--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Christian God’s power comes through…" description: "\"“The Christian God’s power comes through his powerlessness and humility. Our God is much more properly called all-vulnerable than almighty, which we sh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/richard-rohr-618_almighty-god_the-christian-god-s-power-comes-through_526083.jpg" --- # The Christian God’s power comes through his powerlessness… ![“The Christian God’s power comes through his powerlessness and humility. Our God is much more properly called all-vulnerable than almighty, which we should have understood by the constant metaphor of “Lamb of God” found throughout the New Testament. But unfortunately, for the vast majority, he is…” quote by Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/richard-rohr-618_almighty-god_the-christian-god-s-power-comes-through_526083.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/richard-rohr-618_almighty-god_the-christian-god-s-power-comes-through_526083.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/richard-rohr-618_almighty-god_the-christian-god-s-power-comes-through_526083.jpg) > ““The Christian God’s power comes through his powerlessness and humility. Our God is much more properly called all-vulnerable than almighty, which we should have understood by the constant metaphor of “Lamb of God” found throughout the New Testament. But unfortunately, for the vast majority, he is still “the man upstairs,” a substantive noun more than an active verb. In my opinion, this failure is at the basis of the vast expansion of atheism, agnosticism, and practical atheism we see in the West today. “If God is almighty, then I do not like the way this almighty God is running the world,” most modern people seem to be saying. They do not know that the Trinitarian revolution never took root! We still have a largely pagan image of God.”” [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that Christian theology misrepresents God as powerful rather than vulnerable, leading to disillusionment and secularism. **In simple terms:** God is portrayed as weak and humble, not all‑powerful. Key Takeaway Recognize divine vulnerability to restore faith. Themes theology faith secularism humility Mood reflective critical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - church teaching - personal spirituality - interfaith dialogue - academic study Key Concepts Trinitarianism metaphor religious perception Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing God as vulnerable change your worship? - What role does humility play in modern faith? A Different Perspective The claim overlooks diverse Christian traditions that already emphasize humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Almighty god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almighty-god/) [Christian god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-god/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) ## Related quotes > [No matter what God's power may be, the first aspect of God is never that of the absolute Master, the Almighty. It is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/no-matter-what-god-s-power-may-be-the-first-aspect-of-god-is-never/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/you-sum-up-the-whole-of-new-testament-religion-if-you-describe-it-as/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [Jesus washing the disciples feet is the most supreme act of humility in all of God’s word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/jesus-washing-the-disciples-feet-is-the-most-supreme-act-of-humility/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [A man's potential for God lies not in his ability, nor in his opportunity, but in his humility before God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-berg/a-man-s-potential-for-god-lies-not-in-his-ability-nor-in-his/) [Jim Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-berg/) > [“Humility before God is nothing if not proved in humility before men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/humility-before-god-is-nothing-if-not-proved-in-humility-before-men/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [“No sooner do we believe that God loves us than there is an impulse to believe that He does so, not because He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/no-sooner-do-we-believe-that-god-loves-us-than-there-is-an-impulse-to/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [...There is a great need of more familiarity with the Scriptures and their teaching in order that we may be crushed to our knees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/there-is-a-great-need-of-more-familiarity-with-the-scriptures-and/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [“I suspect that the humility of God is difficult to accept because of the implications that such a doctrine would have for us. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-kreider/i-suspect-that-the-humility-of-god-is-difficult-to-accept-because-of/) [Glenn R. Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-r-kreider/) > [“I see in Jesus not only the supreme act of humility in God, but the supreme act of humanity in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-porcher-dubose/i-see-in-jesus-not-only-the-supreme-act-of-humility-in-god-but-the/) William Porcher Dubose > [Humility can give everything to God. Everything comes from the source, everything returns to the source.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-can-give-everything-to-god-everything-comes-from-the-source/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The voice of humility is God's music, and the silence of humility is God's rhetoric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-voice-of-humility-is-god-s-music-and-the-silence-of-humility-is/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [“There is much shallowness and levity among us. Prophets and psalmists would probably say of us that ‘there is no fear of God before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-w-stott/there-is-much-shallowness-and-levity-among-us-prophets-and-psalmists/) [John R.W. Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-w-stott/) > [“Our humility before God has no value, except that it prepares us to reveal the humility of Jesus to our fellow men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/our-humility-before-god-has-no-value-except-that-it-prepares-us-to/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [“The Holy Spirit builds on the smooth ground of humility. That's why God will tear you down in order to build you back up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisa-hope-wagner/the-holy-spirit-builds-on-the-smooth-ground-of-humility-that-s-why/) [alisa hope wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisa-hope-wagner/) > [Talent means nothing without humility. God gives it 2 who he wants 2, and I believe if your arrogant no matter how talented, u…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diggy-simmons/talent-means-nothing-without-humility-god-gives-it-2-who-he-wants-2/) [Diggy Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diggy-simmons/) ## More by Richard Rohr > [“We have become human doings more than human beings, and the verb “rest,” as Jesus uses it, is largely foreign to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-have-become-human-doings-more-than-human-beings-and-the-verb-rest/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [In my opinion, most organized religion does neither agentic service nor relational nurturance very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-my-opinion-most-organized-religion-does-neither-agentic-service/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-we-do-not-transform-our-pain-we-will-most-assuredly-transmit-it/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [In solitude, at last, we’re able to let God define us the way we are always supposed to be defined—by relationship: the I-thou relationship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-solitude-at-last-we-re-able-to-let-god-define-us-the-way-we-are/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Pain and suffering that are not transformed are usually projected onto others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/pain-and-suffering-that-are-not-transformed-are-usually-projected/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [You cannot grow in the integrative dance of action and contemplation without a strong tolerance for ambiguity, an ability to allow, forgive, and contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/you-cannot-grow-in-the-integrative-dance-of-action-and-contemplation/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“In the end, we do not so much reclaim what we have lost as discover a significantly new self in and through the process.