Book 43. The Juvenilization
of American Christianity, by Thomas E. Bergler. Hardcover.
One of the great shifts in
American Christianity since World War II is one that I had never really thought
about until reading this book. Thomas Berlger terms it “juvenilization," and
it is the process of modern churches adapting their services to follow the
models of successful teen ministries. And then not being able to move away from
that model.
The results of this shift are
mixed. Positive aspects include accessible sermons, modern worship music, and
an emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus. Drawbacks include a
therapeutic church culture, a lack of commitment to church attendance, and overly
simplistic sermons. The problem is that what may work in the short-term in one
setting may have negative long-term consequences when applied in other
settings.
Bergler teaches ministry and
missions at a Christian college in Indiana, and brings a scholar’s mind to this
work. That is not to say that the book is difficult to read, because it is not.
But the comprehensiveness is impressive, as the thirty pages of endnotes can
attest. It is clear that Bergler has thought about this topic for a long time,
and the case he makes is persuasive.
Bergler avoids the common
mistake of treating the entirety of the church as one unified entity. He gives
equal space to four groups: liberal mainstream Protestants, conservative
evangelicals, African-American Protestants, and Catholics. Although the results
differ based on each denomination's unique aspects, each has been effected by
this trend. This comprehensiveness is a strength of the work, along with his
ability to communicate these academic findings to a broader audience.
The book does include
suggestions, both for youth workers and church leaders. But Bergler does not
seem convinced that the church can bring itself to question means that in many
ways have proven successful. But the long-term strength and viability of the
church in America may depend on churches' ability to do just that.
Source: public library
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