Confession Quote by N.T. Wright
““The church is never more in danger than when it sees itself simply as the solution-bearer and forgets that every day it too must say, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner," and allow that confession to work its way into genuine humility even as it stands boldly before the world and its crazy empires. In particular, it is a problem if and when a "Christian" empire seeks to impose its will dualistically on the world by labeling other parts of the world "evil" while seeing itself as the avenging army of God. That is more or less exactly what Jesus found in the Israel of his day. The cross was and remains a call to a different vocation, a new way of dealing with evil and ultimately a new vision of God.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright, 2008
The church must stay humble, recognizing its own sinfulness and avoiding imperialistic claims of moral superiority.
In simple terms: Church should be humble, not a self‑appointed savior.
Key Takeaway
Practice humility and resist power‑driven righteousness.
Themes
humility
power
spirituality
ethics
religion
Mood
reflective
serious
thoughtful
Type
theological
ethical
critical
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- political movements
- interfaith dialogue
- social activism
Key Concepts
theology
ecclesiology
imperialism
humility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance bold witness with humility?
- What signs show a religious group becoming an empire?
A Different Perspective
Even humble churches can be co‑opted by political agendas.
