Is there Christian "secrets" reserved for an init

I have to admit the concept of secret societies are always cool, but alas...

1Corinthians 2:6
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
2:7
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
2:8
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
2:10
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
2:11
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
2:12
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
2:13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2:15
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
2:16
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

So I am currently researching Tract 80 published by the Oxford Movement in the 1800s, the title of which is 'On Reserve in Communicating Religious Knowledge'.

The idea is not that there are *secrets* in the Church but that there are divinely ordained *ways* to God, that God is hidden (evidence largely taken from scripture - e.g. Mark 8:30 'and he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him' etc) and that this needs to be thought about carefully before we dish out free Bibles to everyone. Isaac Williams, the author of this tract, suggests this comes about through two things: devotional practice within the body of the church (i.e liturgy) and what he calls 'natural piety' which I have not quite pinned down yet.

It is somewhat convincing. It is also polemical. If someone can tell me why they disagree, I'd be most grateful for a conversation about it.

Michie said:

Estotericism is contrary to the nature of Christianity.

Continued below.
Are there Christian “secrets” reserved for an initiated elite?

Click to expand...

In a word, NO.
To believe that there is secret knowledge reserved for an elite group of believers is the gnostic heresy.

Christianity is for all people, of all ages, stations in life, classes, tribes, races, degrees of wealth, whether educated or ignorant, clever or stupid.

The same message, the same salvation is for all people.