--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us face at the outset how many…" description: "\"Let us face at the outset how many Christians are not victorious, but defeated. Defeated by circumstances, defeated by other peoples? natures and wrong..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/sam-shoemaker-38126_centeredness_let-us-face-at-the-outset-how-many-chris_2512583.jpg" --- # Let us face at the outset how many Christians are not… ![“Let us face at the outset how many Christians are not victorious, but defeated. Defeated by circumstances, defeated by other peoples? natures and wrong-doings, defeated by the down-drag of the flesh, defeated by loss, by pain, by suffering, by worry. Instead of saying with confidence, ?This is the…” quote by Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/sam-shoemaker-38126_centeredness_let-us-face-at-the-outset-how-many-chris_2512583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/sam-shoemaker-38126_centeredness_let-us-face-at-the-outset-how-many-chris_2512583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/sam-shoemaker-38126_centeredness_let-us-face-at-the-outset-how-many-chris_2512583.jpg) > “Let us face at the outset how many Christians are not victorious, but defeated. Defeated by circumstances, defeated by other peoples? natures and wrong-doings, defeated by the down-drag of the flesh, defeated by loss, by pain, by suffering, by worry. Instead of saying with confidence, ?This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith?, they have to say in honesty, ?This is the defeat that has been caused by the world, even our self-centeredness.? That is the opposite of faith. Unbelief is not the opposite of faith; self-centeredness is ? being centered in self rather than in God.” [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) ## 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 contrasts true victory through faith with defeat caused by self‑centeredness and worldly struggles, urging honest self‑examination. **In simple terms:** Faith leads to victory; self‑centeredness leads to defeat. Key Takeaway Recognize and shift focus from self to God. Themes faith self‑centeredness victory defeat honesty Mood reflective serious Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal reflection - prayer - counseling - teaching - community support Key Concepts spirituality psychology theology Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑centeredness hinder spiritual growth? - What steps can you take to align more with God? A Different Perspective Self‑centeredness can be hard to admit and change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Centeredness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centeredness/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians Victorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-victorious-1170089/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeated/) [Doings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doings/) [Drag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drag/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith in god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-in-god/) [Faith Unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-unbelief-1170086/) [Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Opposite Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-faith-1170084/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self centeredness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-centeredness/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Unbelief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelief/) [Unbelief Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unbelief-opposite-1170087/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Victory Overcometh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory-overcometh-1170091/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Wrong doings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-doings/) ## Related quotes > [“whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1JO5.5 Who is he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whatsoever-is-born-of-god-overcometh-the-world-and-this-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ages of faith and of unbelief are always said to mark the course of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/ages-of-faith-and-of-unbelief-are-always-said-to-mark-the-course-of/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [“it is possible for you to have real faith, and yet to have the most grievous unbelief! "Oh!" say you, "how can faith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spurgeon-c-h-charles-haddon/it-is-possible-for-you-to-have-real-faith-and-yet-to-have-the-most/) [Spurgeon C. H. (Charles Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spurgeon-c-h-charles-haddon/) > [Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/men-use-thought-only-to-justify-their-wrong-doings-and-employ-speech/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“God allows some people to get away with the wrong doing? They need to understand that the time is given to correct or set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghuveer-maganti/god-allows-some-people-to-get-away-with-the-wrong-doing-they-need-to/) [RAGHUVEER MAGANTI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghuveer-maganti/) > [Debts that must be paid ... that sums up the concept of karma. But I would add that karma is not a burden that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-vaswani/debts-that-must-be-paid-that-sums-up-the-concept-of-karma-but-i-would/) [Dada Vaswani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-vaswani/) > [The government and its prosecutors are continually trying to block my efforts to win my freedom and expose their judicial wrong doings; they systematically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/the-government-and-its-prosecutors-are-continually-trying-to-block-my/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [You judge others by their wrong doings, but by judging alone is not a good sign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alon-calinao-dy/you-judge-others-by-their-wrong-doings-but-by-judging-alone-is-not-a/) [Alon Calinao Dy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alon-calinao-dy/) > [You have no idea how much of the inefficiency of mankind comes from thinking about the wrong-doings of others, and of ourselves. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-curtis-hopkins/you-have-no-idea-how-much-of-the-inefficiency-of-mankind-comes-from/) [Emma Curtis Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-curtis-hopkins/) > [Love yourself because she's the one faces your wrong doings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khat-leen/love-yourself-because-she-s-the-one-faces-your-wrong-doings/) [Khat Leen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khat-leen/) > [It seems odd that we continue to worry about the reputations of men who are accused of sexual wrong-doings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/it-seems-odd-that-we-continue-to-worry-about-the-reputations-of-men/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [If you really love someone, don't be afraid to admit your wrong doings and settle it like you're supposed to!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-really-love-someone-don-t-be-afraid-to-admit-your-wrong-doings/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The opposite of faith is not heresy but indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/the-opposite-of-faith-is-not-heresy-but-indifference/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [The opposite of faith is not doubt, it’s certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-opposite-of-faith-is-not-doubt-it-s-certainty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The opposite of faith is fear and doubt. A person lacking in faith is fearful,anxious and unsure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher-mazher50/the-opposite-of-faith-is-fear-and-doubt-a-person-lacking-in-faith-is/) [Mazher (@mazher50](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher-mazher50/) ## More by Sam Shoemaker > [Don't pray to escape trouble. Don't pray to be comfortable in your emotions. Pray to do the will of God in every situation. