Intentional Suburbanites

Will Samson has posted someone's "Ten Ideas for Living Intentionally in the Suburbs" (HT: Hamo). Helpful stuff.  Also will take this chance to say that Will's new book, Justice in the Burbs, is out now.  Haven't picked it up yet, but will when I get the chance.  Here's Will's post.

Ten Ways to be the People of God in Suburbia
by Chris Smith

In response, to Brian McLaren’s call for urban churches at the Mayhem gathering last weekend [in Cincinnati], my friend Mike Bishop has been stirring up some conversation on "suburban ministry." Here's my response to that conversation, ten ways for those called to suburban ministry to be in the people of God in radical ways in suburbia. This list is meant for people to chew on and not all of its points may be applicable for all suburban missional church communities.

1) Live with others from your church community

Whether you share your home with another person or family, or whether you have several families that have homes in close proximity or both, sharing life together is perhaps the most powerful (i.e., going against the grain of suburban culture) way to be the body of Christ in suburbia. If you can't live together, at least find a way to share resources (power tools, lawn mowers, children's clothes/toys, etc).

2) Work Less!

One of the major powers that enslaves suburbia is the idolization of the career. There are many ways to pay the bills that do not involve a 9-5 job, and even within a 9-5 job, there are ways to work less (turning down promotions, taking unpaid leave, etc.) Working less will free you to serve your church community, your family, your neighbors, etc. It will also spur creativity: finding a solution for working less, finding a way to "make ends meet" financially, etc.

3) Throw out the television

Another (and perhaps larger power) that enslaves suburbia is consumerism. You'll be amazed at how your desire for things ebbs as you take the TV out of the picture. If you can't bring yourself to kill the television, at least take steps to lessen its influence (get rid of cable, only use it for movies, put it on a cart that can be wheeled in and out of a closet, etc.) Throwing out the television will also stimulate your creativity.

4) Drive less

Suburban culture is also enslaved to the automobile. Find ways to loosen those bonds (much more difficult in suburbia than in urban areas). Share a vehicle with others in your church community (much easier if you are doing #1 above). Invest in a good bicycle. Walk. There was a segment on "60 minutes" a few weeks ago about how much we miss when we zip around in automobiles. Walking and/or biking will help you be more attentive to your surroundings

5) Have a garden / grow food

Suburban life is often very shut off from the food cycle (Food comes from the grocery store, of course!). Homegrown food is more healthy, it gives you a good excuse to be outside (see #7 below), and it provides you with a resource to share generously with your church community and your neighbors. Phil Kenneson outlines a number of horticultural lessons for the people of God in his intro to LIFE ON THE VINE that are additional benefits of this practice.

6) Get to know your neighbors / listen for their needs

To be human is to be poor. Or in other words, everyone has needs. The challenge of suburbia is that there are many more ways to conceal that poverty, and similarly that it will take more effort to get into a position where a neighbor can reveal their needs. Be intentional about building relationships. Share meals, play poker, have block parties, whatever it takes.

7) Be outside as much as possible.

Another temptation of suburbia - fueled by individualism - is that of the house as an impenetrable fortress. Dissolve this temptation by eating, playing, relaxing outside. This practice is also one avenue to interact with your neighbors.

8) Do not fence in your yard

All apologies to Robert Frost, but fences do not make good neighbors, and in fact they often keep us from making good human neighbors. This is a corollary to #7, the fence is a major component of the impenetrable fortress syndrome; it protects our privacy and keeps out our "evil" neighbors. It often is a statement of distrust. If you must have a fence (to corral a dog for instance) make it as low and as permeable (i.e., not blocking off the view) as you can get away with.

9) Take a stand against the greed of mega-corporations

Whenever possible, resist buying from domineering mega-corporations (e.g., Wal-mart, McDonalds, Starbucks, and others). These corporations destroy local economies and have little or no concern for the environment. Buy as much as you can from businesses that are as local as possible (family-owned businesses are preferable to local chains, local chains are preferable to regional chains, and regional chains are preferable to global corporations.)

10) Utilize and support non-commercial public spaces (parks, libraries, colleges, etc.)

This point is another corollary of #7 above. We must utilize and show our support for these public spaces, lest they be conquered by the powers of individualism (by becoming private property) or by consumerism (by becoming commercial or industrial property). This is also a wonderful way to foster relationships with our neighbors.

Comments

[Erick C.]

Steve,

Thanks for posting this. We need all the help we can get in this area. With all the focus on how to live missionally in cities I often wonder if I live in the right place. This helps.
Thanks, Erick.

[phil]

I understand the idea behind the "work less" suggestion but what kind of example is it to our co-workers and employers if the Christians are always the ones trying to sneak out right at 5 so we can rush home? I think there is a balance here that needs to be struck. Keller is the only one that I've heard that has anything helpful on this topic.

[matthewsmith]

Phil, I agree that it's not a good idea to "sneak out" or underperform at a job. A key concept to working less is getting rid of debt. If you have credit card debt, a HELOC, student loans, etc hanging over your head, it creates stress and can bind you to a job that overworks you and takes you away from your community. A family that doesn't have debt has more options and freedom to choose to work a different job (perhaps one that intentionally injects you further into the community). Dave Ramsey's book "The Total Money Makeover" is a good place to start planning on becoming debt-free.

