I was listening to this tune by Derek Webb earlier, ‘Rich Young Ruler.’ The lyrics really struck me:
poverty is so hard to see
when its only on your tv and twenty miles across town
where we’re all living so good
that we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood
where he’s hungry and not feeling so good
from going through our trash
he says, more than just your cash and coin
i want your time, i want your voice
i want the things you just cant give me
so what must we do
here in the west we want to follow you
we speak the language and we keep all the rules
even a few we made up
come on and follow me
but sell your house, sell your SUV
sell your stocks, sell your security
and give it to the poor
what is this, hey whats the deal
i dont sleep around and i dont steal
i want the things you just cant give me
because what you do to the least of these
my brothers, you have done it to me
because i want the things you just cant give me
This is a phenomenal tune that the church needs to think about here in America. Pastor Fred, a friend of mind and fellow blogger, recommended a book to me today via goodreads that looks awesome. It’s entitled Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul, by Dave L. Goetz. It’s so true that this false suburbia Christianity is hogwash, we really need to apply the lyrics of this song and move forward into God’s will for our lives. I am not excluding myself from this challenge. Suburbia will kill your faith. Read this review for the book by Goetz:
A great number of seekers find themselves in the seemingly unreal world of the suburbs. They read spirituality books but find themselves in carpools and coaching soccer, not in monasteries. Dave Goetz, a former pastor, shows that the suburbs are a real world, but a spiritually corrosive one. The land of SUVs and soccer leagues can truly be toxic to the soul. Suburbanites need to understand how the environment affects them and what spiritual disciplines are needed for their faith to survive and thrive. Goetz identifies eight toxins in the suburban life, such as hyper–competition and the “transactional” friendship, and suggests eight corresponding disciplines to keep the spiritual life authentic. Goetz weaves sociology studies, his own experiences, current events, wisdom of the spiritual masters, and a little humor to equip spiritual suburbanites for how to relate to God amidst Starbucks, strip–malls, and perfect lawns.
I added the book to my goodreads list, which you can see by looking in the sidebar on the right. The goodreads widget is all the way at the bottom.
Do you agree that suburban life is toxic to our faith? What do you think is necessary to maintain a real, authentic relationship with Jesus Christ amidst suburbia?
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