Church Quote by wendell berry
““I thought that some of the hymns bespoke the true religion of the place. The people didn't really want to be saints of self-deprivation and hatred of the world. They knew that the world would sooner or later deprive them of all it had given them, but still they liked it. What they came together for was to acknowledge, just by coming, their losses and failures and sorrows, their need for comfort, their faith always needing to be greater, their wish (in spite of all words and acts to the contrary) to love one another and to forgive and be forgiven, their need for one another's help and company and divine gifts, their hope (and experience) of love surpassing death, their gratitude.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Unsettling of America, 1977
People gather not for strict self-denial but to share sorrow, seek comfort, love, forgiveness, and hope beyond death.
In simple terms: Community offers love, forgiveness, and hope in suffering.
Key Takeaway
Embrace communal support and compassion.
Themes
community
faith
forgiveness
hope
gratitude
Mood
reflective
hopeful
solemn
Type
philosophical
inspirational
spiritual
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- religious services
- support groups
- family gatherings
Key Concepts
existentialism
humanism
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance personal responsibility with communal forgiveness?
- What practices nurture lasting gratitude?
A Different Perspective
May idealism overlook practical hardships of sustaining such compassion.
![“T]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people - the new covenant, blood-bought people of God. That's why Paul said, 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her' (Eph. 5:25). He didn't give himself up for a…” quote by Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a4/mark-dever-3175_blood_t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-bu_3297.jpg)
