Addresses Quote by Os Guinness
“At root, evangelical anti-intellectualism is both a scandal and a sin. It is a scandal in the sense of being an offense and a stumbling block that needlessly hinders serious people from considering the Christian faith and coming to Christ. It is a sin because it is a refusal, contrary to Jesus' two great commandments, to love the Lord our God with our minds. Anti-intellectualism is quite simply a sin. Evangelicals must address it as such, beyond all excuses, evasions, or rationalizations of false piety.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gospel of the Kingdom by Os Guinness, 2015
Evangelical anti-intellectualism harms both the church’s witness and violates the command to love God with one’s mind.
In simple terms: Rejecting intellect is a sin that blocks faith.
Key Takeaway
Address the sin, not excuses.
Themes
faith
intellectual humility
church health
Mood
concerned
serious
Type
theological
critical
When to use this quote
- preaching
- education
- apologetics
- personal study
Key Concepts
sin
scandal
commandment
Questions to Reflect On
- How can churches foster thoughtful faith?
- What barriers keep believers from engaging ideas?
A Different Perspective
Intellectual rigor can clash with emotional faith expressions.
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
