--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wish, in America, (that) we were as…" description: "\"I wish, in America, (that) we were as concerned about separation from church and sin as we are about separation between church and state. Church and si..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/leonard-ravenhill-1175_america_i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concer_2390925.png" --- # I wish, in America, (that) we were as concerned about… ![“I wish, in America, (that) we were as concerned about separation from church and sin as we are about separation between church and state. Church and sin-- it's a monstrous problem.” quote by Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/leonard-ravenhill-1175_america_i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concer_2390925.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/leonard-ravenhill-1175_america_i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concer_2390925.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/leonard-ravenhill-1175_america_i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concer_2390925.png) > “I wish, in America, (that) we were as concerned about separation from church and sin as we are about separation between church and state. Church and sin-- it's a monstrous problem.” [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker laments that society worries more about institutional separation of church and state than about personal separation from sin and moral decay. **In simple terms:** Society neglects personal sin. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal moral vigilance. Themes faith morality secularism culture concern Mood concern thoughtful serious Type apologetic persuasive didactic When to use this quote - personal reflection - church involvement - ethical education - community service Key Concepts theology ethics social critique Questions to Reflect On - What does personal sin mean to you? - How can faith address societal issues? A Different Perspective Some argue that institutional separation protects religious freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-concerned-4675545/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Church Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-sin-620537/) [Church State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-state/) [Concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerned/) [Concerned Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concerned-separation-5954704/) [Monstrous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monstrous/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Separation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation/) [Separation between church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-between-church-and-state/) [Separation Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separation-church/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The United States have adventured upon a great and noble experiment, which is believed to have been hazarded in the absence of all previous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tyler/the-united-states-have-adventured-upon-a-great-and-noble-experiment/) [John Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tyler/) > [The United States has adventured upon a great and noble experiment . . . of total separation of Church and State. . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tyler/the-united-states-has-adventured-upon-a-great-and-noble-experiment-of/) [John Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tyler/) > [It is the wall of separation between church and state . . . that is largely responsible for religion thriving in this country, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/it-is-the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state-that-is-largely/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I believe in the American tradition of separation of church and state which is expressed in the First Amendment to the Constitution. By my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/i-believe-in-the-american-tradition-of-separation-of-church-and-state/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [Everyone in the United States is so intense about maintaining a separation between Church and State when the real concern should be about keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/everyone-in-the-united-states-is-so-intense-about-maintaining-a/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The notion of a rigid separation between church and state has no basis in either the text of the Constitution or the writings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/the-notion-of-a-rigid-separation-between-church-and-state-has-no/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state'... is absolutely essential in a free society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/erecting-the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state-is/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The 'wall of separation between church and state' is a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphor which has proved useless as a guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rehnquist/the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state-is-a-metaphor-based-2/) [William Rehnquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rehnquist/) > [The "wall of separation between church and State" is a metaphor based on bad history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rehnquist/the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state-is-a-metaphor-based/) [William Rehnquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rehnquist/) > [It is not a question of religion, or of creed, or of party; it is a question of declaring and maintaining the great American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/it-is-not-a-question-of-religion-or-of-creed-or-of-party-it-is-a/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [I believe in the separation of church and state and would not use my authority to violate this principle in any way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-believe-in-the-separation-of-church-and-state-and-would-not-use-my/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/religious-institutions-that-use-government-power-in-support-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The civil Government, though bereft of every thing like an associated hierarchy, possesses the requisite stability, and performs its functions with complete success; whilst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-civil-government-though-bereft-of-every-thing-like-an-associated/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [We believe in separation of church and state, that there should be no unwarranted influence on the church or religion by the state, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-believe-in-separation-of-church-and-state-that-there-should-be-no/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) ## More by Leonard Ravenhill > [Revival is the Spirit's passion within the believer to know and to obey the total will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/revival-is-the-spirit-s-passion-within-the-believer-to-know-and-to/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [We have too many preacherettes preaching too many sermonettes to too many Christianettes smoking cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/we-have-too-many-preacherettes-preaching-too-many-sermonettes-to-too/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [If I was to ask you tonight if you were saved? Do you say 'Yes, I am saved'. When? 'Oh so and so preached,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/if-i-was-to-ask-you-tonight-if-you-were-saved-do-you-say-yes-i-am/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [The world out there is not waiting for a new definition of Christianity; it's waiting for a new demonstration of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/the-world-out-there-is-not-waiting-for-a-new-definition-of/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [John the Baptist never performed any miracles. Yet, he was greater than any of the Old Testament prophets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/john-the-baptist-never-performed-any-miracles-yet-he-was-greater-than/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [“Who or what takes priority over God in our lives?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/who-or-what-takes-priority-over-god-in-our-lives/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [Get rid of this bunkum about the 'carnal Christian'. Forget it! If you're carnal, you're not saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/get-rid-of-this-bunkum-about-the-carnal-christian-forget-it-if-you-re/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [Why is there this criminal indifference to the lostness of men? Our condemnation is that we know how to live better than we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/why-is-there-this-criminal-indifference-to-the-lostness-of-men-our/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [I find it most intriguing to contemplate the fact that while men are considering what place to give Jesus Christ in history, He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/i-find-it-most-intriguing-to-contemplate-the-fact-that-while-men-are/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [If a Christian is not having tribulation in the world, there's something wrong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/if-a-christian-is-not-having-tribulation-in-the-world-there-s/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [The Bible parable says that while men slept, the enemy sowed tares among the wheat. A boy who rises at 4:30 to deliver papers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/the-bible-parable-says-that-while-men-slept-the-enemy-sowed-tares/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [Ministers who do not spend two hours a day in prayer are not worth a dime a dozen - degrees or no degrees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/ministers-who-do-not-spend-two-hours-a-day-in-prayer-are-not-worth-a/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [You know, we live in a day when we are more afraid of holiness than we are of sinfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/you-know-we-live-in-a-day-when-we-are-more-afraid-of-holiness-than-we/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [I doubt if 5% of professing Christians in America are born again-and that's true of England!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/i-doubt-if-5-of-professing-christians-in-america-are-born-again-and/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [What's the condition of America like, spiritually, tonight? Zero. Why? Because we've got blind men coming out of seminaries. Men there don't teach them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/what-s-the-condition-of-america-like-spiritually-tonight-zero-why/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) [Explore all 279 Leonard Ravenhill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wish, in America, (that) we were as concerned about separation from church and sin as we are about separation between church and state. Church and sin-- it's a monstrous problem.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonard Ravenhill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concerned-about-separation-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concerned-about-separation-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/leonard-ravenhill-1175_america_i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concer_2390925.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/leonard-ravenhill-1175_america_i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concer_2390925.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8e/leonard-ravenhill-1175_america_i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concer_2390925.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wish, in America, (that) we were as concerned about separation from church and sin as we are about…” — Leonard Ravenhill", "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": "Leonard Ravenhill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wish, in America, (that) we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concerned-about-separation-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/i-wish-in-america-that-we-were-as-concerned-about-separation-from/#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 } } ] } ```