--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Too often the Church is perceived as a…" description: "\"“Too often the Church is perceived as a democracy instead of as a kingdom. Jesus Christ reestablished the eternal throne of David and also reestablishe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/353/stephen-k-ray-49514_kingdom-of-heaven_too-often-the-church-is-perceived-as-a-d_240726.jpg" --- # Too often the Church is perceived as a democracy instead… ![“Too often the Church is perceived as a democracy instead of as a kingdom. Jesus Christ reestablished the eternal throne of David and also reestablished the office of royal steward “over the house” when he chose Peter, investing him with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Peter may have died, but…” quote by Stephen K. Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/353/stephen-k-ray-49514_kingdom-of-heaven_too-often-the-church-is-perceived-as-a-d_240726.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/353/stephen-k-ray-49514_kingdom-of-heaven_too-often-the-church-is-perceived-as-a-d_240726.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/353/stephen-k-ray-49514_kingdom-of-heaven_too-often-the-church-is-perceived-as-a-d_240726.jpg) > ““Too often the Church is perceived as a democracy instead of as a kingdom. Jesus Christ reestablished the eternal throne of David and also reestablished the office of royal steward “over the house” when he chose Peter, investing him with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Peter may have died, but his office continues, and his successors, as we shall discover shortly, continue to fill his office of royal steward and continue to preserve the sacred deposit of truth entrusted to the Church by the apostles.”” [Stephen K. Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-k-ray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Church should be seen as a divine kingdom with a continuous line of authority, not a democratic institution. **In simple terms:** Church is a kingdom with lasting authority. Key Takeaway Recognize the Church’s hierarchical nature. Themes religion authority tradition Mood reflective instructive Type theological historical When to use this quote - mass services - catechism classes - leadership training - theological study Key Concepts Papal primacy apostolic succession ecclesiology Questions to Reflect On - What is the role of laypeople in a kingdom‑like Church? - How does this view affect modern church governance? A Different Perspective May downplay the role of lay participation and modern governance needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heaven Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-peter-2414910/) [Kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom/) [Kingdom Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-jesus-520348/) [Kingdom of heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-of-heaven/) [Royal Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/royal-steward-2414911/) [Throne David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne-david-2414909/) ## Related quotes > [Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/of-the-increase-of-his-government-and-peace-there-shall-be-no-end/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“Christians have often been lamentably slow to grasp the profound secularity of the kingdom as it is proclaimed in the Gospels. Because Matthew (though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-farrar-capon/christians-have-often-been-lamentably-slow-to-grasp-the-profound/) [Robert Farrar Capon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-farrar-capon/) > [We need to shed our unearthly and nonsocial and idealistic and romantic and uber-spiritual visions of kingdom and get back to what Jesus meant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/we-need-to-shed-our-unearthly-and-nonsocial-and-idealistic-and/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [Because of the inherent challenges of life on the earth, all of humanity is vulnerable. This is all the more reason to seek the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-love/because-of-the-inherent-challenges-of-life-on-the-earth-all-of/) [Mike Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-love/) > [Until we give up the world manufactured by the ego, never can we enter the kingdom of heaven. None ever did, none ever will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/until-we-give-up-the-world-manufactured-by-the-ego-never-can-we-enter/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [If you don't enter the kingdom of heaven by God's way, you cannot enter at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/if-you-don-t-enter-the-kingdom-of-heaven-by-god-s-way-you-cannot/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The essential thing in religion is making the heart pure; the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, but only the pure in heart can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-essential-thing-in-religion-is-making-the-heart-pure-the-kingdom/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I'm often cast as religious figures, good and bad, such as 'Kingdom Of Heaven.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-thewlis/i-m-often-cast-as-religious-figures-good-and-bad-such-as-kingdom-of/) [David Thewlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-thewlis/) > [The kingdom of heaven is like electricity. You don't see it. It is within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-like-electricity-you-don-t-see-it-it-is/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [The kingdom of heaven is comprised of the broken, the fatherless, the poor, the starving. Nothing that could create good ratings for NBC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-comprised-of-the-broken-the-fatherless-the/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [The kingdom of heaven is closer than the brow above the eye but mankind does not see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-closer-than-the-brow-above-the-eye-but/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [This country and the Commonwealth last Tuesday were not far from the Kingdom of Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-fisher/this-country-and-the-commonwealth-last-tuesday-were-not-far-from-the/) [Geoffrey Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-fisher/) > [“Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours” (Matt. 5:3) doesn’t mean, “You will go to heaven when you die.