Comments on: Books: Quaker Summer http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:11:35 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: gdsuffern http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-277413 gdsuffern Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:05:42 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-277413 Chas-my church is an enigma!!! While they profess a more reformed christian emphasis (they use the NASB) they also have a very emergent-esque contemporary service which sharply divides the youth from adult and the songs are mind-dumbingly devoid of doctrine. Keep in mind, contemporary music is great...as long as it maintains a God-focus, not subjective ME focus. Plus, in the more traditional services, there seems to be a shyness toward apologetics from the pulpit which the laity desperately need. Anyway. We remain to pray and be what we want to see in the body. The book: Just got the book from the library...and while I can appreciate the "snarkiness" as you aptly put it, I am wary of the loose concept of church, fellowship and what it means to be a believer. I totally appreciate the mandate to serve but the continual emphasis on social gospel over doctrinal distinctiveness is, shall we say, acute. The author makes no bones about equating true Christianity with works and sects such as Quakers and catholics, taking shots at talk radio, wealthy folks in private schools, and drivers of suv's. I would say that much of this is true...but...are we so blind to in-group/out-group homogeneity at work here? These people are church hoppers...shoppers...and this might illuminate our need for truth, but, it doesn't make the practice of "shopping" any more credible. Does that make sense? I don't know. I thought I'd really identify with this book, but, in the end, I found a fiction version of Brian McClaren's "doctrine of evangelical disdain," which is no compliment. Chas-my church is an enigma!!! While they profess a more reformed christian emphasis (they use the NASB) they also have a very emergent-esque contemporary service which sharply divides the youth from adult and the songs are mind-dumbingly devoid of doctrine. Keep in mind, contemporary music is great…as long as it maintains a God-focus, not subjective ME focus. Plus, in the more traditional services, there seems to be a shyness toward apologetics from the pulpit which the laity desperately need. Anyway. We remain to pray and be what we want to see in the body.

The book:
Just got the book from the library…and while I can appreciate the “snarkiness” as you aptly put it, I am wary of the loose concept of church, fellowship and what it means to be a believer. I totally appreciate the mandate to serve but the continual emphasis on social gospel over doctrinal distinctiveness is, shall we say, acute. The author makes no bones about equating true Christianity with works and sects such as Quakers and catholics, taking shots at talk radio, wealthy folks in private schools, and drivers of suv’s. I would say that much of this is true…but…are we so blind to in-group/out-group homogeneity at work here? These people are church hoppers…shoppers…and this might illuminate our need for truth, but, it doesn’t make the practice of “shopping” any more credible. Does that make sense? I don’t know. I thought I’d really identify with this book, but, in the end, I found a fiction version of Brian McClaren’s “doctrine of evangelical disdain,” which is no compliment.

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]]> By: Chas http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-274992 Chas Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:05:47 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-274992 I'm kinda shy here. Afraid to show my face again. I’m kinda shy here. Afraid to show my face again.

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]]> By: Chas http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-274991 Chas Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:04:27 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-274991 GDSUFFERN: What scripture text does the pastor use? GDSUFFERN: What scripture text does the pastor use?

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]]> By: gdsuffern http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-274899 gdsuffern Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:49:09 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-274899 Chas, I go to a 5000 member southern baptist church and we definitely have waded into seeker sensitive waters. That is, we routinely have doctrine handled with kid gloves, favoring a more self-help approach. Chas, I go to a 5000 member southern baptist church and we definitely have waded into seeker sensitive waters. That is, we routinely have doctrine handled with kid gloves, favoring a more self-help approach.

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]]> By: Cheryl D. http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-274883 Cheryl D. Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:28:48 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-274883 Hey, who left the door open? Anyone could wander in.... Hey, who left the door open? Anyone could wander in….

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]]> By: Chas http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-274802 Chas Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:48:58 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-274802 I suspect men aren't allowed on this thread, but I just wanted to say that I've never heard a "self help" sermon in a Baptist church. Not even in a Father's Day sermon. I suspect men aren’t allowed on this thread, but I just wanted to say that I’ve never heard a “self help” sermon in a Baptist church. Not even in a Father’s Day sermon.

