Let me start off by saying that it is difficult, if not impossible, for me to be completely objective in this review. I had the pleasure of having Andrew Thompson as one of my preceptors (Duke's term for Teacher Assistants in large lecture classes) during my first year of seminary. Andrew may be one of the most modest people I've ever met. All through the semester, I had no idea he was an author or a well-read blogger. He was the Preceptor for Church History spanning from The Reformation to the Present. He is not only very smart in this area, but he can communicate it well. I have nothing but respect for him as an individual, so it is nearly impossible for me to find any fault with this book.
Generation Rising is a useful book for those of us who are part of "Generation X." Though it is directed towards the United Methodist Church, I think any Christian Denomination can find useful information and practices.
Generation X is roughly the generation born between 1961 and 1981. The boundaries are not that neat, so this is really an approximation. I came in the latter half of this generation. Ours is a generation who saw an explosion of technology probably not seen since those born around the time of World War I. We went from seeing basic 3 or 4 channel Television to the cable/satellite Television we have not. We started with pinball machines, and now we have elaborate gaming systems. We learned to write and we were graded on our handwriting, and now next to everything is typed, and not on the electronic typewriters we learned on, but on computers. We saw the computer grow from a useful tool to a way of life. We only got to meet people from other areas or nations if we were lucky enough to take a vacation or if our teachers assigned us pen pals. Now, we can get on the internet and talk to people around the world.
Thompson and the others who wrote chapters for this book recognize the unique situation of Generation X, but they recognize our need for real, as opposed to virtual, community.
We grew up in a society where God became pushed to the side for T-Ball practice or Gymnastics. Youth group was skipped so we could play with our soccer league. I doubt this was a deliberate attempt to push God aside, but none the less, that is what happened.
Thompson and his crew of authors recognize this, and they also recognize the empty feeling held by many of Generation X that "there has to be more to life than this." They address this through unique, though equally important issues: Discipleship, Holy Communion, Preaching, Evangelism, Small Groups, Missions, Race, Ecology, Youth Ministry, Young Adults, Ordination, and Internet Ministry.
It would be very easy to blast today's culture as immoral or not God centered. But, this is NOT what the authors do. They take our hunger for "something deeper" and channel it into their areas of expertise. Throughout the book, though problems are noted, hope is the main theme. This is a breath of fresh air to the message Generation X has received over the years: we are lazy, feel entitled, have no work ethic, too materialistic, etc. While there is an amount of truth to these criticisms, this book transcends these problems and provides hope that we can live a life pleasing to God. A life where we grow to know God more and more each day.
The changes proposed in this book are not major changes. They are not changes to "cheapen" church. In fact, it could be argued that they are not trying to change anything, but rather look at things from a different point of view.
As a new pastor and seminary student, I see many of my generation who are not church-goers. Many say they are "spiritual," but not "religious" (What exactly does that mean anyway??). But, I also see my generation stepping up to take the places of our parents. Many of us are trying to raise our children in a faith and family grounded life.
This book is revolutionary in that it provides ways to meet Generation X and make disciples. These ways are not against the traditional ways, but rather, they are an adaptation of tradition. At one time, printing pamphlets was revolutionary. Now, we can blog, text, and create websites to do the same thing.
Whether you are United Methodist or not, I highly recommend this book. The best part is that it is not a "how to" book, but rather one to guide the reader. It does not give solutions, but it gives paths to those solutions. It recognizes no two situations are the same, and each situation requires unique approaches. Every pastor and lay member should read this book to see that the future is not "gloom and doom," but rather, it is one of "hope and joy."
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