William McDavid Quotes & Sayings

Nothing shows our lack of freedom better than our addiction to control. — William McDavid

Nadia Bolz-Weber, a Lutheran pastor, was once fuming to her husband against the wrong kind of Christians, and he told her that "every time we draw a line between us and others, Jesus is always on the other side of it."39 — William McDavid

for every 'If you do,' there's an 'If you don't,' a threat of punishment for every promise of reward. — William McDavid

where the Law is a closed fist, the Gospel is an open hand. — William McDavid

Not how it is meant. Law is defined by its effect rather than its intention, and its chief affect his accusation, the intimation of less-than. — William McDavid

While self-help and science-of-happiness books fill whole quadrants of bookstores, the fact that business is booming is a verdict unto itself: We may buy each new bestseller on the power of positivity, but each fresh purchase suggests its lack. As much as we wish it were true, we can't seem to prove that the positive thinking industry is working itself out of a job. — William McDavid

Whether or not an utterance can be called law depends on how it is heard, not how it is meant. — William McDavid

The gospel is not mere forgiveness or grace, empty of content, but always refers to Jesus. So the gospel is good news about a human person who is God in our history, our world and who came to accomplish something in his life death and resurrection. — William McDavid

While we may operate every day under the illusions of control, even our best efforts at maintaining it ultimately fall short. — William McDavid

In commanding love law can only point helplessly to that which it cannot produce. — William McDavid

The great heroes of other ancient cultures were strong and clever and virtuous, but the great Jewish heroes copulated with slaves (Abraham), showed they were willing to allow others to have sex with their wives (also Abraham), cheated their brothers, seduced their in-laws, murdered, started civil wars through terrible family decisions, yet somehow-through a mixture of humility, near-insanity, and good fortune-served as conduits of God's action in the world. — William McDavid