--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we do not do this our churches will…" description: "\"If we do not do this our churches will lighthouses without light, wells without water, dumb witnesses, sleeping watchmen, silent trumpets, messengers w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/robert-e-lee-2368_church_if-we-do-not-do-this-our-churches-will-l_2841349.png" --- # If we do not do this our churches will lighthouses without… ![“If we do not do this our churches will lighthouses without light, wells without water, dumb witnesses, sleeping watchmen, silent trumpets, messengers without tidings, a comfort for infidels, jubilant joys to the devil, and an offense to God.” quote by Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/robert-e-lee-2368_church_if-we-do-not-do-this-our-churches-will-l_2841349.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/robert-e-lee-2368_church_if-we-do-not-do-this-our-churches-will-l_2841349.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/robert-e-lee-2368_church_if-we-do-not-do-this-our-churches-will-l_2841349.png) > “If we do not do this our churches will lighthouses without light, wells without water, dumb witnesses, sleeping watchmen, silent trumpets, messengers without tidings, a comfort for infidels, jubilant joys to the devil, and an offense to God.” [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without moral guidance, institutions become empty symbols, failing their purpose. **In simple terms:** Faith without action is hollow. Key Takeaway Uphold moral purpose in institutions. Themes faith institution morality purpose Mood cautionary thought‑provoking Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - church leadership - community service - public policy - education - civic engagement Key Concepts ethical duty spiritual leadership social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What constitutes true moral guidance? - How can institutions balance tradition and relevance? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on morality can suppress dissenting voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Churches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/churches/) [Churches Lighthouses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/churches-lighthouses-3726674/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb/) [Dumb Witnesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumb-witnesses-3726675/) [Friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friday/) [Good friday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friday/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Infidel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infidel/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Lighthouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lighthouse/) [Messengers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messengers/) [Offense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense/) [Offense God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offense-god-2309002/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Tidings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tidings/) [Trumpets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trumpets/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness/) [Witnesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witnesses/) ## Related quotes > [Most of us have hoped and prayed for something to happen a certain way, but it didn't. 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No soldier was ever trained by the mere study of his manual, but by practicing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/outlook/an-athlete-was-never-made-by-mere-instruction-no-soldier-was-ever/) [Outlook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/outlook/) > [Whilst we assert for ourselves a freedom to embrace, to profess and observe the Religion which we believe to be of divine origin, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/whilst-we-assert-for-ourselves-a-freedom-to-embrace-to-profess-and/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace; Tidings of Jesus, redemption, and release. The king’s business required haste. – 1 Samuel 21:8”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/publish-glad-tidings-tidings-of-peace-tidings-of-jesus-redemption-and/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [Literature delivers tidings of the world within and the world without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/literature-delivers-tidings-of-the-world-within-and-the-world-without/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [You don't hear things that are bad about your company unless you ask. It is easy to hear good tidings, but you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-watson/you-don-t-hear-things-that-are-bad-about-your-company-unless-you-ask/) [Thomas J. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-watson/) > [So here comes Gabriel again, and what he says is "Good tidings of great joy ... for all people." ... That's why the shepherds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-wangerin/so-here-comes-gabriel-again-and-what-he-says-is-good-tidings-of-great/) [Walter Wangerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-wangerin/) > [As for his evil tidings, Belshazzar's overthrow, Why hurry to tell Belshazzar What soon enough he would know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/as-for-his-evil-tidings-belshazzar-s-overthrow-why-hurry-to-tell/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [ \[T\]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/t-here-are-depths-of-thousands-of-miles-which-are-hidden-from-our/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [The enemy's spies who have come to spy on us must be sought out, tempted with bribes, led away and comfortably housed. Thus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/the-enemy-s-spies-who-have-come-to-spy-on-us-must-be-sought-out/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Truly unexpected tidings make both ears tingle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/truly-unexpected-tidings-make-both-ears-tingle/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [May dawn, as the proverb goes, bring happy tidings coming from her mother night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/may-dawn-as-the-proverb-goes-bring-happy-tidings-coming-from-her/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) ## More by Robert E. Lee > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [...the framers of our Constitution never exhausted so much labor, wisdom and forbearance in its formation if it was intended to be broken up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/the-framers-of-our-constitution-never-exhausted-so-much-labor-wisdom/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/my-trust-is-in-the-mercy-and-wisdom-of-a-kind-providence-who-ordereth/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [All military history records the triumphs of discipline and courage far more frequently than numbers and resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/all-military-history-records-the-triumphs-of-discipline-and-courage/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-true-man-of-honor-feels-humbled-himself-when-he-cannot-help/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I will attack no matter what and win the war!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-will-attack-no-matter-what-and-win-the-war/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A man may manifest and communicate his joy, but he should conceal and smother his grief as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-man-may-manifest-and-communicate-his-joy-but-he-should-conceal-and/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We poor sinners need to come back from our wanderings to seek pardon through the all-sufficient merits of our Redeemer. And we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-poor-sinners-need-to-come-back-from-our-wanderings-to-seek-pardon/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Life processes take place in an aqueous medium. All organisms are composed mostly of water, whether they dwell in the oceans, lakes, and rivers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/life-processes-take-place-in-an-aqueous-medium-all-organisms-are/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and military equipments, must endeavor to harass, if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-and-though-weaker-than-our-opponents-in/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We must forgive our enemies. 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Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## More Church quotes > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. Recognition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/while-the-1963-birmingham-church-bombing-is-the-most-historic-there/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Turn over the pages of history and read the damning record of the church's opposition to every advance in every field of science. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/turn-over-the-pages-of-history-and-read-the-damning-record-of-the/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [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/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. 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