Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation

Sarah start her book with an exploration of why the twentysomething generation often can be disillusioned with the way church is done these days. But she gives us more than just a laundry list of complaints. This is the Church, after all, at the same time the Bride and the Body of Christ, the broken vessel made up of broken people that carries the hope of the gospel to all the world. All the hurts and frustrations and pains expressed by Sarah are really just aches of love and expressions of longing for a Church that seems to fall so short of what she ought to be.

Disillusionment! My experience of "church" has been nothing short of the word. In her book, "Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation," author, Sarah Cunningham, takes an authentic, raw look at today's institution of "church." I grew up in an old-school, hell-fire-and brimstone Baptist congregation. Although it was never stated verbally, the message was strong and clear that piano and organ hymns were the only way to worship God, church doctrine was the most important thing in life, and the outward appearance was the only thing that mattered in your Christian life. Our family was part of this church for my entire childhood, yet "church" was just something you did on Sunday morning. As God took me through that time in my life, I was certainly given the foundation on which to base my life. However, as I learned to think on my own through high school and much of college I began to experience disillusionment for the very first time. At the time, I didn't know what it was, but I found myself getting bitter, maybe even angry toward the church. Questioning the entire church process and even my relationship with God and the church was part of my regular routine. Evan as the church went through a transition stage, there were still the hints of "old" that ate away at my spiritual life. For a period of time, I threw my hands up and gave up. If this was all there was, I wanted nothing to do with it! Knowing I would be moving away made it especially easy to transition out of "church." After moving over two hours away from home, I found myself longing for the relationships that once were a part of my life. I started attending a church, which was a big step for myself. For the first couple months, this were great, as in the honeymoon stage of my new church relationship. Soon, the honeymoon stage began to wear off and I was faced with some of the very frustrations I once had, yet on a much smaller scale. I later began working with students as a part-time job, which helped to overcome my disillusionment. It's hard to rely on tradition when working with teens. As a twentysomething myself, there has been no greater hope to know that I am not alone in my frustrations. "Dear Church" gave an honest insight into the frustration I was faced with, rather than sugar coating it and giving the old pat-on-the-back while shoving me back into the "game." There are many individuals from every generation who have given up on church, consciously or not. Not only does Sarah Cunningham look deep into this process, she gives hope to those that have experienced frustration with the church, large or small. From those that have dealt with the disillusionment to those that are experiencing it this very moment, "Dear Church" is a book that will call on it's readers to examine their own life and deal with their past or present disillusionment. The church is where it's happening! "Dear Church" explains that the church is the instrument that God

Dear Church is not for you if you're in a church that is working well and you're involved and going great guns. It's probably not for you if you use expressions like "going great guns." I teach lots of younger, more interesting, quirky, edgy low-church folks who are uncomfortable, even disillusioned, with their churches -- with The Church. And that's who it's for. That's who will love it and benefit from it. Sarah is one of those authors where you forget you're reading. It's more like she's sitting there across from you, sipping her skinny cappucino, eyeing your almond croissant and you're listening to her but knowing she's wondering whether she should've gotten one of those too. When you tell someone about one story or another (and you will because they're irresistable) you're really going to tempted to start it with "You know what Sarah told me yesterday?" I'm telling you, she's in the room with you; it's weird. And not only are you in the same room, you're in the same boat. I mean it's like she's got her finger on your emotional pulse. She has. You'll love how she delights in your strengths; you'll squirm as she accurately describes your foibles. She's been there. And she's in the process of moving on past cynicism and disillusionment. She hasn't arrived yet, but she's moving on. And she shows you where she's going and look, there's room for you too. And it might mean leaving your church and starting something new and it might not. There's the pay-off. Here's how to tell if the book is for you: You are asking yourself one of these questions and Sarah doesn't give you the answer but helps you ask the rest of the questions as well: Is it time to leave? How do I leave without running away? How could I possibly stay without faking it? Here (I can't resist) is one of the things Sarah told me last week: "...When we draw pictures of 'the church' for our children, we want those images to look less like a steepled building and more like the latitude and longitude lines embracing every inch of the globe." (p. 108).

Sarah takes a creative approach to address the concerns of the church from the mindset of twentysomethings. She writes candidly about how the twentysomething generation has lost its connection with the church for many differnet reasons. Her analysis of her generation (and mine for that matter) is right on. She perfectly shows how this generation thinks about the world, each other, and the church. She also shows how the church is missing the mark in tapping into the potential that this generation has to offer. Churches need to read this book to understand that there are areas where they are missing the point of how to minister alongside this people group. She wants the church to become aware of the needs and concerns of this generation instead of glossing over them or ignoring them. Initally, Sarah seems quite jaded toward the church with no chance of resolution. At the end she brings much hope to the church and her generation. She provides great recommendations for what to do bring these two divided peoples back together. Sarah's love for the church and for Christ is very evident throughout the text, particularly the ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who is jaded toward the church for being forgotten. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks that everything in the church is going great without needing changes. Both sides have much to learn through this text.

When I first read the title Dear Church Letters from a Disillusioned Generation, I was hesitant. I have picked up too many books lately that seem to be birthed out of a harmfully "cool cynicism" that underline the church's defecits. While this book may strike you as yet ANOTHER emergent driven college and career set publication, it packs a one/two punch that finally offers follow through and balance absent in previous attempts to get at this topic. The first half of the book (which introduces the reader to Generation Y and some of their concerns regarding the church) solidly connects with its disillusioned readers and may even leave some traditionalists in a bit of a panic. But after the book sinks in with its reader and their raw concerns, the author Sarah Cunningham redirects the book's same heart and energy to inspire her readers toward more lasting and mature involvement in Christ and His church. I found the chapter on using the word "church" reminiscent of my own concerns over the last decade (I am now in my 30s). But the chapters on what to do when frustrated with the church represented missing content I wish I would've had at the time. The apology chapter and the love letter at the end will grab the attention and emotions of readers of all ages who have been around the church for a while. By the last page I found myself mentally listing people I know who NEED to hear what this book gives: regret over losses along the way, but convincing reason to push through and move forward.