--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are always talking about the first…" description: "\"People are always talking about the first church. The real first church was that gaggle of people who followed Jesus around. We don't know anything abo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/wendell-berry-236_asks_people-are-always-talking-about-the-firs_2477606.jpg" --- # People are always talking about the first church. The real… ![“People are always talking about the first church. The real first church was that gaggle of people who followed Jesus around. We don't know anything about them. But he apparently didn't ask them what creed they subscribed to, or what their sexual preference was, or any of that. He fed them. He…” quote by Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/wendell-berry-236_asks_people-are-always-talking-about-the-firs_2477606.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/wendell-berry-236_asks_people-are-always-talking-about-the-firs_2477606.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fe/wendell-berry-236_asks_people-are-always-talking-about-the-firs_2477606.jpg) > “People are always talking about the first church. The real first church was that gaggle of people who followed Jesus around. We don't know anything about them. But he apparently didn't ask them what creed they subscribed to, or what their sexual preference was, or any of that. He fed them. He healed them. He forgave them. He is clear about sin, but he was also for forgiveness.” [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The earliest followers of Jesus were ordinary people, not defined by doctrine or identity, but united by his teachings of healing and forgiveness. **In simple terms:** Early followers were simple people drawn to Jesus’ compassion. Key Takeaway Focus on actions of love and forgiveness over labels. Themes community compassion forgiveness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - church groups - interfaith dialogue - social justice work Key Concepts early Christianity social inclusion Questions to Reflect On - What does true community look like beyond labels? - How can forgiveness be practiced in modern institutions? A Different Perspective Emphasizing inclusivity may clash with entrenched doctrinal positions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Church Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-real-827076/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Creeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creeds/) [Feds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feds/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Followed Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followed-jesus-827075/) [Healed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healed/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Preference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preference/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-church-827073/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-church-827074/) ## Related quotes > [Paul followed Jesus by living as He lived. 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You got me…and you healed me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-zolendz/you-got-me-sam-you-own-my-soul-baby-you-got-me-and-you-healed-me/) [Christine Zolendz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-zolendz/) > [Funny how internal scars never healed. They were the souvenirs of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/funny-how-internal-scars-never-healed-they-were-the-souvenirs-of-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) ## More by Wendell Berry > [During the last 17 years... I have been working at the restoration of a once exhausted hillside. 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He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-knew-a-man-who-in-the-age-of-chain-saws-went-right-on-cutting-his/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The concept of country, homeland, dwelling place becomes simplified as "the environment" -- that is, what surrounds us, we have already made a profound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-concept-of-country-homeland-dwelling-place-becomes-simplified-as/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [A community is the mental and spiritual condition of knowing that the place is shared, and that the people who share the place define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/a-community-is-the-mental-and-spiritual-condition-of-knowing-that-the/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“That we can prescribe the terms of our own success, that we can live outside or in ignorance of the Great Economy are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/that-we-can-prescribe-the-terms-of-our-own-success-that-we-can-live/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The mind that comes to rest is tended In ways that it cannot intend: Is borne, preserved, and comprehended By what it cannot comprehend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mind-that-comes-to-rest-is-tended-in-ways-that-it-cannot-intend/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The mercy of the world is time. Time does not stop for love, but it does not stop for death and grief, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-mercy-of-the-world-is-time-time-does-not-stop-for-love-but-it/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-soil-is-the-great-connector-of-our-lives-the-source-and/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I dislike the thought that some animal has been made miserable to feed me. If I am going to eat meat, I want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-dislike-the-thought-that-some-animal-has-been-made-miserable-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/laughter-is-immeasurable-be-joyful/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/these-are-people-who-are-capable-of-devotion-public-devotion-to/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) [Explore all 847 Wendell Berry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. 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