Collectivism's Obsession With Extroversion

C.S. Lewis has a great quote on how solitude, even in his day, was being squashed and discouraged:


"There is a crowd of busybodies, self-appointed masters of ceremonies, whose life is devoted to destroying solitude wherever solitude exists. They call it "taking the young people out of themselves," or "waking them up," or "overcoming their apathy." If an Augustine, a Vaughan, a Treherne, or a Wordsworth should be born in the modern world, the leaders of a youth organization would soon cure him." C.S. Lewis, p. 159, The Weight of Glory


My experiences within the Corporate Church, and how it "disciples" the youth, have born this out as well. Silence and one-on-one time with God are not prioritized, or at least, are not as highly esteemed as time spent in unison. 

Even among Evangelicals, who constantly assert the need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the lived-out attitude and expressed expectation is the total opposite: "Sign Up!" "Join a Group!" "Serve!" "Come to Bible Study!" "Be Here Every Time Church is in Session!" "Raise Your hands in Worship!" "Be Missional" "Be in Community!" "Get Out of Your Comfort Zone!" and on and on. 

C.S. Lewis goes on to say:


"We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and privacy, and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship." C.S. Lewis, page 160, The Weight of Glory


Sometimes I feel as though, when we give our life to Christ, others now feel entitled to own us and take it upon themselves to dictate the call of God on our life. 

And that call from within a Corporate Church is inevitably an extroverted one. And we often succumb, out of spiritual immaturity, to that false premise that to be a Christian means giving up our quiet, our time alone and our solitude. And the busyness that becomes the predominant face of "faithfulness" often becomes the very stumbling block to a personal relationship with Christ.

copyright Barb Harwood



"Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10:38-42


"But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." Luke 5:16


"Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in  Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need." 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12