---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The process of sanctification is an…"
description: "\"“The process of sanctification is an addiction to holiness, a compulsive fixation on Christ and an impulsive pattern of compassion, virtue and love. Th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/william-m-struthers-46786_compassion_the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addi_2917237.jpg"
---

#  The process of sanctification is an addiction to holiness…

![“The process of sanctification is an addiction to holiness, a compulsive fixation on Christ and an impulsive pattern of compassion, virtue and love. This is what we are wired for. This is what we are meant for.” quote by William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/william-m-struthers-46786_compassion_the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addi_2917237.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/william-m-struthers-46786_compassion_the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addi_2917237.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/william-m-struthers-46786_compassion_the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addi_2917237.jpg)

> ““The process of sanctification is an addiction to holiness, a compulsive fixation on Christ and an impulsive pattern of compassion, virtue and love. This is what we are wired for. This is what we are meant for.””

[William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Sanctification is an addictive pursuit of holiness, aligning with our innate design for compassion and love

**In simple terms:** Holiness is a natural, compulsive drive

Key Takeaway

Cultivate holiness as a natural impulse

Themes

spirituality addiction virtue

Mood

reflective devotional

Type

religious philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal devotion
- community service
- ethical decision‑making

Key Concepts

theology psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How to differentiate healthy devotion from compulsion?
- What practices support balanced sanctification?

A Different Perspective

Addiction metaphor may mislead about spiritual health

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Addiction Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/addiction-holiness-4232078/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Holiness Compulsive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness-compulsive-4232077/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Process Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process-sanctification-4232079/) [Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification/) [Sanctification Addiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification-addiction-4232076/)

## Related quotes

> [“Sanctification comes from the Holy Spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/sanctification-comes-from-the-holy-spirit/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [The pleasurable part of public mourning can also lead to a sense of self-sanctification that justifies in advance any war effort, whether or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/the-pleasurable-part-of-public-mourning-can-also-lead-to-a-sense-of/)

[Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/)

> [Never was sin seen to be more abominably sinful and full of provocation than when the burden of it was upon the shoulders of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/never-was-sin-seen-to-be-more-abominably-sinful-and-full-of/)

[John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/)

> [“Normal Christian life is a process of restoration and renewal. Our joy is not static. It fluctuates with real life. It is vulnerable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/normal-christian-life-is-a-process-of-restoration-and-renewal-our-joy/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [The man who sanctifies his wife understands that this is his divinely ordained responsibility... Is my wife more like Christ because she is married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/the-man-who-sanctifies-his-wife-understands-that-this-is-his-divinely/)

[R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/)

> [Not to be occupied with your sin, but to be occupied with God brings deliverance from self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/not-to-be-occupied-with-your-sin-but-to-be-occupied-with-god-brings/)

[Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/)

> [The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ, but is not for sanctification. He is for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-unsound-convert-takes-christ-by-halves-he-is-all-for-the/)

[Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/)

> [Sanctification consists of the daily realization that in Christ we have died, and in Christ we have been raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/sanctification-consists-of-the-daily-realization-that-in-christ-we/)

[Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/)

> [I think it's for me with regards to this issue I believe in justification at the point of salvation; I believe in sanctification at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-chambers/i-think-it-s-for-me-with-regards-to-this-issue-i-believe-in/)

[Alan Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-chambers/)

> [“It is its sanctification of the base human instincts that makes Islam the menace of all mankind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/it-is-its-sanctification-of-the-base-human-instincts-that-makes-islam/)

[B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/)

> [“With the veil removed by the rending of Jesus' flesh, with nothing on God's side to prevent us from entering, why do we tarry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/with-the-veil-removed-by-the-rending-of-jesus-flesh-with-nothing-on/)

[A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/)

> [The starting point of sanctification is the filthiness, corruption, or stain of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-starting-point-of-sanctification-is-the-filthiness-corruption-or/)

[William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/)

> [“Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is at work, one of the discernible evidences of His presence is changed personalities. Men can and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/wherever-the-spirit-of-the-lord-is-at-work-one-of-the-discernible/)

[Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/)

> [“Expressed in theological terms, “In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ is the one thing needful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/expressed-in-theological-terms-in-justification-our-own-works-have-no/)

[Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/)

> [“Again, there are multitudes who are quite ready for Christ to justify them, but not to sanctify. Some kind, some degree, of sanctification they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/again-there-are-multitudes-who-are-quite-ready-for-christ-to-justify/)

[Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/)

## More by William M. Struthers

> [“While many men indulge freely without any notion of restraint, others are repulsed by their response to pornography. The arousal that they experience sexually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/while-many-men-indulge-freely-without-any-notion-of-restraint-others/)

[William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/)

> [“Each time that an unhealthy sexual pattern is repeated, a neurological, emotional and spiritual erosion carves out a channel that will eventually develop into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/each-time-that-an-unhealthy-sexual-pattern-is-repeated-a-neurological/)

[William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/)

> [“If I were a transgendered lesbian—a woman trapped in a man’s body (gender identity) with a sexual orientation toward females—would my behavior be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/if-i-were-a-transgendered-lesbian-a-woman-trapped-in-a-man-s-body/)

[William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/)

> [“from our bodies. THE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/from-our-bodies-the/)

[William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/)

> [“It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. (Lewis, 1977, pp. 14-15)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/it-is-immortals-whom-we-joke-with-work-with-marry-snub-and-exploit/)

[William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/)

> [“There is little research being done on the neurological basis of porn addiction. In part this is because it is not seen as necessary.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/there-is-little-research-being-done-on-the-neurological-basis-of-porn/)

[William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/)

> [“I once heard a pastor say, “Everyone in life is a winner because you were once a sperm that won the race to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/i-once-heard-a-pastor-say-everyone-in-life-is-a-winner-because-you/)

[William M. Struthers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/)

[Explore all 8 William M. Struthers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/)

## More Compassion quotes

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/)

[Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/)

> [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/)

[Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/)

> [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/)

[Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/)

> [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/)

[Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/)

> [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/)

[Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/)

[Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The process of sanctification is an addiction to holiness, a compulsive fixation on Christ and an impulsive pattern of compassion, virtue and love. This is what we are wired for. This is what we are meant for.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William M. Struthers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addiction-to-holiness-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Compassion"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addiction-to-holiness-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/william-m-struthers-46786_compassion_the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addi_2917237.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/william-m-struthers-46786_compassion_the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addi_2917237.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/303/william-m-struthers-46786_compassion_the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addi_2917237.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The process of sanctification is an addiction to holiness, a compulsive fixation on Christ and an impulsive…” — William M. Struthers",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "William M. Struthers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-struthers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The process of sanctification is an...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addiction-to-holiness-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-struthers/the-process-of-sanctification-is-an-addiction-to-holiness-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