[bjnotbk]

Nice, thought provoking post. I definitely agree on number 3 and number 7. Our family is outside as much as possible and we have cut the TV watching back to a bare minimum. I would also suggest filtering what you listen to as well in the way of the radio. I have about a 30 minute commute and one of my guilty pleasures was a radio show hosted by a guy in Chicago, I began subscribing to some great preaching podcasts, listening to His word instead of the word from the world and it has transformed my mind.

Speaking of living missionally in the burbs. I have started creating a list of those within my circle of influence: family, friends, familiar (those at the places I frequent), faithful (those in ministry like Steve, Joe, my pastors, fellow brothers/sisters in Christ) and have been praying for those who know Christ as savior and Lord that they would be encouraged and that I would be an encouragement to them. I have also tried to identify those who may not know Christ and have started praying for them and asking for ways and opportunities to share the gospel with them. You would be amazed at the size of the mission field God has given you if you were to do this. Just in my family alone I have over 100 people to encourage, share with, and love to Jesus.

[Steve McCoy]

Phil, on the "work less" he said things like turning down promotions. Not sneaking out. I have a guy at our church who keeps getting promoted at a job that is sucking his time away more and more with work hours and commute, and he is looking to leave for a lesser paying job much closer to home and church. I think that's what he means. I think Matthew's idea about debt is crucial too.

bjnotbk, when first married my wife and I thew away our TV for a couple of years. Totally gone. Since then we've had a TV with either antenna reception only or the most basic of cable (like now). We almost never watch the TV, and typically don't even turn it on unless a show we plan to watch is on. Fasting from TV for a while has radically and permanently changed our lives. Strongly encourage others to try it.

[Joe Thorn]

Good stuff Steve. Thanks for sharing it.

[phil]

I certainly don't disagree with anything stated in Chris' list or in Matthew's comment (I hate debt as much as the next guy and, outside of a car payment, am debt free).

What I was getting at was a desire to see more of a balance struck. I think that we need more Christian men leading in the workplace and to reach a level of leadership and respect time needs to be invested.

Steve - I'd be interested to here your thoughts on this. Like I said, Keller has some helpful insights on this topic (as you probably well know) and calls for more men and Christian leaders to have a more robust theology and understanding of the workplace.

I'm really trying to sort this out and appreciate your comments.

[Steve McCoy]

Phil, I agree with you that we need to have a balanced view of work and I think the idea of working well and being the best businesspeople is crucial. At the same time I think the advice in the post was helpful in a certain direction and itself will bring a balance with earn more/buy more suburbanites. Hope that helps.

[Janet]

I love this list. This is actually something that my husband and I have been doing. We just decided that God was asking us to simplify. So, less tv, less driving, more carpooling, no pre-made meals, support local business (We haven't eaten in a chain restaurant in some time because Pensacola has such amazing locally owned restaurants), and less obsession with work.

We are working on getting to know our neighbors and being aware of their needs. It really helps to have a hurricane (like Hurrican Ivan) every once-in-a-while. When nobody in your town has electricity or running water for two weeks or more, you really learn what community is. We literally moved our grill to the front of the house and everyone shared their quickly defrosting food. Much sitting around and chatting occurred.

[Joey]

It's good to see people struggling with how to live the Kingdom in the suburbs. Personally, and I don't mean this as a way of bashing people but, suburbs kind of make me vomit a little in my mouth. The monotony, lack of diversity (except the people mowing the lawns, of course), too many SUVs, and the lack of exposure to the physically hurting world just kind of gets to me. I think this list is good but I feel that suburbanites still run into the issue that they aren't in regular contact with people who are different (I hesitate to say "people who are hurting" because I recognize that people in suburbs have problems too). Is it Shane Claiborne that says that the problem with the church isn't that they don't care about poor people, it's that they don't know poor people? I think there is a lot to be unpacked in that statement - I would hesitate living in a suburb for that reason.

[Steve McCoy]

Joey, in your effort to express why you would "hesitate living in a suburb" I think you have actually expressed great reasons for living there. Namely, it takes a great deal of creativity and labor to be in contact with people in a redemptive way. The Gospel calls us to the difficult places, don't you think?

[sdesocio]

those are all things which are easier to accomplish when you live in the city. =)

[joel]

While I loved the list and agree wholeheartedly, your statement "resist buying from domineering mega-corporations (e.g., Wal-mart, McDonalds, Starbucks, and others). These corporations destroy local economies and have little or no concern for the environment" isn't entirely correct. I understand the sentiment, but to lump Starbucks into that category, I think, is misleading. Starbucks is well documented for their positive practices, community involvement and sustainable farming, not to mention seeking ways to grow in those areas all the time. While their expansion tecniques are agressive, it can be argued that they have stimulated a formerly dormant espresso bar/coffee house industry and have inspired others to open their own bars, thus contributing to the local economy.

[Steve McCoy]

Joel, you have an odd way of expressing your "wholehearted" agreement with this post. :) It's cool, I get what you mean.

And I do support my local Starbucks more than I probably should, as anyone who knows me understands well. I took the point that you refer to (remember, I didn't write this) as saying that we need to focus on supporting our local folks. I agree with that and have encouraged that with my church.