Customer Reviews

The Suburban Christian: Finding Spiritual Vitality in the Land of Plenty

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The suburbs and suburban Christianity have been the subject of a great deal of often justified criticism, so Hsu, a suburbanite all his life, undertook the task of looking at how Christians really can live out their faith even in this too materialistic society. His approach is good, his scholarship is well-balanced, and he has some useful suggestions on how better to address the culture rather than just be carried along on its tide. I think he may be a little too gentle on how Christians need to change their lives in response to the challenge Christ laid out for us, but the book is still an excellent way to begin asking the right questions.

I thought this might be an easy read; boy, was I mistaken! Actually this book is full of social commentary that is rather interesting - not interesting enough to last 200 pages, but the author does make some really excellent points along the way. As a product of suburbia, Hsu examines how this new culture has arisen to dominate our landscape today and asks some pretty poignant questions about the "progress" of our society towards the individualism and isolationism of suburbia. He addresses the issue that I see as being a fundamental hurdle to a profound and vibrant spiritual journey - an "absence of scarcity" that has resulted in our entitlement culture devoid of appreciation and always demanding more...faster...easier! Hsu makes the connection between our physical environment and our resulting spiritual lives - and the conclusions he reaches aren't necessarily positive.

Hsu also takes to task the church in the suburbs and examines how many are more like shopping malls bending to the consumer culture than bodies of Christ transforming the culture around them. He also examines how we've lost a sense of connectedness - from the days of yesteryear when families gathered on the front porch to sit and chat with neighbors to the isolated homes of today with high fences, air conditioning and televisions as the centralized all-encompassing focus of "family time."

While Hsu doesn't back down from his concerns, he doesn't paint a bleak picture for the future - there are things that we, as suburban Christians, can and should do to counter our culture; but we must first see that our commercialized, consumer-driven, convenience-at-all-costs society does have some flaws! For Hsu, the answer is that bigger isn't always better, that easier isn't always worth it, and that as a follower of Christ, living counter-culture means more than opposing abortion or not smoking. It means that we must add value to our culture beginning with those closest to us - our neighbors. It means learning to make sacrifices and living within our means so that we can be used by God to assist others in need. And it means understanding that everyone longs for a place they can call home - a place of rest and peace - and while many believe that to be a physical refuge, as Christians we know that our soul will only find rest in Christ and we can share that rest with others who are longing for it.

Al Hsu does an extraordinary job in the work that seeks to guide us on how to live in the suburban context. It is well researched and very balanced. There is no 'stone throwing' here to us suburbanites, but it is a thoughtful guide that challenges those who live in suburbia to do so in a redemptive fashion. In particular chapters 4 and 5 are very good and practical in terms of how to live in such a context. I would highly recommend it!

I have met the author (last name is pronounced 'shee') and heard him speak a few times. His writing style reflects his speaking style: easy to follow, casual voice, yet punctuated with substance and information. While not preachy, Hsu encourages us that Christians are called to be Christians everywhere - including the 'burbs, but he challenges us to think about what that might look like and whether we can consider what God is calling us to do in our neighborhoods and churches. Extensive endnotes can lead to further reading on the subject.

The topic of suburban Christianity is one that deserves attention and thought. And I do agree with the premise of the book--that Christians must not give up on the suburbs. But although this book was well researched, it lacked a fundamental passion to really inspire and encourage the love of God in suburbia. Perhaps that was not the intent, but that is the book we really need to find!

What you are left with is some dry sociological information, mild commentary and a few tentative suggestions like "walk more" or "practice hospitality" or "simplify your life" or "remember how the other half lives" that any non-Christian book about the topic might suggest. I can and do get that type of social commentary from David Brooks. And generally he is more humorous about it too.

God can radically change suburbia through each of us. If we don't believe this, what are we discussing anyway? I believe what is going to get suburban Christians to make eye contact with people and invest in them is a love of God and God's love for people. If we don't care about our neighborhood barista then all the short-term weekend trips to urban missions are more about us than about the people we are suppose to be helping. If we are simplifying our lives to consume less (and save money) but not giving over and above our tithe to charity--again the benefit goes all to us. Ditto for our taking more walks if we don't end up actually talking to anyone new while walking! It's not all about you (or me) the suburban Christian.

To be fair I would probably be less critical of this book if the blurb from whoever Lauren Winner is didn't claim it would be "Provocative...even prophetic." That is what it is precisely NOT. Not provocative enough and not prophetic enough. Bill Hybels' new book "A Walk Across the Room," which talks about making personal connections, is a better guide book for bringing Jesus into your suburb. And as for passion, you can't beat Brennan Manning's "Ruthless Trust" or almost any other book he has written. If you care about this topic, suggest you read Manning to get the passion, pray hard, then do what Hybels says.

Although focused on suburbia, the forces of consumerism, branding and social isolation can be found is urban and rural settings as well. The book provides a good review of the suburbs - how they developed and the lifestyle within them. I say "review" since if you live in the suburbs you already know most of this background information. Mr. Hsu addresses the problem of the consumer culture and suburban living reasonably well. He gives various suggestions for living a more meaningful life within this setting. This practical advice is reasonable but there isn't anything that is extra-ordinary here. Interestingly, he decries the consumer, suburban culture and "branding" of products then praises the mega-churches that do the very same thing. I would have liked to see more in-depth missional focus to present the gospel to a suburban culture and that has a God-shaped void within the heart.

Overall, it is a good book especially if you are a immigrant to this culture. However is is not, as Lauren Winner writes, "provocative, thoughtful, even prophetic". With that kind of overwhelming endorsement for this book, she has lost credibility.

It is good to get a Christian perspective on suburbia. Of all the books that are out now that tell you about how and why North America's suburbia came about, and what can be done to make suburbia better, this book is one of the very few that tells you about these things from a Christian perspective.

I really like books that offer solutions to problems we face, and/or better alternatives to the status quo. I also like hearing Christians telling us how we can live more simple lifestyles, and how living more simple lifestyles would make life better for everybody. A couple of years ago, I went on a tour of the Amish region in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and when I learned about how simple a lifestyle they still live, it really made me wonder why not many other Christians are living a more simple lifestyle! No, the author of this book is not suggesting that we should go so far as to live without electricity! And no, I am not suggesting that we should go that far either! But he believes that Christians should be living more simple lifestyles than most suburbanites (secular and Christian) are living these days, and I agree.

One other thing I appreciate is the fact that this book's author talks about the fact Christian suburbanites should be having much more influence on all other suburbanites, and on everybody who lives everywhere else, and tells us about the ways in which we can do that.

It is very nicely written, in a straightforward way and without judgements etc. on living in suburbs, as most of us do. What I found very good was his summary of how suburbs gotto where they are, what they mean, and what the difficulties are of living in them.