In the introduction of “The Jesus of Suburbia” author Mike Erre asks a series of challenging questions relating to modern American Christianity:
We preach Christianity, but do we really preach Christ?
We call people to serve the church, but do we call them to serve the poor?
We teach them to know sound doctrine, but do we teach people to center their whole lives on him?
Do we teach people to have a commitment to the Bible or to a relationship with its author?
Do we as Western Christians reflect Jesus or obscure him?
Can we say that we, his church, teach what he taught, love what (and whom) he loved, and hate what he hated? Are his priorities really ours?
Why is it that: Study after study shows no statistical difference between the behaviors of those inside the church and those outside it?
Why is it that: So many Christians have adopted a “victim mentality” with an attitude of helplessness and have put much of our hope and trust in the political process and court system, implying that God’s work on earth depends upon who sits in the White House?
Why is it: We currently see very little of the power, vitality, and growth today in our hearts and churches that once characterized the explosive movement of God?
Is it because we have substituted human traditions for the teachings of God? Have we made our Jesus the Jesus of Christianity, not the Jesus of the Gospels? We may think we worship the Jesus of Nazareth, but in reality we worship the Jesus of Suburbia.
Mike Erre in “The Jesus of Suburbia: Have We Tamed the Son of God to Fit Our Lifestyle?”
Ouch, but in desperate need of answering across the Western Church.
Brad, you didn’t get the memo. Jesus has a four bedroom in Venice with a BMW. He decided that if we weren’t interested, then why should he be. ;-P
Jonathan, funny. Unfortunately it appears that a lot of people DID get the memo!
[...] The Jesus of Suburbia « Missional Church Network In the introduction of “The Jesus of Suburbia” author Mike Erre asks a series of challenging questions relating to modern American Christianity: [...]
Wonderful post.
I really enjoyed it.
Keep up the great job you do with your blog. It is definately one of my favs!!!
timeline of Jesus life…
How do you think spiritual growth happens? What books have most helped you grow spiritually Mike says we can choose to run to Christ or run away from Christ. Think about the last week. did you run to Christ, or away from Christ? Or both? In the last mo…
Great question about spiritual growth and books that have assisted in that growth. If I had to pick one it would have to be “The Spirit of the Disciplines” by Dallas Willard.
I believe it is one of those “must reads” for all Christians. I have used the book as part of a discipleship course at a small Christian college for over 8 years and inevitably every year at least one student will ask “why have I not been told to read this book earlier in my Christian walk!”
Willard writes that “full participation in the life of God’s Kingdom and in the vivid companionship of Christ comes to us only through appropriate exercise in the disciplines for life in the spirit.”
Also I would suggest checking out the series my friend Georges Boujakly did on Spiritual Formation. Just click on the “spiritual formation” link under categories and scroll down.
Here is the first post in the series: http://missionalchurchnetwork.com/missional-spirituality/
Timeline of Jesus life,
Good question
at http://www.missionaorder.com we are trying to explore that question around 3 common commitments that we strongly believe, if practiced will propel us toward the growth God desires for us.
But to answer your question directly: indirectly. The Holy Spirit’s action in our lives is what makes us grow. It is what happens to us as a result of His work in us. We participate in what He is doing by means of disciplines.
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard is my choice along with Brad’s suggestion of the Spirit of the Disciplines. Chapter 9 of Divine Conspiracy gives a Golden Triangle of Spiritual Growth. You will find it extremely helpful along with the outline of the Curriculum for Christlikeness Willard suggests.
Hope this is helpful.
Georges, glad you “showed up” to give your 2 cents worth . . . of course it is worth much more than 2 cents
Thanks for sharing