So Hsu asks himself, "Had suburbia been good or bad for me?" This is a question I ask myself quite often. If the answer is "bad" then what do I do now? If the answer is "good" then how do I define the "good" that has resulted from suburbia?
I didn't have the same definition of "suburbia" as what was presented in chapter one. I had never heard the term exburbs. I also thought suburbs were just housing communities outside of big cities. I didn't realize suburbs were really just small towns outside of big cities. If this is the definition of suburbs then what's the difference between a small town in the middle of nowhere and rural america?
Another question that arose--- repeatedly Hsu states that the suburbs are inescapable. If they're inescapable then of course it makes sense that Hsu wouldn't see a need for Christians to return to the cities.
Which brings up another question--- if the Christians started flocking to the cities then wouldn't their money follow? Thus wouldn't a displace of the poor only get worse and worse? I'm still battling this one- any thoughts?
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I feel like suburbia has been both good and bad for us. What exactly do you mean by defining the good or the bad and what do you want to achieve?
ReplyDeleteHis presentation of the term exburb was interesting. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by suburbs just being small towns outside of big cities, I think that they are small towns in that they are smaller than the city and can function autonomously, however I would say that they are not small towns in the sense of small town rural because they do not necessarily have their own cultural identity the way a small town in the middle of nowhere would. I would speculate that in that sense suburbs remain dependent on the major city. I'm not sure what your question about the difference between a small town in the middle of nowhere and rural america means. I would think that they are pretty much the same thing. Doesn't the small town being in the middle of nowhere imply that it is in rural america?
I don't think Hsu meant that the suburbs are inescapable in the sense that you shouldn't leave them or try to escape, but more so that they suck you in because they are self sufficient and there is no need to leave. I do not think that we can assume that he means that suburban Christians should never leave the suburbs, but he is merely commenting on the way in which suburbs function. Later on in the chapter he is critical of the overwhelming push toward urban ministry (rightly so), but I don't think he is trying to say that this is not needed, but more that suburban ministry is just as essential. Perhaps this would be a good place to bring in his view of the metropolitan area as a whole. I think that an effective ministry in this sense would involve connecting people in the suburbs and the city around the common bond of Jesus.
(Rich) Christians flocking to the cities - I think this is hitting on a similar issue as one of my questions. If rich Christians or any people who are wealthier begin to flock to a lower income neighborhood, this is known as gentrification. The cost of living rises in the neighborhood and pushes the poorer people out of the neighborhood, effectively colonizing it. This has happened and is happening as people in Southeast and Southwest? (I think) DC are being pushed out into Prince George's County. Anyway to answer your question - YES. If a bunch of rich Christians flocked to the cities with their same incomes and standards of living, they would displace the poor and really not be helping anybody. I would say for one that not every suburban Christian is called to move into the city, in fact it is probably a pretty small portion. Also, I think moving into low income neighborhood requires a commitment to a certain level of incarnational living, meaning that the rich Christian might not bring their money and their standard of living with them, but rather live much more simply and in the way those around them live - patronizing local businesses, working in the neighborhood or the city, and really committing to be a part of the community in such a way that there would be some amount of consciousness of one's effect on the neighborhood.
Hope this helps. Let me know what you think.