--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Christians we need to be patient…" description: "\"As Christians we need to be patient, understanding, and kind. Instead of going on the attack, we can ask genuine questions. Instead of bristling when o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/kevin-deyoung-1086_afraid_as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-unde_939333.jpg" --- # As Christians we need to be patient, understanding, and… ![“As Christians we need to be patient, understanding, and kind. Instead of going on the attack, we can ask genuine questions. Instead of bristling when our narrative is summarily dismissed, we can carefully explain our way of seeing things. And when we are wrong, we won't be afraid to say so.” quote by Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/kevin-deyoung-1086_afraid_as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-unde_939333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/kevin-deyoung-1086_afraid_as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-unde_939333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/kevin-deyoung-1086_afraid_as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-unde_939333.jpg) > “As Christians we need to be patient, understanding, and kind. Instead of going on the attack, we can ask genuine questions. Instead of bristling when our narrative is summarily dismissed, we can carefully explain our way of seeing things. And when we are wrong, we won't be afraid to say so.” [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patience, understanding, and kindness foster constructive dialogue; humility allows honest correction. **In simple terms:** Be patient, kind, and open to questions. Key Takeaway Practice humility and ask before you speak. Themes communication humility faith conflict resolution Mood thoughtful encouraging Type inspirational didactic When to use this quote - interfaith discussions - online debates - personal disagreements Key Concepts dialogue empathy self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - When have you chosen listening over defending? - How can you model humility in disagreement? A Different Perspective Kindness can be perceived as weakness; balance firmness with empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask/) [Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack/) [Be patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-patient/) [Carefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carefully/) [Carefully Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carefully-explain-1593792/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Christians Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-need-1593791/) [Dismissed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dismissed/) [Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain/) [Genuine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine/) [Genuine Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine-questions-1497954/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instead/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) ## Related quotes > [Some Christians need encouragement to think before they act. Others need encouragement to act after they think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/some-christians-need-encouragement-to-think-before-they-act-others/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [There are genuine questions to be asked about why we now have the highest level of employment in many decades, contrary to the position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-alexander/there-are-genuine-questions-to-be-asked-about-why-we-now-have-the/) [Douglas Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-alexander/) > [I was the type of person who was the question-asker. And not just genuine questions, I would ask a question so the author would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-was-the-type-of-person-who-was-the-question-asker-and-not-just/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [Curiosity is the process of asking questions, genuine questions, that are not leading to an ask for something in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-grazer/curiosity-is-the-process-of-asking-questions-genuine-questions-that/) [Brian Grazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-grazer/) > [It saddens me that Christians need to be reminded that awe is owed also to those who disagree with them, who believe otherwise than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/it-saddens-me-that-christians-need-to-be-reminded-that-awe-is-owed/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) > [Today, this selfish attitude of indifference has taken on global proportions, to the extent that we can speak of a globalization of indifference. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/today-this-selfish-attitude-of-indifference-has-taken-on-global/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“It’s strange that Christians so rarely talk about failure when we claim to follow a guy whose three-year ministry was cut short by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/it-s-strange-that-christians-so-rarely-talk-about-failure-when-we/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [“Christians need to set the example with their words. Christians should think twice about the negative things that they say and not hesitate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-shepherd/christians-need-to-set-the-example-with-their-words-christians-should/) [Rob Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-shepherd/) > [“As Christians we need to live in a constant state of forgiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-tollefson/as-christians-we-need-to-live-in-a-constant-state-of-forgiveness/) [Mark Tollefson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-tollefson/) > [Christians need a time and place to sanctify themselves. It's important to take the time, and early in the morning is a wonderful time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/christians-need-a-time-and-place-to-sanctify-themselves-it-s/) [Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/) > [Just as bank tellers need a thorough knowledge of legitimate currency in order to spot counterfeit bills, so Christians need a thorough knowledge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/just-as-bank-tellers-need-a-thorough-knowledge-of-legitimate-currency/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [We live in