Comments from a critical college student
I just received this:
I’m a college student writing my undergrad senior research on the political philosophy of the emerging church. There’s a lot to write about. Actually, I’m up to 75 pages, 50 of them since Thanksgiving because it’s such a fun project. Interesting how a project gets easier when I’m figuring out what I think about faith and not just writing a paper.
Anyway, I’m critiquing the emerging church, and you’ll be in that, and at some point I’ll send along a draft to you and other folks, in fairness to what you guys are doing, that probably none of you will have time to read, and that’s fine, too.
Still haven’t gotten to the point. I’m reading The Last Word today – all of it, and I want you to know that 1) in all of your work, you’re asking important questions, regardless of how many of us disagree with you and if you’re right or wrong, and the discussions you’re provoking need to be held and 2) that The Last Word is perhaps even more important than the others. And I’m really proud of the way you handled a delicate topic, and I’m going to read back through my notes and consult the people that I ‘church with’ 🙂 but I like it. Doesn’t make it right, obviously, but on first read I like it a lot. And in everything I’ve read attacking what you’ve done, none of it talks about this book (probably something to do with reading books that are just a bit too old instead of blogs…) and this is the best one I’ve read. Really heartening.
Also, I think it’s vitally important that these stories address the problem of brokenness in the church because of the church, especially with pastors’ families. I’m a former PK. That should say it all.
So, to bring this to a close, thanks a lot for the personal struggle that you’ve shared with us via some ‘creative nonfiction.’
When she says, “… in all of your work, you’re asking important questions, regardless of how many of us disagree with you and if you’re right or wrong, and the discussions you’re provoking need to be held,” I feel all the more excited about the upcoming release of A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith.”
And of course, it’s heartening to hear that a critical reader – and a PK – finds The Last Word helpful.
