More On The 'Burbs

Yes...it borders on too easy when it comes to a bash of the suburbs. Lack of inspirational architecture. Too many strip malls. SUV's with kids' names & activities on the back. Megachurches. Too busy. Blah blah blah materialism blah blah covenant neighborhoods blah blah college blah blah. Etc. Etc. Etc. ad infinitum. Yes, we get it.

It's where I live...and there are some nice things about where I live, too. Quality public education. Good economic realities. Pretty much crime-free. Bible teaching churches. Quality instruction in your activity. Blah blah blah educated populace blah blah nice parks blah blah good road (except for Homestead) blah blah. Etc. Etc. Etc. close to ad infinitum. Yes, we've got it pretty good.

And in this month's Youthworker Journal (yes, we have our own professional magazine & literature. Some of us take this gig pretty seriously, okay?) there's an article with Al Hsu (who has commented at The Diner before) and Dave Goetz (who hasn't commented here but I listed his book on the left and quoted it earlier in the year) who are commenting on the spiritual life in the suburbs, so I thought I'd roll through a few quotes and let ya'll have at it:

In response to the question, "Do you feel suburbia holds more benefits for the spiritual lives of today's Christians or more dangers?":

Al Hsu: I'd say that suburbia is both a threat and an opportunity for the spiritual lives of suburban Christians. The fact that suburbia is a land of abundance cuts both ways. Suburban Christians have more access to material and spiritual resources but we've become numbed to physical and spiritual needs both at home and around the world.

Dave Geoetz: I think to stay in the 'burbs and thrive spiritual requires a continual mending of your spiritual life. It seems cliche to say, "You must be intentional," but there's no other way, really, to say it.

In response to the question, "How do the cultural values of suburbia impact youth ministry?"

Al: First, suburbia tends to be a commuter culture. So suburban youth groups can easily have teens from eighteen different high schools...and many youth workers are frazzled, commuting between a dozen schools...

Second, suburbia tends to have a busy culture. Some youth groups feed the frenzy by constantly scheduling more and more events for their teens. But many teens are so overscheduled that the last thing they need is more activities. So I applaud the contemplative youth ministry movement...

Third, suburbia tends to be a consumer culture--suburbia is almost a place of consumption rather than production. So a Christian alternative would be for youth workers to find ways to cultivate spiritual disciplines of creativity simplicity and generosity. One Christian high school of 575 teens chose to give up Starbucks, pizza and prom dresses in order to raise money to fight AIDS in Africa...

Some random quotes:

Dave: Spirituality without service in the world is a form of narcissism.

Al: Parents tend to feel good if their kids are part of the grades and sports groups but worried if their kids are part of an alternative crowd. You wonder if the grades and sports students end up worse off, spiritually, because they view themselves as healthy or normal. But they are simply absorbed into the culture. Normal takes on new meaning in the kingdom of God.

Dave: [Effective churches] are ministries built not around the homogeneity principle but aroudn grace and around a deep sense of mission in the world. The best student ministries are led by pastors who are struggling to learn how to pray and build silence into their lives. They themselves work at swimming upstream against the suburban current of efficiency, control and incessant activity.

*realizing we're open a little later than normal, but pours coffee, turns on "Now Open" neon sign, sets up chairs and waits for the discussion that makes The Diner what it is*