a time when Christians need to be told that they are supposed to live like Christ. That's Weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/we-live-in-a-time-when-christians-need-to-be-told-that-they-are/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Christians need jobs just like anybody else, but the years you spend as an undergraduate are like everything else in your life. They're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-hauerwas/christians-need-jobs-just-like-anybody-else-but-the-years-you-spend/) [Stanley Hauerwas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-hauerwas/) > [Christians need to take the lead in educating people that children are gifts, as my autistic grandson most surely is. By going down the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/christians-need-to-take-the-lead-in-educating-people-that-children/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [Christians need to embrace that there need to be believers talking about love and social issues and all other aspects of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/christians-need-to-embrace-that-there-need-to-be-believers-talking/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) ## More by Kevin DeYoung > [“Worry about the future is not simply a character tic, it is the sin of unbelief, an indication that our hearts are not resting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/worry-about-the-future-is-not-simply-a-character-tic-it-is-the-sin-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-nothing-gray-about-whether-a-follower-of-christ-should-see/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [A catechism is simply a tool for teaching the fundamentals of the faith. Unlike a creed or confession, a catechism uses questions and answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-catechism-is-simply-a-tool-for-teaching-the-fundamentals-of-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/live-for-god-obey-the-scriptures-think-of-others-before-yourself-be/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Busyness kills more Christians than bullets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/busyness-kills-more-christians-than-bullets/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Grace is free, but it's not cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/grace-is-free-but-it-s-not-cheap/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [If there really is a perfect will of God we are meant to discover, in which we will find tremendous freedom and fulfillment, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/if-there-really-is-a-perfect-will-of-god-we-are-meant-to-discover-in/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/seek-first-the-kingdom-of-god-and-then-trust-that-he-will-take-care/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [There is no sin so prevalent, so insidious, and so deep as the sin of fearing people more than we fear God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-no-sin-so-prevalent-so-insidious-and-so-deep-as-the-sin-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“The pursuit of holiness is not a quixotic effort to do just what Jesus did. It’s the fight to live out the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-pursuit-of-holiness-is-not-a-quixotic-effort-to-do-just-what/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Offendedness is just about the last shared moral currency in our country. And, I'm sorry, but it's really annoying. We don't discuss ideas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/offendedness-is-just-about-the-last-shared-moral-currency-in-our/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [The finality of Christs redemption for us is intimately tied to the finality of his revelation to us. . . . If we say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-finality-of-christs-redemption-for-us-is-intimately-tied-to-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Everything before Jesus is preface. Everything after Jesus is appendix. Jesus is the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/everything-before-jesus-is-preface-everything-after-jesus-is-appendix/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Sometimes feeling overwhelmed is part of what it means to be a Christian. You can't bear somebody else's burden unless you are taking something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sometimes-feeling-overwhelmed-is-part-of-what-it-means-to-be-a/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“Faith and good works are both necessary. But one is the root and the other the fruit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/faith-and-good-works-are-both-necessary-but-one-is-the-root-and-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) [Explore all 295 Kevin DeYoung quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“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/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As Christians we need to be patient, understanding, and kind. Instead of going on the attack, we can ask genuine questions. Instead of bristling when our narrative is summarily dismissed, we can carefully explain our way of seeing things. And when we are wrong, we won't be afraid to say so.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin DeYoung" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-understanding-and-kind-instead-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-understanding-and-kind-instead-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/kevin-deyoung-1086_afraid_as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-unde_939333.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/kevin-deyoung-1086_afraid_as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-unde_939333.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/kevin-deyoung-1086_afraid_as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-unde_939333.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As Christians we need to be patient, understanding, and kind. Instead of going on the attack, we can ask…” — Kevin DeYoung", "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": "Kevin DeYoung", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As Christians we need to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-understanding-and-kind-instead-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/as-christians-we-need-to-be-patient-understanding-and-kind-instead-of/#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 } } ] } ```