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]]> By: Karen O http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-274790 Karen O Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:38:49 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-274790 Michelle - God bless you! I'm sure you blessed a lot of people. Michelle – God bless you! I’m sure you blessed a lot of people.

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]]> By: michelle http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-274768 michelle Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:10:04 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-274768 I liked <i>Water for Elephants,</i> and can't believe the author had not attended a circus before she wrote it. And I bought a copy of <i>Same Kind of Different</i> last night. :-) As to messy churches, they're certainly more interesting than perfect beige ones--and more likely to be full of the Holy Spirit. He frequently hangs out with sinners. At one of our duty stations, I complained about our church a lot to my long suffering husband. I loved the people, but had a personality problem with the pastor. I couldn't seem to learn anything from his sermons and didn't like his sense of humor. My husband finally confronted me. "If you were a msisionary in Ecuador, you wouldn't be 'fed' every Sunday either. You've been a Christian a long time. You need to serve here and get your teaching somewhere else." So I did. I joined Bible Study Fellowship and listened to Elisabeth Elliott every day on the radio. I grew in leaps and bounds, spiritually, and was able to minister to the flock at our church. Of course, I knew I was leaving in a couple years, which made it easier to "tough it out." Should we ever move back to several of our former duty stations, I suspect we would attend different churches. It would be awkward, but the right thing to do. I liked Water for Elephants, and can’t believe the author had not attended a circus before she wrote it.

And I bought a copy of Same Kind of Different last night. :-)

As to messy churches, they’re certainly more interesting than perfect beige ones–and more likely to be full of the Holy Spirit. He frequently hangs out with sinners.

At one of our duty stations, I complained about our church a lot to my long suffering husband. I loved the people, but had a personality problem with the pastor. I couldn’t seem to learn anything from his sermons and didn’t like his sense of humor.

My husband finally confronted me. “If you were a msisionary in Ecuador, you wouldn’t be ‘fed’ every Sunday either. You’ve been a Christian a long time. You need to serve here and get your teaching somewhere else.”

So I did. I joined Bible Study Fellowship and listened to Elisabeth Elliott every day on the radio. I grew in leaps and bounds, spiritually, and was able to minister to the flock at our church.

Of course, I knew I was leaving in a couple years, which made it easier to “tough it out.” Should we ever move back to several of our former duty stations, I suspect we would attend different churches. It would be awkward, but the right thing to do.

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]]> By: Cheryl D. http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-274745 Cheryl D. Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:56:24 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-274745 Well, I just checked my library's website, and I'm #20 on the list for <i>Water for Elephants.</i> So it will be a while before I get it. But I'm #1 for <i>Same Kind of Different</i>! I'm told by knowledgeable people on here that I <i>will</i> want to buy it, and I'm guessing I will...but I simply have too many books and I'm trying to show some self-control by using the library more, and then buying only the books that really make the A-list. I think I'll look up <i>Quaker Summer.</i> If it's an Oprah-type pick (I have a Christian friend who loaned me way too many of those), then I won't like it, but it sounds more nuanced than that. Well, I just checked my library’s website, and I’m #20 on the list for Water for Elephants. So it will be a while before I get it. But I’m #1 for Same Kind of Different! I’m told by knowledgeable people on here that I will want to buy it, and I’m guessing I will…but I simply have too many books and I’m trying to show some self-control by using the library more, and then buying only the books that really make the A-list.

I think I’ll look up Quaker Summer. If it’s an Oprah-type pick (I have a Christian friend who loaned me way too many of those), then I won’t like it, but it sounds more nuanced than that.

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]]> By: Lynn Vincent http://online.worldmag.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/comment-page-1/#comment-274738 Lynn Vincent Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:35:51 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/02/16/books-quaker-summer/#comment-274738 Yep, Cheryl, I LOVED <i>Water for Elephants</i>. A quirky, fascinating novel. Yep, Cheryl, I LOVED Water for Elephants. A quirky, fascinating novel.

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