--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Christian church [in its true…" description: "\"The Christian church [in its true identity] does not persecute; any more than a lily scratches the thorns, or a lamb pursues and tears the wolves, or a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/roger-williams-11064_chaste_the-christian-church-in-its-true-identit_1847172.jpg" --- # The Christian church \[in its true identity\] does not… ![“The Christian church [in its true identity] does not persecute; any more than a lily scratches the thorns, or a lamb pursues and tears the wolves, or a turtledove hunts the hawks and eagles, or a chaste and modest virgin fights and scratches like whores and harlots.” quote by Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/roger-williams-11064_chaste_the-christian-church-in-its-true-identit_1847172.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/roger-williams-11064_chaste_the-christian-church-in-its-true-identit_1847172.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/roger-williams-11064_chaste_the-christian-church-in-its-true-identit_1847172.jpg) > “The Christian church \[in its true identity\] does not persecute; any more than a lily scratches the thorns, or a lamb pursues and tears the wolves, or a turtledove hunts the hawks and eagles, or a chaste and modest virgin fights and scratches like whores and harlots.” [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True religious expression does not involve violence; it coexists peacefully with nature, unlike aggressive metaphors that suggest conflict. **In simple terms:** Religion should be non‑violent and harmonious. Key Takeaway Promote peaceful dialogue and mutual respect. Themes religion non‑violence metaphor peace Mood thoughtful serene inquisitive Type theological ethical When to use this quote - interfaith meetings - educational curricula - community mediation Key Concepts natural law ethical discourse spiritual harmony Questions to Reflect On - What does non‑violence look like in faith communities? - How can we avoid violent imagery in spiritual discussions? A Different Perspective Metaphorical language may mislead about the nature of religious practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chaste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-church/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagles/) [Hawks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hawks/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Lilies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lilies/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [True identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-identity/) ## Related quotes > [It hath evermore been the notorious badge of prostituted Strumpets and the lewdest Harlots, to ramble abroad to Plays, to Playhouses; whither no honest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-prynne/it-hath-evermore-been-the-notorious-badge-of-prostituted-strumpets/) [William Prynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-prynne/) > [The Senator from South Carolina has read many books of chivalry, and believes himself a chivalrous knight, with sentiments of honor and courage. Of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sumner/the-senator-from-south-carolina-has-read-many-books-of-chivalry-and/) [Charles Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sumner/) > [Everything is possible for the believer. I have watched impure souls mad for physical love but turning what they know of such love into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/everything-is-possible-for-the-believer-i-have-watched-impure-souls/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [But though such is our character (Oh. why should I speak of things unfit to be uttered?), the things said of us are an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/athenagoras-of-athens/but-though-such-is-our-character-oh-why-should-i-speak-of-things/) Athenagoras of Athens > [“In the new covenant, God is calling forth a spiritual nation made up of Jews and Gentiles, and all of them are regenerate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-the-new-covenant-god-is-calling-forth-a-spiritual-nation-made-up/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The Church is her true self only when she exists for humanity. As a fresh start, she should give away all her endowments to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-is-her-true-self-only-when-she-exists-for-humanity-as-a/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The Church is that one wherein the true word of God is preached, which Christ left to His Apostles, which the same Church hath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-clitherow/the-church-is-that-one-wherein-the-true-word-of-god-is-preached-which/) Margaret Clitherow > [In this Year of Faith, we pray to the Lord that the Church may always be a true family that brings God’s love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-this-year-of-faith-we-pray-to-the-lord-that-the-church-may-always/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [This Church is true. It will weather every storm that beats against it. It will outlast every critic who rises to mock it. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/this-church-is-true-it-will-weather-every-storm-that-beats-against-it/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [... together we can build the people's Church, a true Church. Not just a hierarchy, or a building, but a real change inside people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/together-we-can-build-the-people-s-church-a-true-church-not-just-a/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [Each of us has to face the matter—either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/each-of-us-has-to-face-the-matter-either-the-church-is-true-or-it-is/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“the path of those belonging to the Church circumscribes the whole world, as possessing the sure tradition from the apostles, and gives unto us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-path-of-those-belonging-to-the-church-circumscribes-the-whole/) The Church Fathers > [The church is her true self only when she exists for humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-is-her-true-self-only-when-she-exists-for-humanity/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [That I am not a member of any Christian church is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/that-i-am-not-a-member-of-any-christian-church-is-true-but-i-have/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If the Church were not true, our enemies would be bored rather than threatened, and acquiescent rather than anxious. Hell is moved only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/if-the-church-were-not-true-our-enemies-would-be-bored-rather-than/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More by Roger Williams > [It is less hurtful to compel a man to marry someone whom he does not love than to follow a religion in which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/it-is-less-hurtful-to-compel-a-man-to-marry-someone-whom-he-does-not/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/if-the-civil-magistrate-be-a-christian-a-disciple-or-follower-of-the/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [The greatest crime is not developing your potential. When you do what you do best, you are helping not only yourself, but the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-greatest-crime-is-not-developing-your-potential-when-you-do-what/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [“That our selves and all men are apt and prone to differ it is no new Thing in all former Ages in all parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/that-our-selves-and-all-men-are-apt-and-prone-to-differ-it-is-no-new/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [It is but little of the world yet that hath heard the lost estate of mankind and of a Savior, Christ Jesus; and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/it-is-but-little-of-the-world-yet-that-hath-heard-the-lost-estate-of/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to maintain their wars to be defensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/all-men-of-conscience-or-prudence-ply-to-windward-to-maintain-their/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [The natives are very exact and punctual in the bounds of their lands, belonging to this or that prince or people, even to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-natives-are-very-exact-and-punctual-in-the-bounds-of-their-lands/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [Men's consciences ought in no sort to be violated, urged, or constrained. And whenever men have attempted any thing by this violent course, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/men-s-consciences-ought-in-no-sort-to-be-violated-urged-or/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [Sometimes the truth is stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/sometimes-the-truth-is-stupid/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [All who are entrusted with spiritual and temporal talents must lay them out for the Lord and Master's advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/all-who-are-entrusted-with-spiritual-and-temporal-talents-must-lay/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [ This scripture \[Romans 13:1-6\] is wrested from the scope of God's Spirit, and the nature of the place, and cannot truly be interpreted to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/this-scripture-romans-13-1-6-is-wrested-from-the-scope-of-god-s/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [There is no regularly constituted church of Christ on earth, nor any person qualified to administer any church ordinances; nor can there be until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/there-is-no-regularly-constituted-church-of-christ-on-earth-nor-any/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [When in doubt, use nutrition first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/when-in-doubt-use-nutrition-first/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [A false worship will not hurt the civil state if the worshipper breaks no civil law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/a-false-worship-will-not-hurt-the-civil-state-if-the-worshipper/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [God requireth not a uniformity of religion to be enacted in any civil state; which enforced uniformity (sooner or later) is the greatest occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/god-requireth-not-a-uniformity-of-religion-to-be-enacted-in-any-civil/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) [Explore all 62 Roger Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) ## More Chaste quotes > [It is not always from valor or from chastity that men are brave, and women chaste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-not-always-from-valor-or-from-chastity-that-men-are-brave-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The one who has not conquered the passions cannot enter the chaste and pure region of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/the-one-who-has-not-conquered-the-passions-cannot-enter-the-chaste/) [Vladimir Aleksandrovich Antonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/) > [Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, ac charite is aweye; Are none hardere than hii whan hii ben avaunced: Unkynde to hire kyn and to alle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-langland/manye-chapeleyns-arn-chaste-ac-charite-is-aweye-are-none-hardere-than/) [William Langland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-langland/) > [Staying chaste until marriage, a commandment of my faith, was one of the most difficult challenges of my young life. I had a powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/staying-chaste-until-marriage-a-commandment-of-my-faith-was-one-of/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [“It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless padlock, than to fall in love with someone who doesn't know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with-a-merciless-padlock-than-to/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“A virtuos woman is not moved by big names and flamboyance, but only men of profound wisdom and integrity move her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-virtuos-woman-is-not-moved-by-big-names-and-flamboyance-but-only/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“The girl's life had been squandered in the streets, and among the most noisome of the stews and dens of London, but there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-girl-s-life-had-been-squandered-in-the-streets-and-among-the-most/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Too chaste an adolescence makes for a dissolute old age. It is doubtless easier to give up something one has known than something one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/too-chaste-an-adolescence-makes-for-a-dissolute-old-age-it-is/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [The eye of a man should be still more reverent before the rising of a young maiden than before the rising of a star.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-eye-of-a-man-should-be-still-more-reverent-before-the-rising-of-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Mediocre people often have a tinge of religion about them, but it is only a tinge. They take their religion as it comes. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dubay/mediocre-people-often-have-a-tinge-of-religion-about-them-but-it-is/) [Thomas Dubay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dubay/) > [There's a disciplined erotic component to it, so that the height of sexual contact is the embrace, the modest touch, a relatively chaste kiss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/there-s-a-disciplined-erotic-component-to-it-so-that-the-height-of/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-there-s-no-man-happy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, "Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/a-roman-divorced-from-his-wife-being-highly-blamed-by-his-friends-who/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Make me chaste and To what excesses will men not go for the sake of a religion in which they believe so little and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/make-me-chaste-and-to-what-excesses-will-men-not-go-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Art is never chaste. It ought to be forbidden to ignorant innocents, never allowed into contact with those not sufficiently prepared. Yes, art is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-is-never-chaste-it-ought-to-be-forbidden-to-ignorant-innocents/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 169 Chaste quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Christian church [in its true identity] does not persecute; any more than a lily scratches the thorns, or a lamb pursues and tears the wolves, or a turtledove hunts the hawks and eagles, or a chaste and modest virgin fights and scratches like whores and harlots.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roger Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-christian-church-in-its-true-identity-does-not-persecute-any-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chaste" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-christian-church-in-its-true-identity-does-not-persecute-any-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/roger-williams-11064_chaste_the-christian-church-in-its-true-identit_1847172.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/roger-williams-11064_chaste_the-christian-church-in-its-true-identit_1847172.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/roger-williams-11064_chaste_the-christian-church-in-its-true-identit_1847172.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Christian church [in its true identity] does not persecute; any more than a lily scratches the thorns…” — Roger Williams", "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": "Roger Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Christian church [in its true...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-christian-church-in-its-true-identity-does-not-persecute-any-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-christian-church-in-its-true-identity-does-not-persecute-any-more/#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 } } ] } ```