Church Cocoon

The above cartoon by David Hayward is very clever and beautiful. And it certainly is the case that there are churches from which people must absolutely emerge, perhaps through a process of struggle, in order to enter maturity.

I am concerned, however, that the cartoon may be understood to depict church itself as something that ought to be left behind. But in its essence, when done right, church is merely a community of people with some shared convictions, values, and aims. And the notion that we do better spiritually, morally, or in any other way when we forsake community and the input of others altogether is a sign of the very egotism that we desperately need community to help correct in ourselves.