--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reason I am a Christian is not that…" description: "\"The reason I am a Christian is not that it is nice, but that it is true.\" — John Stott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/john-stott-1926_christian_the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that_112822.png" --- # The reason I am a Christian is not that it is nice, but… ![“The reason I am a Christian is not that it is nice, but that it is true.” quote by John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/john-stott-1926_christian_the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that_112822.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/john-stott-1926_christian_the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that_112822.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/john-stott-1926_christian_the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that_112822.png) > “The reason I am a Christian is not that it is nice, but that it is true.” [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faith is presented as a matter of truth rather than comfort; belief is grounded in conviction, not sentiment. **In simple terms:** Belief is about truth, not pleasantness. Key Takeaway Truth over comfort in belief. Themes faith truth conviction religion Mood determined reflective Type philosophical religious When to use this quote - choosing a religion - defending belief in debate - personal crisis of faith Key Concepts epistemology existential purpose Practical Applications - articulate reasons for belief - use truth claims to guide actions Questions to Reflect On - What makes a belief true for you? - Can comfort ever be a valid reason for faith? A Different Perspective Truth claims can be subjective; what feels true to one may not be universally verifiable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-nice-1334397/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-christian-1334396/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) ## Related quotes > [He chief reason why the Christian believes in the divine origin of the Bible is that Jesus Christ Himself taught it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/he-chief-reason-why-the-christian-believes-in-the-divine-origin-of/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [The chief reason why the Christian believes in the divine origin of the Bible is that Jesus Christ Himself taught it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-chief-reason-why-the-christian-believes-in-the-divine-origin-of/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [These principles have been proclaimed by God, by the Church, by the Saints, by reason, by Christian morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xii/these-principles-have-been-proclaimed-by-god-by-the-church-by-the-2/) [Pope Pius XII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xii/) > [The reason I became a Christian is the same reason I became a conservative: I paid attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/the-reason-i-became-a-christian-is-the-same-reason-i-became-a/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [“The Bible was written with the assumption that we are the rational and spiritual beings God made us to be, giving us the created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-k-stenberger/the-bible-was-written-with-the-assumption-that-we-are-the-rational/) [Andreas Köstenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-k-stenberger/) > [The only reason why I'm a Christian is because I'm a gift of the Father to the Son, not because of anything I've ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-only-reason-why-i-m-a-christian-is-because-i-m-a-gift-of-the/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [ \[Christian rebellion\] arises from the doctrine of mankind made in the image of God, and therefore protests against all forms of dehumanization. It sets… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/christian-rebellion-arises-from-the-doctrine-of-mankind-made-in-the/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Kendrick is a true genius artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flying-lotus/kendrick-is-a-true-genius-artist/) [Flying Lotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flying-lotus/) > [To try and act like we haven't had great progress is not true. Obama didn't fail - he changed the psyche of the nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/to-try-and-act-like-we-haven-t-had-great-progress-is-not-true-obama/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [Feelings only die if the feelings were never real or true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-marcellin/feelings-only-die-if-the-feelings-were-never-real-or-true/) [Sam Marcellin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-marcellin/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [Guys this is true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/guys-this-is-true/) [Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/) > [I'm just a girl trying to find a way in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-just-a-girl-trying-to-find-a-way-in-this-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/) [Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) ## More by John Stott > [Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/prayer-is-not-a-convenient-device-for-imposing-our-will-upon-god-or/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Mission arises from the heart of God Himself and is communicated from His heart to ours. Mission is the global outreach of the global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/mission-arises-from-the-heart-of-god-himself-and-is-communicated-from/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [ \[Christian rebellion\] arises from the doctrine of mankind made in the image of God, and therefore protests against all forms of dehumanization. It sets… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/christian-rebellion-arises-from-the-doctrine-of-mankind-made-in-the/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousn ess, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/all-of-us-have-inflated-views-of-ourselves-especially-in-self/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [A deaf church is a dead church: that is an unalterable principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/a-deaf-church-is-a-dead-church-that-is-an-unalterable-principle/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [So there is such a thing as perfect hatred, just as there is such a thing as righteous anger. But it is a hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/so-there-is-such-a-thing-as-perfect-hatred-just-as-there-is-such-a/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [“Unless some people are commissioned for the task, there will be no gospel preachers; unless the gospel is preached, sinners will not hear Christ’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/unless-some-people-are-commissioned-for-the-task-there-will-be-no/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [“many former sins have become crimes’, so that responsibility for dealing with them has passed from church to state, from priest to policeman (p.50),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/many-former-sins-have-become-crimes-so-that-responsibility-for/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [When we look at the cross we see the justice, love, wisdom and power of God. It is not easy to decide which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/when-we-look-at-the-cross-we-see-the-justice-love-wisdom-and-power-of/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [If God speaks to us about himself and his own glorious greatness, we respond by humbling ourselves before him in worship... If He speaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/if-god-speaks-to-us-about-himself-and-his-own-glorious-greatness-we/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [There is something inherently inappropriate about cherishing small ambitions for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/there-is-something-inherently-inappropriate-about-cherishing-small/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Every powerful movement has had its philosophy which has gripped the mind, fired the imagination and captured the devotion of its adherents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/every-powerful-movement-has-had-its-philosophy-which-has-gripped-the/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [“A guilty conscience is a great blessing, but only if it drives us to come home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/a-guilty-conscience-is-a-great-blessing-but-only-if-it-drives-us-to/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [The concept of substitution lies at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-concept-of-substitution-lies-at-the-heart-of-both-sin-and/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Nobody can call himself a Christian who does not worship Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/nobody-can-call-himself-a-christian-who-does-not-worship-jesus/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) [Explore all 198 John Stott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) ## 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. 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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": "The reason I am a Christian is not that it is nice, but that it is true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Stott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that-it-is-nice-but-that-it-is-true/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that-it-is-nice-but-that-it-is-true/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/john-stott-1926_christian_the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that_112822.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/john-stott-1926_christian_the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that_112822.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/john-stott-1926_christian_the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that_112822.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The reason I am a Christian is not that it is nice, but that it is true.” — John Stott", "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 Stott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The reason I am a Christian...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that-it-is-nice-but-that-it-is-true/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that-it-is-nice-but-that-it-is-true/#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 } } ] } ```