--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was C. S. Lewis who observed that…" description: "\"“It was C. S. Lewis who observed that \"there exists in every church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which it came int..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/alan-hirsch-8667_goals_it-was-c-s-lewis-who-observed-that-there_1368987.jpg" --- # It was C. S. Lewis who observed that "there exists in… ![“It was C. S. Lewis who observed that "there exists in every church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which it came into existence. So we must strive very hard, by the grace of God to keep the church focused on the mission that Christ originally gave to it."11” quote by Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/alan-hirsch-8667_goals_it-was-c-s-lewis-who-observed-that-there_1368987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/alan-hirsch-8667_goals_it-was-c-s-lewis-who-observed-that-there_1368987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5b/alan-hirsch-8667_goals_it-was-c-s-lewis-who-observed-that-there_1368987.jpg) > ““It was C. S. Lewis who observed that "there exists in every church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which it came into existence. So we must strive very hard, by the grace of God to keep the church focused on the mission that Christ originally gave to it."11”” [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Churches often develop structures that hinder their original mission, requiring intentional focus on Christ’s purpose. **In simple terms:** Churches can drift from their core mission. Key Takeaway Maintain clear mission focus. Themes faith mission institutional drift leadership spiritual focus Mood reflective hopeful Type theological motivational When to use this quote - Pastoral planning - church board meetings - leadership training - strategic visioning Key Concepts Ecclesiology mission integrity organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders identify mission‑drifting practices? - What safeguards keep a church aligned with its founding purpose? A Different Perspective Even with good intentions, cultural inertia can resist change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-focused-4709620/) [Existence Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence-strive-4709621/) [Exists Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exists-church-2320187/) [Focused Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused-mission-451379/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Grace of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-of-god/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mission Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-christ-4709622/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) ## Related quotes > [Where dogmatics exists at all, it exists only with the will to be a Church dogmatics, a dogmatics of the ecumenical Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/where-dogmatics-exists-at-all-it-exists-only-with-the-will-to-be-a/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [“Christ the man died long ago, but Christ the idea of love, still exists, not in any church, rather in the mind of humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/christ-the-man-died-long-ago-but-christ-the-idea-of-love-still-exists/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [When I got to Iraq, my world focused in on one mission. It was incredibly rewarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/when-i-got-to-iraq-my-world-focused-in-on-one-mission-it-was/) [Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/) > [A business leader has to keep their organization focused on the mission. That sounds easy, but it can be tremendously challenging in today's competitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/a-business-leader-has-to-keep-their-organization-focused-on-the/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [Stay focused on the mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/stay-focused-on-the-mission/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [Since October 7, I've focused on one mission - victory in the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoav-gallant/since-october-7-i-ve-focused-on-one-mission-victory-in-the-war/) [Yoav Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoav-gallant/) > [All it takes is one person who is committed, focused, and on a mission to spark an entire team into believing in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-brown/all-it-takes-is-one-person-who-is-committed-focused-and-on-a-mission/) [Bruce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-brown/) > [I want to just stay focused on my mission. That is to see every girl get the right to education. And I think this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-want-to-just-stay-focused-on-my-mission-that-is-to-see-every-girl/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [If we continue to stay focused on our mission and not get sidetracked with everything else we stand a chance at really changing this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/if-we-continue-to-stay-focused-on-our-mission-and-not-get-sidetracked/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [When I was a CIA officer we would have meetings and you don't know what people's politics are... We were there to serve a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/when-i-was-a-cia-officer-we-would-have-meetings-and-you-don-t-know/) [Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/) > [If you know you're supported, you're going to work harder, you're going to be more focused on your mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcdonnell/if-you-know-you-re-supported-you-re-going-to-work-harder-you-re-going/) [Bob McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcdonnell/) > [“THE GRACE OF GOD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-grace-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“To have even one year when you're presented with choices that can alter your circumstances, your character, your course- that's by the grace of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/to-have-even-one-year-when-you-re-presented-with-choices-that-can/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) ## More by Alan Hirsch > [If we are going to make the change from community to communitas, and not just end up with an unsustainable adrenaline-junkie culture, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/if-we-are-going-to-make-the-change-from-community-to-communitas-and/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [Because we believe that somewhere in the nest of paradigms contained in the phrase "missional church" lies nothing less that the future viability of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/because-we-believe-that-somewhere-in-the-nest-of-paradigms-contained/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [A retreatist spirituality is not a spirituality that can, or will, transform the world in Jesus's name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/a-retreatist-spirituality-is-not-a-spirituality-that-can-or-will/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [Go among the people. Don't assume you know what church looks like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/go-among-the-people-don-t-assume-you-know-what-church-looks-like/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [“I have come to believe that the major threat to the viability of our faith is that of consumerism. This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/i-have-come-to-believe-that-the-major-threat-to-the-viability-of-our/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [Christianity is an adventure of the spirit or it is not Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/christianity-is-an-adventure-of-the-spirit-or-it-is-not-christianity/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [The fact is that if Jesus's future kingdom is secure, those who trust in its coming will enact it now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/the-fact-is-that-if-jesus-s-future-kingdom-is-secure-those-who-trust/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [Those of us with too much invested in the way things are will never embrace the revolutionary cause required for wholesale change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/those-of-us-with-too-much-invested-in-the-way-things-are-will-never/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [“All apostolic ministry in some sense involves this return to the founding message as well as purpose. The missional task that follows is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/all-apostolic-ministry-in-some-sense-involves-this-return-to-the/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [Every Christian is a sent one. There is no such thing as an unsent Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/every-christian-is-a-sent-one-there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-unsent/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [Heroes are important not only because they symbolize what we believe to be important, but because they also convey universal truths about personal self-discovery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/heroes-are-important-not-only-because-they-symbolize-what-we-believe/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [There's no such thing as an unsent Christian. You have already been SENT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/there-s-no-such-thing-as-an-unsent-christian-you-have-already-been/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [It's not so much that the church has a mission, it's that the mission of God has a church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/it-s-not-so-much-that-the-church-has-a-mission-it-s-that-the-mission/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [Being the church that Jesus intended means that we must participate in God’s eternal purposes for his world. Renewal means more than reinventing ourselves;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/being-the-church-that-jesus-intended-means-that-we-must-participate/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) > [“How did we ever get to believe that faithfulness involved simply retaining past forms and thinking? With the Creator God as our Father, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hirsch/how-did-we-ever-get-to-believe-that-faithfulness-involved-simply/) [Alan Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) [Explore all 79 Alan Hirsch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hirsch/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was C. S. Lewis who observed that \"there exists in every church something that sooner or later works against the very purpose for which it came into existence. 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