---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A heartless Christian must be a terrible…"
description: "\"A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.\" — Oswald Chambers"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/oswald-chambers-205_christian_a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible_1266870.png"
---

#  A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.

![“A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/oswald-chambers-205_christian_a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible_1266870.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/oswald-chambers-205_christian_a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible_1266870.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/oswald-chambers-205_christian_a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible_1266870.png)

> “A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.”

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A heartless Christian is portrayed as causing sorrow to God, emphasizing compassion as a divine expectation.

**In simple terms:** Lack of compassion hurts God.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate empathy.

Themes

faith compassion spirituality

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

spiritual ethical

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- community service
- church outreach

Key Concepts

theology moral duty humanity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can compassion be practiced daily?
- What does it mean to be “heartless” spiritually?

A Different Perspective

Compassion alone may not resolve all moral failings.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Heartless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartless/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Our lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lord/)

## Related quotes

> [“It is possible for music to be labeled "Christian" and be terrible music. It could lack creativity and inspiration. The lyrics could be recycled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/it-is-possible-for-music-to-be-labeled-christian-and-be-terrible/)

[Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/)

> [What was so terrible about grief was not grief itself, but that one got over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-james/what-was-so-terrible-about-grief-was-not-grief-itself-but-that-one/)

[P. D. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-james/)

> [At last, Lady Evenstar, fairest in this world, and most beloved, my world is fading. Lo! we have gathered, and we have spent, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-last-lady-evenstar-fairest-in-this-world-and-most-beloved-my-world/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“You don't even have a cross," he said. His beloved was silent. "You don't even have any candles, no face of Christ, no tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hawkes/you-don-t-even-have-a-cross-he-said-his-beloved-was-silent-you-don-t/)

[John Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hawkes/)

> [“Grief The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-larson/grief-the-lord-hears-his-people-when-they-call-to-him-for-help-he/)

[Susie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-larson/)

> [There is a vast difference between devotion to a person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/there-is-a-vast-difference-between-devotion-to-a-person-and-devotion/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Our Lord never referred to unanswered prayer. He taught that prayers are always answered: “Everyone who asks receives”. And He implied that prayers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/our-lord-never-referred-to-unanswered-prayer-he-taught-that-prayers/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [There are not three stages in spiritual life-worship, waiting, and work. Some of us go in jumps like spiritual frogs. We jump from worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/there-are-not-three-stages-in-spiritual-life-worship-waiting-and-work/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Prayer is simple, prayer is supernatural, and to anyone not related to our Lord Jesus Christ, prayer is apt to look stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/prayer-is-simple-prayer-is-supernatural-and-to-anyone-not-related-to/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Our Lord's conception of discipleship is not that we work for God, but that God works through us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/our-lord-s-conception-of-discipleship-is-not-that-we-work-for-god-but/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Our Lord never lays down the conditions of discipleship as the conditions of salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/our-lord-never-lays-down-the-conditions-of-discipleship-as-the/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Our Lord did not say it was wrong to pray in the corners of the street, but He did say it was wrong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/our-lord-did-not-say-it-was-wrong-to-pray-in-the-corners-of-the/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Our Lord was 30 years preparing for 3 years of service. The modern stamp is to spend 3 hours preparing for 30 years of service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/our-lord-was-30-years-preparing-for-3-years-of-service-the-modern/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-christian-who-is-truly-intimate-with-jesus-will-never-draw/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [If we pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God. We receive an answer every time we pray,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-pray-only-because-we-want-answers-we-will-become-irritated-and/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

## More by Oswald Chambers

> [“If we deliberately choose to obey God, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-deliberately-choose-to-obey-god-then-he-will-tax-the-remotest/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/realize-that-the-lord-is-here-now-and-the-freedom-you-receive-is/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sorrow-burns-up-a-great-amount-of-shallowness/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-solemn-thing-and-no-small-scandal-in-the-kingdom-to-see-god-s/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/my-spiritual-history-must-have-as-its-underlying-foundation-a/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

[Explore all 922 Oswald Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

## More Christian quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [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/)

> [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [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/)

> [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [“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/)

> [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/)

[Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/)

> [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/)

[Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/)

> [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/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/)

[Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/)

> [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/)

[J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/)

[Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Oswald Chambers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible-grief-to-our-lord/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christian"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible-grief-to-our-lord/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/oswald-chambers-205_christian_a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible_1266870.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/oswald-chambers-205_christian_a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible_1266870.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe3/oswald-chambers-205_christian_a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible_1266870.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A heartless Christian must be a terrible grief to our Lord.” — Oswald Chambers",
                "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": "Oswald Chambers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A heartless Christian must be a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible-grief-to-our-lord/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/a-heartless-christian-must-be-a-terrible-grief-to-our-lord/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