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/don-t-pray-to-escape-trouble-don-t-pray-to-be-comfortable-in-your/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [Most people are brought to faith in Christ not by argument for it but by exposure to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/most-people-are-brought-to-faith-in-christ-not-by-argument-for-it-but/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [Is your Christianity ancient history--or current events?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/is-your-christianity-ancient-history-or-current-events/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [The test of a man's conversion is whether he has enough Christianity to get it to other people. If he hasn't, there is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/the-test-of-a-man-s-conversion-is-whether-he-has-enough-christianity/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [Everybody has a problem, is a problem, or lives with a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/everybody-has-a-problem-is-a-problem-or-lives-with-a-problem/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [The surest mark of a Christian is not faith, or even love, but joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/the-surest-mark-of-a-christian-is-not-faith-or-even-love-but-joy/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [The rise of statism in our time is the natural result of the longing of godless, unchurched people for some kind of protection. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/the-rise-of-statism-in-our-time-is-the-natural-result-of-the-longing/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [We tend to find what we look for in other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/we-tend-to-find-what-we-look-for-in-other-people/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [“Everybody has a problem, is a problem, or has to live with a problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/everybody-has-a-problem-is-a-problem-or-has-to-live-with-a-problem/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [Happiness is the sense that one matters. Happiness is an abiding enthusiasm. Happiness is single-mindedness. Happiness is whole-heartedness. Happiness is a by-product. Happiness is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/happiness-is-the-sense-that-one-matters-happiness-is-an-abiding/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) > [Prayer may not change things for you, but it for sure changes you for things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shoemaker/prayer-may-not-change-things-for-you-but-it-for-sure-changes-you-for/) [Sam Shoemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) [Explore all 12 Sam Shoemaker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shoemaker/) ## More Centeredness quotes > [So much of the world's suffering results from the sinful action or inaction of ourselves and others. For example, people look at a famine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-strobel/so-much-of-the-world-s-suffering-results-from-the-sinful-action-or/) [Lee Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-strobel/) > [We must get away from this limited \*I did this and I did that\* and the self-centeredness, that dominates our society Today. It must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/we-must-get-away-from-this-limited-i-did-this-and-i-did-that-and-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Raising or caring for children requires sacrifice and service, which, I believe, heals us from the destructive forces of self-centeredness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/raising-or-caring-for-children-requires-sacrifice-and-service-which-i/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [Anxiety is the experience of growth itself. In any endeavor, how do you feel when you go from one stage to the next? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-koestenbaum/anxiety-is-the-experience-of-growth-itself-in-any-endeavor-how-do-you/) [Peter Koestenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-koestenbaum/) > [I think we've become a TV culture, where we forget the live performer in front of us can see us. I think there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-benanti/i-think-we-ve-become-a-tv-culture-where-we-forget-the-live-performer/) [Laura Benanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-benanti/) > [Self-centeredness will bring on the destruction of our world. National pride separates people. All people need the same thing. When you really get down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/self-centeredness-will-bring-on-the-destruction-of-our-world-national/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Peace is a condition of the heart. It's a state of mind, of tranquility, of calmness, and of centeredness. It's an understanding of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/peace-is-a-condition-of-the-heart-it-s-a-state-of-mind-of-tranquility/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [To be politically activated is to dare to care about the happiness of others and that is just about the most important activity anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/to-be-politically-activated-is-to-dare-to-care-about-the-happiness-of/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [Immensity is always there, but we so often become numb to it, or deceive ourselves into thinking our own lives and selves are what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/immensity-is-always-there-but-we-so-often-become-numb-to-it-or/) [Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/) > [Human cultures are all experiments in trying to find a form that will fit the matter of our immediacy; but it is absolutely not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-smith/human-cultures-are-all-experiments-in-trying-to-find-a-form-that-will/) [Kenny Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-smith/) > [Insecure leaders think everything is about them, and as a result, every action, every piece of information, every decision is put through their filter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/insecure-leaders-think-everything-is-about-them-and-as-a-result-every/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The whole story of the Father's Christ-exalting plan of redeeming love, from eternity to eternity, must be told, or the radical reorientation of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-whole-story-of-the-father-s-christ-exalting-plan-of-redeeming/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [I have no self-centeredness or ego about being a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/i-have-no-self-centeredness-or-ego-about-being-a-movie-star/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [We are unlikely to cease making gods or inventing ceremonies to please them for as long as we are afraid of death, or of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/we-are-unlikely-to-cease-making-gods-or-inventing-ceremonies-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I think that may be the biggest difference between Americans and people elsewhere. Unlike Americans, Canadians know that there are places just as real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/i-think-that-may-be-the-biggest-difference-between-americans-and/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) [Browse all 67 Centeredness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centeredness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us face at the outset how many Christians are not victorious, but defeated. Defeated by circumstances, defeated by other peoples? natures and wrong-doings, defeated by the down-drag of the flesh, defeated by loss, by pain, by suffering, by worry. Instead of saying with confidence, ?This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith?, they have to say in honesty, ?This is the defeat that has been caused by the world, even our self-centeredness.? That is the opposite of faith. 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