--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christianity is not about learning how to…" description: "\"Christianity is not about learning how to live within the lines; Christianity is about the joy of coloring.\" — Mike Yaconelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/mike-yaconelli-13076_christianity_christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-t_2012530.png" --- # Christianity is not about learning how to live within the… ![“Christianity is not about learning how to live within the lines; Christianity is about the joy of coloring.” quote by Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/mike-yaconelli-13076_christianity_christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-t_2012530.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/mike-yaconelli-13076_christianity_christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-t_2012530.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/mike-yaconelli-13076_christianity_christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-t_2012530.png) > “Christianity is not about learning how to live within the lines; Christianity is about the joy of coloring.” [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christianity isn’t about strict conformity; it’s about the freedom and joy of creative expression. **In simple terms:** Christianity is about joyful creative expression. Key Takeaway Celebrate freedom in faith. Themes religion creativity joy Mood uplifting enthusiastic Type inspirational theological When to use this quote - faith practice - artistic worship - personal growth Key Concepts spirituality self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - How does creativity enhance spiritual life? - What balance exists between structure and freedom? A Different Perspective May downplay the need for moral boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/christianity-is-about-learning-to-love-like-jesus-loved-and-jesus/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/christianity-is-not-about-building-an-absolutely-secure-little-niche/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [To think that humans evolved from lower species BUT the evolutionary process somehow came to a halt and we all arrived at the finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/to-think-that-humans-evolved-from-lower-species-but-the-evolutionary/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [One of my most productive days was throwing away 1,000 lines of code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-thompson/one-of-my-most-productive-days-was-throwing-away-1-000-lines-of-code/) [Ken Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-thompson/) > [When you're the director and the writer, you never have to remember your lines, and there's no one to call you on it. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/when-you-re-the-director-and-the-writer-you-never-have-to-remember/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [People who try to predict the future by extrapolating in a line of more of what exists - they are always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/people-who-try-to-predict-the-future-by-extrapolating-in-a-line-of/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [Plenty of white space and generous line spacing,and don't make the type size too miserly. Then you will be assured of a product fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giambattista-bodoni/plenty-of-white-space-and-generous-line-spacing-and-don-t-make-the/) Giambattista Bodoni > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) ## More by Mike Yaconelli > [That's why we trust the Bible - it speaks to both realities: the unchanging human condition and the constantly changing cultural conditions. It speaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/that-s-why-we-trust-the-bible-it-speaks-to-both-realities-the/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [A calling is the place where your gifts, abilities, desires, and feelings of worth all meet. When you follow your calling, you feel at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/a-calling-is-the-place-where-your-gifts-abilities-desires-and/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [There have been times where I've said, 'Jesus, I don't believe in you anymore, get out of here. I don't know. I don't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/there-have-been-times-where-i-ve-said-jesus-i-don-t-believe-in-you/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [When I was younger, I believed my inconsistency was due to my youth. I believed that age would teach me all I needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/when-i-was-younger-i-believed-my-inconsistency-was-due-to-my-youth-i/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [The Church is the place where the incompetent, the unfinished, and even the unhealthy are welcome. I believe Jesus agrees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/the-church-is-the-place-where-the-incompetent-the-unfinished-and-even/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [The reason people don't take Christianity very seriously anymore is because all people do is put it on their business cards and blab to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/the-reason-people-don-t-take-christianity-very-seriously-anymore-is/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [Christianity is not about learning how to live within the lines; Christianity is about the joy of coloring. The grace of God is preposterous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-to-live-within-the-lines/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [I think satire is most effective when you love the thing you're satirizing rather than... have a vendetta against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/i-think-satire-is-most-effective-when-you-love-the-thing-you-re/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [Spirituality is not a formula; it is not a test. It is a relationship. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/spirituality-is-not-a-formula-it-is-not-a-test-it-is-a-relationship/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [Evangelicals always assume that humor and faith are contradictory. It's OK to smile, to be nice, but not frivolous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/evangelicals-always-assume-that-humor-and-faith-are-contradictory-it/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [I just want to be remembered as a person who loved God, who served others more than he served himself, who was trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/i-just-want-to-be-remembered-as-a-person-who-loved-god-who-served/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [Play is an expression of God's presence in the world; one clear sign of God's absence in society is the absence of playfulness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/play-is-an-expression-of-god-s-presence-in-the-world-one-clear-sign-2/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a godly person. Yet when I look at the yesterdays of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-have-wanted-to-be-a-godly-person-yet/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [If I were to die today, I would be nervous about what people would say at my funeral. I would be happy if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/if-i-were-to-die-today-i-would-be-nervous-about-what-people-would-say/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) > [There are a whole lot of people who are so freakin' busy—they've so cluttered up their lives—they're at their wits' end. And if they'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/there-are-a-whole-lot-of-people-who-are-so-freakin-busy-they-ve-so/) [Mike Yaconelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) [Explore all 52 Mike Yaconelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [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/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [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/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [“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/) > [The notion of a non-religious Christmas is ridiculous. But so is the insistence on the part of Christians that politicians and retailers carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/the-notion-of-a-non-religious-christmas-is-ridiculous-but-so-is-the/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [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/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Every saved person this side of heaven owes the gospel to every lost person this side of hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/every-saved-person-this-side-of-heaven-owes-the-gospel-to-every-lost/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) [Browse all 14,385 Christianity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Christianity is not about learning how to live within the lines; Christianity is about the joy of coloring.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Yaconelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-to-live-within-the-lines-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christianity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-to-live-within-the-lines-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/mike-yaconelli-13076_christianity_christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-t_2012530.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/mike-yaconelli-13076_christianity_christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-t_2012530.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/mike-yaconelli-13076_christianity_christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-t_2012530.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Christianity is not about learning how to live within the lines; Christianity is about the joy of coloring.” — Mike Yaconelli", "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": "Mike Yaconelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-yaconelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Christianity is not about learning how...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-to-live-within-the-lines-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-yaconelli/christianity-is-not-about-learning-how-to-live-within-the-lines-2/#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 } } ] } ```