Though you might think he’s overstating his case a bit, Albert Hsu says in his book The Suburban Christian that: “The suburban life is a spiritual quest.” He goes on to clarify:

We’re all here looking for something. People live in suburbia for any number of reasons. We may have come here because of a job change for for a relationship. We come in search of affordable housing, good schools or safe communities.

Hsu argues that suburbia embodies the quest for an “ideal life” and that:

Whenever people describe suburbia, invariably they use phrases like ‘a good place to raise kids’ or ‘where people settle down and start a family.’ Inherent in these comments is an aspiration of hope for their future and a dream of a good life for their children. In other words, suburbia is the context and the settign for the fulfillment of people’s hopes and dreams.

The suburbs are the embodiment of much of the “American dream.” Single family homes surrounded by parks, schools and endless choices for consumerism (even if these choices are actually quite sterile because they are nothing more than chain stores and restaurants therefore nearly every suburb, no matter where you are, feels a bit the same).

The ideal accompaniment to suburban living seems to be the shopping mall. A collection of consumerism under one giant air-conditioned roof surrounded by fast food. So you can exercise walking around the mall, pick up the newest Tommy Hilfiger duds and wash it down with an Orange Julius, all within a comfortable driving distance from your McMansion. And yet, what, on the surface seems to be a myriad of choices is really not all that wide. After all, nearly every suburb and nearly every mall is populated by the same products. So the “dream” of the fulfilled life in the suburbs often amounts to little more than being made a clone in the consumer army.

The ideal accompaniment to the suburban shopping mall seems to be the (typical) megachurch. A collection of “family friendly” programs under one giant air-conditioned roof surrounded by fast-food preaching. Granted, I am painted with very b r o a d strokes here, but stereotypes often have at least a kernel of truth and many, if not most large churches are large because they tickle people’s ears while appealing to the inborn (or is that inbred) “American” consumer in each of us.

It is not far too common to find churches with their own bowling alleys, roller-skating rinks (it’s retro now, you know), soccer teams and program after program to attract people, all the while, giving them the illusion of choice and even fulfillment. But we all know from experience that consumerism is quite shallow. We thrive on the desire for the next big purchase (or program) and when we have it, we want the next one, and on it goes.

How then, does one effectively glorify God and create disciples of Jesus Christ in the suburbs? By their very nature, these areas which often pride themselves on being “family friendly,” create an overwhelming amount of isolation. There are no longer city centers, homes no longer have front porches, closed garages are now the most prominent feature of most homes, nestled nicely next to (closed) designer blinds. All the while, we have a myriad of choices, as long as it fits with the prescribed HOA guidelines and color schemes and we become slaves to our commute because our mortgage just went up. In other words, the dream of “fulfillment” is quite shallow. The dream of the suburban dream is a mirage.

I wonder how many suburban churches actually preach and live the liberating power of the Gospel?! Suburbs are indeed a mission-field. More Americans now live in suburbs than in urban and rural areas combined, but I wonder if it might also be said that American suburbs contain some of the largest and yet weakest churches anywhere in the world? How can this be? Because we have come to import and practice consumerism into every area of life and churches have been all too willing to capitulate.

What if a church bucked this trend? Not just to be contrarian but Gospel-saturated, Christ-glorifying? What if a church did not offer tennis courts but the Word preached and opportunities for discipleship and growth? What if people marinated in such an environment until they understood that the water cooler is the new version of the town well and God prepares divine appointments, even there? What if people saw their “work” as ministry and their possessions as tools?

Please join me in praying that Church of the Cross might have just such an impact. Please pray that we would have the wisdom and discernment, humility and boldness to preach the Gospel in the midst of a consumer-centered suburban environment.

• Read The Suburban Christian: Finding Spiritual Vitality In The Land of Plenty by Albert Hsu
• Read Death By Suburb: How To Keep The Suburbs From Killing Your Soul by Dave L. Goetz
• Read Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger