-abraham-was-not-obey-this-law-and-i-will-bless-you/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Thomas Cranmer in his ‘Homily of Salvation’ explained that three things had to go together in our justification: on God’s part ‘his great mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/thomas-cranmer-in-his-homily-of-salvation-explained-that-three-things/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“We “receive the Spirit,” he insisted, not because of any good works of obedience that we may have done, but “by hearing with faith,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/we-receive-the-spirit-he-insisted-not-because-of-any-good-works-of/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Nowadays the really great mind is thought to be both broad and open – broad enough to absorb every fresh idea which is presented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/nowadays-the-really-great-mind-is-thought-to-be-both-broad-and-open/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“The power to save lies in the one who is gazed upon, not the one who does the looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/the-power-to-save-lies-in-the-one-who-is-gazed-upon-not-the-one-who/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“To say that somebody ‘is not responsible for his actions’ is to demean him or her as a human being. It is part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/to-say-that-somebody-is-not-responsible-for-his-actions-is-to-demean/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“It is that the promise of the “gift” or “baptism” of the Spirit is to as many as the Lord our God calls. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/it-is-that-the-promise-of-the-gift-or-baptism-of-the-spirit-is-to-as/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“We state and commend the faith only in so far as we go out and put ourselves inside the doubts of the doubters, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/we-state-and-commend-the-faith-only-in-so-far-as-we-go-out-and-put/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Perhaps it is a deep-seated reluctance to face up to the gravity of sin which has led to its omission from the vocabulary of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/perhaps-it-is-a-deep-seated-reluctance-to-face-up-to-the-gravity-of/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“To love the glory of God more than our own glory is also to seek approval from God rather than other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/to-love-the-glory-of-god-more-than-our-own-glory-is-also-to-seek/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Jesus never concealed the fact that his religion included a demand as well as an offer. Indeed, the demand was as total as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/jesus-never-concealed-the-fact-that-his-religion-included-a-demand-as/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“For ‘worship’ is an abbreviation of ‘worthship’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/for-worship-is-an-abbreviation-of-worthship/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) [Explore all 42 John R.W. Stott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. 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We saunter up to God to claim his patronage and friendship; it does not occur to us that he might send us away. We need to hear again the apostle Peter’s sobering words: ‘Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives...in reverent fear.’39 In other words, if we dare to call our Judge our Father, we must beware of presuming on him. It must even be said that our evangelical emphasis on the atonement is dangerous if we come to it too quickly. We learn to appreciate the access to God which Christ has won for us only after we have first seen God’s inaccessibility to sinners. We can cry ‘Hallelujah’ with authenticity only after we have first cried ‘Woe is me, for I am lost’. In Dale’s words, ‘it is partly because sin does not provoke our own wrath, that we do not believe that sin provokes the wrath of God’.40”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John R.W. 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