patlo's Reviews (1.32k)

This one is the greatest Christian publication in the last 10 years. Miller is a 30/40ish (young) writer in Portland, and this book is a series of short vignettes about the Christian faith, in an incredibly insightful way. He got a lot of bad press from fundamentalists, but he also described the faith of a generation of folks who couldn't stomach the stuffy structures of their parents. Warning, descriptions of penguin sex :-) - Also, I've never laughed out loud more when reading anything int the Christian spirituality genre.

This is a review, book summary and strong recommendation for a book that I finished a month or so ago, but have been processing through since then. I strongly recommend that you read:

"Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture" (Adam S. McHugh)

Adam McHugh describes himself as a Presbyterian minister, spiritual director, wine lover, Seattle sports fan, and introvert. (As an admitted fan of Seattle sports teams, he's well acquainted with longsuffering and disappointment.)

Here's his thesis: Although introverts make up slightly over 50% of the population, the American culture and American church culture (particularly in evangelicalism) are strongly biased towards extroversion and extroverted leaders. Introverts can and should participate and lead from their own gifts, not by trying to be who they are not. And because we as leaders and the organizations we lead think positively of extroversion and negatively of introversion, we introverted leaders find ourselves leading inauthentically and ineffectively.

Introversion is a personality preference (or a wiring), and from the Meyers-Biggs typology system we find three primary characteristics of introversion. These characteristics are tendencies and not absolutes, but in my experience they certainly ring true.

1. Introverts are energized by solitude. Time with other people (especially large groups and strangers) drains us of energy. This does not mean that we are antisocial or impersonal, simply that we need solitude to recharge after being with people. Extroverts, by contrast, lose energy in solitude and gain it around other people.

2. Introverts process information internally. We need to filter information and experiences in our inner world. We can get overwhelmed by too much information or input if we haven't kept up on processing. Extroverts tend to process information externally, often by speaking though what they are thinking, trying out ideas as they speak whether they believe what they saying or not.

3. Introverts prefer depth over breadth. We tend to have fewer but more intimate friends than extroverts, who tend to have more, less intimate friends. We tend to have depth in fewer interests. We desire to deeply understand ourselves and our inner lives.

Given these tendencies, consider the average American evangelical church worship gathering. It is large, loud, multimedia focused. Interaction with other attendees is expected and encouraged. The expectation is that members will engage in large group experiences and in smaller group sessions, and will engage in a variety of activities. Leaders are expected to know everyone, at least in passing, but to be able to interact with each individual. Conferences and seminars are long, tightly programmed, busy and offer little time for reflection.

The most valued leadership traits are being energized being around people, being able and willing to lead a wide variety of areas and teams, being quick to speak and think.

We have a disconnect, don't we?

At this point, McHugh could simply complain about the state of the church, and issue a prophetic (demanding) call for change. However, he instead shapes the conversation in a healthy way - positively encouraging change by both introverts and extroverts (not discounting that both tendencies exist, but bringing both streams together as a whole).

Just to summarize the focuses of the remaining chapters, the book looks at spirituality for introverts (heavy emphasis on contemplative); community and relationship for introverts (finding the right fit and giving ourselves permission to opt out of the busyness); introverted leadership (lead by giving away; looking at Jonathan Edwards, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr. as introverted leaders); leading as ourselves (give ourselves permission to not be extroverted and to lead from who we truly are); introverted evangelism (relationship wins, small and practical is great); and being an introverted church members (rethink expectations, give people room to process differently).

I've got notes and highlights and comments all throughout this book. It's not that often that I read a book that is so unique and yet so practical, and one that makes me feel like the author gets it (and me). Many times I thought, "Exactly! I'm not crazy after all; I'm not the only introvert who wonders if God called me just to laugh at my struggles."

So here's the bottom line.

- If you're a leader - not just pastor or teacher, but a people-influencer... in the church, or anywhere else

- if you're an introvert (and are worn out trying to be extroverted, even unintentionally)

- If you're an extrovert who just doesn't get why half your church doesn't think and act like you..

... you will be greatly helped and deeply blessed by reading Introverts in the Church.

If you lead a church with a team of staff, read it with them. Do a group discussion. Give introverts on your staff a voice. (Or if you're the introvert, hear from the extroverts).

I don't think it's at all an overstatement to say that this is an extremely important book, which may just save your sanity by reminding you who you truly are, and who your complement truly is also.

I would wish this book upon all the leaders that I know, in addition to Henri Nouwen's In the Name of Jesus, and Jean Vanier's Becoming Human. A Christian church which had wrestled through these books would change the world.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the authorr. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

I enjoyed Brother West's memoir. It starts out stronger than it finishes, though; the stories of West's formative years and early years as a student are piercing. The later stories of his teaching career and failed relationships are less gripping, and West seems to shrug off things that I would love to see more depth of insight in. It does make me want to delve further into Brother West's writing, and in that way the memoir has done its job.

Is there a way to digest the pre-packaged, one-size-fits-all easy answers Churchianity that happens in so much of our culture? Is there a way past the Sunday show that allows us to wrestle with the deep complexities of Christian faith and allows space for questions and doubt? Is there a faith that focuses its resources outside the building and into the world at large

And is there a way to answer these questions in an engaging story form, rather than yet another “What’s wrong with the Church and what I propose to fix it?” textbook?

This is the goal of this book.

Ian Cron’s novel tells the story of a megachurch pastor who is struck with questions that he cannot answer simply, for the first time in his life and much to his consternation. He seeks advice from his uncle, a Franciscan friar, who invites him onto a pilgrimage following the story of Francis of Assisi as a way to discover a larger Christian heritage and a way to connect his questions and his soul to God.

Cron’s story is well written and engaging. I had a few laugh-out-loud moments reading witty dialogue, and I learned quite a bit about St. Francis and contemporary Franciscan spirituality along the way. The plot has a few heavy-handed moments along the way, but on the whole, the story is well worth your time, especially if you are curious about pre-Reformation spiritualities in today’s culture.

Make sure you check out the individual and group study guide at the back of the book, which would make it very useful for a small group. There’s an excellent biography as well.

I found the book to be very similar in form to Brian McLaren’s trilogy of “A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey, “The Story We Find Ourselves In, and “The Last Word and the Word after That: A Tale of Faith, Doubt, and a New Kind of Christianity, which were helpful to many of us in proposing an alternative way to view our Christian story.

I’m looking forward to reading more from Ian Cron.

As for my own personal impact, I found myself looking not just at Franciscan spirituality but more to the Celtic spirituality which informed Francis. Franciscan scholars say that Francis took his monastic training at the monastery in Bobbio, in northern Italy – Bobbio was founded by Celtic St. Columban. Certainly Francis’ themes of humility and simplicity, his emphasis on artistic creativity, his peer relationships with female leaders such as Claire, and his recognition of the God speaking from within nature are Celtic themes as well.

At the same time, there is a well-developed lay Franciscan framework which has done a wonderful job of engaging “everyday” Christians as third order members and expanding a spirituality which encompasses peacemaking and service of the poor.

Anyone interested in either Celtic or Franciscan spirituality would be well served to investigate both histories and learning from these close cousins.

Astounding use of sparse language to create a bleak and desolate world. Captivating and darkly fascinating story and writing.