Reflecting on our young adult group and the Suburban Christian

 

One day I will share this blog with people.  Some of the people will be those that I am writing about.  Well today I am thinking about our young adult group.  Truth be told, it’s a pretty good group.  I really enjoy being with them and think it’s one of the better aspects of our church. 

Generally we meet the first three Sunday nights of the month and our strategy has been where book groups meet small groups.  So we use books to spring board conversation.  We’ve used Don Miller’s, Blue Like Jazz, Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis and now we are reading the Suburban Christian.  This last book has been the toughest for some because there’s a bit of sociology in it and the first two chapters are not as sexy as say Blue … or Velvet …  Maybe I am missing the boat here, but I don’t think so.  It’s a good book.  And it shouldn’t be compared to aforementioned books because they are each written for different reasons. 

I find myself a little frustrated with this.  I keep trying to read it with new eyes, trying to forget that I have already determined that I have found value in it and I know I can be stubborn but I don’t think this book deserves the criticism that some in our group are giving it. 

If we were reading Dallas Willard’s great book, The Divine Conspiracy, and everyone was complaining about how hard it was, then I’d probably say, “Ok, maybe we reached too far this time …”.  I’ve had well-intentioned, intelligent people not appreciate Willard’s greatness.  That’s ok, they don’t need to go to heaven.  Sorry, I meant to say, maybe they’re not ready to read it.

But Suburban Christian contains so many conversations that we should be talking about.  Where we live, where we work and shop, how we spend our money, how we identify ourselves, social justice aspects, and the list goes on.   Just rambling about this online gets me going on it. 

Well, I guess I am trying to figure if/when to pull the plug.  Maybe we’re throwing pearls to the swine.  Maybe we should read something easier, like anything not about God – maybe the something from Tim LaHaye or Larry Jenkins. 

Comments

  1. Hey, I just stumbled across this post. Thanks for reading the book. Hope your group hangs with it – the middle/latter chapters might be more accessible for the lay reader and deal with pretty practical issues. (While I was writing it, folks told me to cut back on the sociology and the research, and I trimmed it down a bit, but there’s probably still too much there…sorry!)

  2. Hey, I just stumbled across this post. Thanks for reading the book. Hope your group hangs with it – the middle/latter chapters might be more accessible for the lay reader and deal with pretty practical issues. (While I was writing it, folks told me to cut back on the sociology and the research, and I trimmed it down a bit, but there’s probably still too much there…sorry!)

  3. Umm, how did you even find this? LOL.
    Flattered that commenting on this would even be worth your time.
    I’ve been planning on sharing this blog but have not been disciplined in posting nor do I think I’m that interesting. So, in the meantime, I’ve been experimenting. So thanks for finding it.

    True story – I just saw that you were going to be speaking at the Well in Feasterville, PA but unfortunately I’m going to be on a mission trip in August. Todd and I have not spoke about your book so I was really struck my the coolness of this. Hope it goes well.

    Regarding the book and small group study, we are with it and have enjoyed many fruitful conversations. Please do not apologize. People who really love God loved it! Kidding, kidding, it obviously depends on the reader and I think I’ve immersed myself enough in this conversation, read a couple books (collected even more) that I appreciated (and needed) the sociology. It sets it apart from the genere. In fact, it was part of the reason it was chosen over Jesus of Suburbia.

    One interesting result from our discussion was a formal dress drive for a NYC organization who provide prom dresses to teen-age girls. Our church has often done food, clothing, etc. drives but one young lady thought this would be very suburban. We all loved it. We’re doing it now in time for prom season.

    Thanks again for commenting.

  4. Umm, how did you even find this? LOL.
    Flattered that commenting on this would even be worth your time.
    I’ve been planning on sharing this blog but have not been disciplined in posting nor do I think I’m that interesting. So, in the meantime, I’ve been experimenting. So thanks for finding it.

    True story – I just saw that you were going to be speaking at the Well in Feasterville, PA but unfortunately I’m going to be on a mission trip in August. Todd and I have not spoke about your book so I was really struck my the coolness of this. Hope it goes well.

    Regarding the book and small group study, we are with it and have enjoyed many fruitful conversations. Please do not apologize. People who really love God loved it! Kidding, kidding, it obviously depends on the reader and I think I’ve immersed myself enough in this conversation, read a couple books (collected even more) that I appreciated (and needed) the sociology. It sets it apart from the genere. In fact, it was part of the reason it was chosen over Jesus of Suburbia.

    One interesting result from our discussion was a formal dress drive for a NYC organization who provide prom dresses to teen-age girls. Our church has often done food, clothing, etc. drives but one young lady thought this would be very suburban. We all loved it. We’re doing it now in time for prom season.

    Thanks again for commenting.

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