Christianity Quote by Timothy Keller
““Churches that are filled with self-righteous, exclusive, insecure, angry, moralistic people are extremely unattractive. Their public pronouncements are often highly judgmental, while internally such churches experience many bitter conflicts, splits, and divisions. When one of their leaders has a moral lapse, the churches either rationalize it and denounce the leader’s critics, or else they scapegoat him. Millions of people raised in or near these kinds of churches reject Christianity at an early age or in college largely because of their experience. For the rest of their lives, then, they are inoculated against Christianity. If you are a person who has been disillusioned by such churches, anytime anyone recommends Christianity to you, you assume they are calling you to adopt “religion.” Pharisees and their unattractive lives leave many people confused about the real nature of Christianity.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Reason for God by Timothy Keller, 2008
Religious communities that prioritize self‑righteousness and judgment alienate people, causing lasting rejection of faith.
In simple terms: Judgmental churches push people away from Christianity.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate humility and genuine love in faith communities.
Themes
religion
hypocrisy
community
faith
rejection
Mood
disappointed
hopeful
Type
critical
reflective
When to use this quote
- College campuses
- family upbringing
- church leadership training
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Ecology of belief
social identity
psychology of belonging
Questions to Reflect On
- How can churches model authentic humility?
- What roles do community and doctrine play in faith retention?
A Different Perspective
Such churches may also provide social support, complicating the picture.
![“24 A few pages later, Delbanco writes the following: [Alexis de] Tocqueville’s detection of a “strange melancholy in the midst of abundance” has a special salience today — because while we have gotten very good at deconstructing old stories (the religion that was the subject of my first chapter…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85a/timothy-keller-240_sad_24-a-few-pages-later-delbanco-writes-the_25320.jpg)
