lifeasmission

Missional in Suburbia

March 26, 2007

A friend and fellow blogger, Todd Hiestand, has written an excellent paper reflecting on the idea missional engagement with suburban culture, Missional in Suburbia.

Here’s an excerpt…

“Can you hear me, Morpheus? I’m going to be honest with you. I hate this place. This zoo. This prison. This reality. Whatever you want to call it. I can’t stand it any longer. It’s the smell, if there is such a thing. I feel saturated by it. I can taste your stink. And every time I do, I feel I have somehow been infected by it, it’s repulsive. I must get out of here. I must get free…
- Agent Smith, The Matrix

Two years ago this was how I viewed our suburban world. It was a zoo. It was a prison. I hated this place: the strip malls, the individualism, the consumerism. Certainly, I thought, Christianity is best lived in the city. I figured if I wanted to really serve God and follow the radical call of Christ I would have to move to the city. There I could better live in proximity and community. There, I could do a better job of taking care of the poor and needy at my doorstep. The city was the place where following Jesus would easily be lived out on a daily basis. This is how I thought. But God has a way of shaking things up.”

I’d love to hear any thoughts you might have, but I am sure Todd would as well. Besied his own personal blog, Todd has also posted the paper at Meremission.

Good job Todd, and thanks.

Posted in: blogging, missional, suburban