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/in-the-end-we-do-not-so-much-reclaim-what-we-have-lost-as-discover-a/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [All great spirituality is about what we do with our pain. If we do not transform our pain, we will transmit it to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/all-great-spirituality-is-about-what-we-do-with-our-pain-if-we-do-not/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I would wonder if you could be a hero or heroine if you did not live in deep time, that is, Past, present, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-would-wonder-if-you-could-be-a-hero-or-heroine-if-you-did-not-live/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [Nature is the one song of praise that never stops singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/nature-is-the-one-song-of-praise-that-never-stops-singing/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“I believe contemplation shows us that nothing inside us is as bad as our hatred and denial of the bad. Hating and denying it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/i-believe-contemplation-shows-us-that-nothing-inside-us-is-as-bad-as/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [We don't have much wisdom about the second half when things really open up and end up looking a lot more progressive. In my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-don-t-have-much-wisdom-about-the-second-half-when-things-really/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [If you do not transform your wounds you will transmit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-you-do-not-transform-your-wounds-you-will-transmit-them/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [The real spiritual journey is work. You can make a naïve assertion that you trust in Jesus, but until it is tested a good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-real-spiritual-journey-is-work-you-can-make-a-na-ve-assertion/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [“The soul needs meaning as much as the body needs food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/the-soul-needs-meaning-as-much-as-the-body-needs-food/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) [Explore all 443 Richard Rohr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) ## More Almighty god quotes > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I really appreciate leaders from around the globe who have come to share in prayer with us today. It reminds me that the Almighty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-really-appreciate-leaders-from-around-the-globe-who-have-come-to/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salmon-p-chase/and-upon-this-act-sincerely-believed-to-be-an-act-of-justice/) [Salmon P. Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salmon-p-chase/) > [People of the Philippines: I have returned. By the grace of Almighty God our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/people-of-the-philippines-i-have-returned-by-the-grace-of-almighty/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [If there is anyone who loves you more than you love yourself are your mother and almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/if-there-is-anyone-who-loves-you-more-than-you-love-yourself-are-your/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [The safest hands to entrust all things is in the hands of the Almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/the-safest-hands-to-entrust-all-things-is-in-the-hands-of-the/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [WHEREAS it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/whereas-it-is-the-duty-of-all-nations-to-acknowledge-the-providence/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“When God's favour and Godly flavour is in you, your haters will taste wisdom and the only thing they can do is to regret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-god-s-favour-and-godly-flavour-is-in-you-your-haters-will-taste/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that thou wilt keep the United States in thy holy protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/almighty-god-we-make-our-earnest-prayer-that-thou-wilt-keep-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [You hear a lot about God these days: God, the beneficent; God, the all-great; God, the Almighty; God, the most powerful; God, the giver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/you-hear-a-lot-about-god-these-days-god-the-beneficent-god-the-all/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I have been thinking a lot about these things as I have come to the realization of the tremendous responsibilities which rest upon me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-harding/i-have-been-thinking-a-lot-about-these-things-as-i-have-come-to-the/) [Warren G. Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-harding/) > [Labor is life: from the inmost heart of the worker rises his God-given force, the sacred celestial life-essence breathed into him by Almighty God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/labor-is-life-from-the-inmost-heart-of-the-worker-rises-his-god-given/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [So many things were testing his faith. There was the Bible, of course, but the Bible was a book, and so were Bleak House,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/so-many-things-were-testing-his-faith-there-was-the-bible-of-course/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [It is my prayer that patience will be a defining characteristic of we who hold the priesthood of Almighty God; that we will courageously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/it-is-my-prayer-that-patience-will-be-a-defining-characteristic-of-we/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Our fates are in the hands of An Almighty God, to whom I can with pleasure confide my own; he can save us, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-clark/our-fates-are-in-the-hands-of-an-almighty-god-to-whom-i-can-with/) [Abraham Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-clark/) [Browse all 187 Almighty god quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almighty-god/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Christian God’s power comes through his powerlessness and humility. Our God is much more properly called all-vulnerable than almighty, which we should have understood by the constant metaphor of “Lamb of God” found throughout the New Testament. But unfortunately, for the vast majority, he is still “the man upstairs,” a substantive noun more than an active verb. 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