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/blessings-on-the-poor-in-spirit-the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-yours-matt-5/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“I would I were in the kingdom of heaven if it be as you and Mr. Graham take it for!" said Clementina. "You must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-would-i-were-in-the-kingdom-of-heaven-if-it-be-as-you-and-mr-graham/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More by Stephen K. Ray > [“Another reason these opponents find it difficult to comprehend the Papacy is a perspective, inherited from the Protestant Reformation, that is essentially anti-sacramental, anti-mediational,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-k-ray/another-reason-these-opponents-find-it-difficult-to-comprehend-the/) [Stephen K. Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-k-ray/) > [“The idea, popular in Orthodox apologetics, that the Church can have no visible head, because Christ is her invisible head, is theological nonsense. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-k-ray/the-idea-popular-in-orthodox-apologetics-that-the-church-can-have-no/) [Stephen K. Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-k-ray/) > [“History has a clear and distinct voice, but it does not force itself upon us uninvited. History”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-k-ray/history-has-a-clear-and-distinct-voice-but-it-does-not-force-itself/) [Stephen K. Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-k-ray/) > [“To be deep in history is to cease being a Protestant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-k-ray/to-be-deep-in-history-is-to-cease-being-a-protestant/) [Stephen K. Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-k-ray/) > [“PRAISE FOR 'THE JOURNEY HOME' Many saints are known and praised by all. We pray to them in litanies and celebrate their feast days.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-k-ray/praise-for-the-journey-home-many-saints-are-known-and-praised-by-all/) [Stephen K. Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-k-ray/) > [“Irenaeus may challenge the appropriateness of a decision made by Victor, but he never challenges Victor’s authority to make the binding decision. Cyprian may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-k-ray/irenaeus-may-challenge-the-appropriateness-of-a-decision-made-by/) [Stephen K. Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-k-ray/) [Explore all 7 Stephen K. Ray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-k-ray/) ## More Kingdom quotes > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [If Jesus is king in heaven then the Kingdom of God is in heaven. If Jesus is king, reign on earth then the Kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/if-jesus-is-king-in-heaven-then-the-kingdom-of-god-is-in-heaven-if/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“I have established my throne in heaven, and my kingdom rules over all. The day is mine, and mine also the night; I established…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-yun/i-have-established-my-throne-in-heaven-and-my-kingdom-rules-over-all/) [Zhang Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-yun/) > [“I once knew a man who was heir to the throne of a great kingdom, he lived as a ranger and fought his destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/i-once-knew-a-man-who-was-heir-to-the-throne-of-a-great-kingdom-he/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“People-based service is God-based service”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/people-based-service-is-god-based-service/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Worship of God is not restricted to believers alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/worship-of-god-is-not-restricted-to-believers-alone/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Every man carries his kingdom within, and no one knows what is taking place in another's kingdom. 'No one understands me!' Of course they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/every-man-carries-his-kingdom-within-and-no-one-knows-what-is-taking/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Always put your heart into and show commitment in whatever you do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/always-put-your-heart-into-and-show-commitment-in-whatever-you-do/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Small things, little actions, simple faith and minuscule events, when placed in the Master's hands, they become molecules of godly impacts that will transform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/small-things-little-actions-simple-faith-and-minuscule-events-when/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [Mind is a kingdom to the man who gathereth his pleasure from ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-farquhar-tupper/mind-is-a-kingdom-to-the-man-who-gathereth-his-pleasure-from-ideas/) [Martin Farquhar Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-farquhar-tupper/) > [“KINGDOM OF THE WOMB From her thighs, she gives you life And how you treat she who gives you life Shows how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/kingdom-of-the-womb-from-her-thighs-she-gives-you-life-and-how-you/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“The call to “take the land” ...is not a call to a new political, cultural or geographical dominance. It is Kingdom of God territory.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-baker/the-call-to-take-the-land-is-not-a-call-to-a-new-political-cultural/) [Ken Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-baker/) [Browse all 1,072 Kingdom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Too often the Church is perceived as a democracy instead of as a kingdom. Jesus Christ reestablished the eternal throne of David and also reestablished the office of royal steward “over the house” when he chose Peter, investing him with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Peter may have died, but his office continues, and his successors, as we shall discover shortly, continue to fill his office of royal steward and continue to preserve the sacred deposit of truth entrusted to the Church by the apostles.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen K. 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