By dividing the people of God as clergy and laymen, we have made the latter a majority of lame men. -R. Stanley

Jesus promised his disciples three things -- that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy, and in constant trouble. F.R. Maltby (Do you qualify?)

I cannot live in mediocrity, content with merely knowing that there is more of God to experience and explore -- and then do nothing about it. Truths that are not experienced are, in effect, more like theories than truths. Whenever God reveals truth to us He is inviting us into a divine encounter. Bill Johnson, Face to Face with God

Seeing the spiritual condition of the average church in America or in the West, a new young zealot Christian willing to surrender all to be a true disciple of Christ would probably be thrown out in these churches as a demon-possessed heretic. Gary Amirault, founder, Tentmaker Ministries

Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It's as if they are showing you the way. That's what the body of Christ should be on earth.

The degree to which we perceive the face of God corresponds directly to the degree of our yieldedness to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

Your God is too Small
J. B. Phillips

There are doubtless many reasons for the degeneration of Christianity into churchiness, and the narrowing of the Gospel for all mankind into a set of approved beliefs; but the chief cause must be the worship of an inadequate god -- a cramped and regulated god who is a 'good churchman' according to the formulas of the worshipper. For actual behaviour infallibly betrays the real object of the man's worship. All Christians, whatever their Church, would of course instantly repudiate the idea that their god was a super-example of their own denomination, and it is not suggested that the worship is conscious. Nevertheless, beneath the conscious critical level of the mind it is perfectly possible for the Anglo-Catholic, for example, to conceive God as particularly pleased with Anglo-Catholicism, doubtful about Evangelicalism, and frankly displeased by all forms of Nonconformity... The ultra-low Churchman on the other hand must admit, if he is honest, that the God whom he worships disapproves most strongly of vestments, incense, and candles on the altar. The tragedy of these examples -- which could be reproduced ad nauseam any day of the week -- is not difference of opinion, which will probably be with us till the Day of Judgment, but the outrageous folly and damnable sin of trying to regard God as the Party Leader of a particular point of view. -- J. B. Phillips, Your God is too Small

Index to Quotes