tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24215087.post115816060347855546..comments2023-05-14T07:51:18.017-05:00Comments on The Suburban Christian: Being incarnational: Fully Christian, fully suburban?Al Hsuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04407264726681695790noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24215087.post-1158265015343381522006-09-14T15:16:00.000-05:002006-09-14T15:16:00.000-05:00Al,I couldn't agree more with your response. But ...Al,<BR/><BR/>I couldn't agree more with your response. But with the "blurry lines everywhere" we are called to live "non-blurry" lives--and that definitely requires commitment in Christian community.<BR/><BR/>I remember hearing Dr Stephen Green (Professor at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma) say, "It may not take a village to raise a child, but it TAKES a CHURCH to raise a saint."<BR/><BR/>So how many "real saints" do we have out there? I guess the better question would be "How many real churches" do we have out there?<BR/><BR/>Great blog...Keep it up.Phil Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14613170792920440824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24215087.post-1158252433564182802006-09-14T11:47:00.000-05:002006-09-14T11:47:00.000-05:00Phil - Thanks for visiting, and glad you caught th...Phil - Thanks for visiting, and glad you caught the radio interview. And I heartily concur with your comments - amen and amen! One of the trickiest things about my attempts to say anything about suburbia is to distinguish between what is distinctly suburban and what is more generally American or Western. I've got various disclaimers sprinkled throughout the book saying things like "I know this doesn't just apply to suburbia, but anyway . . ." There are a lot of blurry lines everywhere.<BR/><BR/>So anyway, yes, the challenge for all Christians, in cities, suburbs and rural areas alike, is to be intentional and live Christianly whatever our context. Most of these cultural idols of individualism, privacy, convenience, consumerism and the like are so pervasive in all sectors of society - they just show up in slightly different ways here or there. The challenge for all of us Christians is to figure out how to love God and neighbor and to practice generosity, community, service, etc. wherever we're at. In many ways, there's really nothing new under the sun, but we're all called to follow God as faithfully as possible in such a time (and place) as this.Al Hsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04407264726681695790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24215087.post-1158251224462149512006-09-14T11:27:00.000-05:002006-09-14T11:27:00.000-05:00Al,I listened intently to your interview with Wayn...Al,<BR/><BR/>I listened intently to your interview with Wayne Shepherd last night on OPEN LINE (Moody Broadcasting).<BR/><BR/>I thought it was fascinating.<BR/><BR/>However, I am convinced of these things:<BR/><BR/>1) It's a matter of the "heart"--not just location. Those in the cities can be just as "individualistic" as those in the suburbs. Sometimes more so. <BR/><BR/>2) We Westerners value three things (even though we would never admit it): Privacy, Mobility, Convenience. Those three possessions have become our new "trinity." We want to make sure that our experience as "christians" (not necessarily Christ-followers)fits neatly around these three. And if "our experience" doesn't fit neatly around these three, then so we find "one" that does.<BR/><BR/>3). We have lost a sense of "community" and "belonging" in the American church. We are quite satisfied with being a "collection of individuals" instead of becoming a "community of faith." Becoming the first takes NO effort, and becoming the second requires constant effort.<BR/><BR/>Great blog by the way. Will visit it regularly.Phil Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14613170792920440824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24215087.post-1158227187886309752006-09-14T04:46:00.000-05:002006-09-14T04:46:00.000-05:00I see myself as both Christian and suburban.if I a...I see myself as both Christian and suburban.<BR/><BR/>if I am not a suburbanite then I sense I lose some contact with others in the burbs.<BR/><BR/>If i'm not Christian then I am not distinctive.<BR/><BR/>Always the tension...backyardmissionaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04293586804277047499noreply@blogger.com