June 26, 2007

Small Groups

Category: Theology - Ecclesiology :: Permalink

Screwtape on small groups and small churches:

Any small coterie, bound together by some interest which other men dislike or ignore, tends to develop inside itself a hothouse mutual admiration, and towards the outer world, a great deal of pride and hatred which is entertained without shame because the “Cause” is its sponsor and it is thought to be impersonal. 

Even when the little group exists originally for the Enemy’s own purposes, this remains true.  We want the Church to be small not only that fewer men may know the Enemy but also that those who do may acquire the uneasy intensity and the defensive self-righteousness of a secret society or a clique (C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, pp. 40-41).

Posted by John Barach @ 2:35 pm | Discuss (2)

2 Responses to “Small Groups”

  1. links for 2007-06-27 at Mark Horne Says:
    June 26th, 2007 at 8:26 pm

    […] Kata Iwannhn » Small Groups Explains a great deal (tags: fv/npp-smear) […]

  2. Matt Says:
    June 28th, 2007 at 5:41 am

    I think this Lewis quote cuts both ways, with a vengeance. You know what I mean, though your readers may not.

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