--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The church is so subnormal that if it…" description: "\"The church is so subnormal that if it ever got back to the New Testament normal it would seem to people to be abnormal.\" — Vance Havner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/vance-havner-1699_abnormal_the-church-is-so-subnormal-that-if-it-ev_116021.jpg" --- # The church is so subnormal that if it ever got back to the… ![“The church is so subnormal that if it ever got back to the New Testament normal it would seem to people to be abnormal.” quote by Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/vance-havner-1699_abnormal_the-church-is-so-subnormal-that-if-it-ev_116021.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/vance-havner-1699_abnormal_the-church-is-so-subnormal-that-if-it-ev_116021.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/393/vance-havner-1699_abnormal_the-church-is-so-subnormal-that-if-it-ev_116021.jpg) > “The church is so subnormal that if it ever got back to the New Testament normal it would seem to people to be abnormal.” [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If the church were to return to the original teachings of the New Testament, its current practices would appear abnormal to contemporary observers. **In simple terms:** Modern church practices seem odd compared to early Christianity. Key Takeaway Historical deviation makes current institutions seem strange. Themes religion history institutional critique Mood critical skeptical Type social commentary theological critique When to use this quote - theological debates - church reform discussions - historical documentaries Key Concepts normative change cultural continuity Practical Applications - use historical comparison to evaluate modern doctrine - inform reform movements Questions to Reflect On - What defines 'normal' in religious practice? - How do we assess authenticity of modern faith expressions? A Different Perspective The claim assumes a single 'normal' New Testament interpretation, ignoring diverse early Christian traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [New testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-testament/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testament/) ## Related quotes > [My characters all have issues, but I don't see that as weird or abnormal because I think in real life there are very few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hannah/my-characters-all-have-issues-but-i-don-t-see-that-as-weird-or/) [Sophie Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hannah/) > [It is a testament to the effectiveness of advertising campaigns funded by the animal-user industries that a diet that is bad for us and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/it-is-a-testament-to-the-effectiveness-of-advertising-campaigns/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [There never has been a culture since this world began in which a New Testament Christian could feel at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-never-has-been-a-culture-since-this-world-began-in-which-a-new/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [There is great need today for the New Testament prophet who speaks to edification, exhortation, and comfort, a strengthening, stirring and soothing ministry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-is-great-need-today-for-the-new-testament-prophet-who-speaks-to/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Revival is simply New Testament Christianity, the saints going back to normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/revival-is-simply-new-testament-christianity-the-saints-going-back-to/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Fury is an entirely appropriate response to a system that sends young people to kill other young people in a war that never should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/fury-is-an-entirely-appropriate-response-to-a-system-that-sends-young/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [In the theory of gender I began from zero. 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As it turns out, mood disorders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/while-sleep-is-clearly-vital-to-emotional-well-being-what-is-it/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) ## More by Vance Havner > [Plenty of church members are shaky about what they believe, while not many are shaken by what they believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/plenty-of-church-members-are-shaky-about-what-they-believe-while-not/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [It is one thing to say Jesus is all you want; until He is all you have and you discover He is all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/it-is-one-thing-to-say-jesus-is-all-you-want-until-he-is-all-you-have/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [There are many who say they want to be victorious Christians, but few are willing to endure the discipline necessary to make one a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/there-are-many-who-say-they-want-to-be-victorious-christians-but-few/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The only way to meet the modern demon-stration of the powers of darkness is by a demonstration of the power of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-only-way-to-meet-the-modern-demon-stration-of-the-powers-of/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [God is on the lookout today for a man who will be quiet enough to get a message from Him, brave enough to preach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/god-is-on-the-lookout-today-for-a-man-who-will-be-quiet-enough-to-get/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The last word of our Lord to the church was not the Great Commission. 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The difference is, He has a right to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/jesus-christ-demands-more-complete-allegiance-than-any-dictator-who/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [In other days people chose a church on the basis of their doctrinal convictions. Now, lacking doctrinal convictions, they choose for social reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/in-other-days-people-chose-a-church-on-the-basis-of-their-doctrinal/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [We honor God by asking for great things when they are a part of His promise. We dishonor Him and cheat ourselves when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/we-honor-god-by-asking-for-great-things-when-they-are-a-part-of-his/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [To some Christianity is an argument. To many it is a performance. To a few, it is experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/to-some-christianity-is-an-argument-to-many-it-is-a-performance-to-a/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [Doing leads more surely to talking than talking to doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/doing-leads-more-surely-to-talking-than-talking-to-doing/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [The primary qualification for a missionary is not love for souls, as we so often hear, but love for Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/the-primary-qualification-for-a-missionary-is-not-love-for-souls-as/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) [Explore all 214 Vance Havner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) ## More Abnormal quotes > [While sleep is clearly vital to emotional well-being, what is it, exactly, about sleep that is so necessary? 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