I appreciate your tone here. When I first saw this book advertised I was… sceptical… but I’m sure this is an important thing to wrestle through. I tend to believe that “mountaintop moments” are generally crucial in all of our lives. Camp is by no means the only place to experience them. Manipulatively forcing them is not ideal. But shying away from or denigrating them… probably also not the move.
Hi Marc! Yes, the title is rather hard-hitting, but I can only hope readers also see the nuance and the tension present in the book, and the God who remains present in all of these places, even when we humans get it wrong. Skeptics welcome!
Kelsey, I grew up a preacher's kid and spent plenty of time at church camp. My wife was our SBC church youth director for a while and the South Carolina Baptist Convention has a pretty solid summer program. However I always had some concerns about the emotional pressure in the way worship music was constructed and presented, along with tearful altar calls. I think it genuinely reaches some kids. Others, I fear, are addicted to the feeling and the truth the receive falls 'on rocky ground.' I think it has to begin, and be sustained at home. But in truth, some of those kids don't have that option. Anyway, thanks for a great discussion.
Edwin, I think you've identified the tension present in many of these spaces. I too agree that the best place for faith formation is at home, yet therein exists another tension that home is not always an option. Good thoughts!
I hadn't thought about it, but you're so right. I was never comfortable with deep spiritual discussions with my pastor father. My wife and I tried hard to make those part of the fabric of our family life when the kids were still at home. Largely it seemed to work, but we left plenty of room for doubt and hard questions as well. Honestly, the best tactic of all may be bedtime reading and prayer. Have a great day!
Thank you, Kelsey. I loved our time together and appreciate that you really "get" the gist of the book!
I appreciate your tone here. When I first saw this book advertised I was… sceptical… but I’m sure this is an important thing to wrestle through. I tend to believe that “mountaintop moments” are generally crucial in all of our lives. Camp is by no means the only place to experience them. Manipulatively forcing them is not ideal. But shying away from or denigrating them… probably also not the move.
Hi Marc! Yes, the title is rather hard-hitting, but I can only hope readers also see the nuance and the tension present in the book, and the God who remains present in all of these places, even when we humans get it wrong. Skeptics welcome!
🙏
Kelsey, I grew up a preacher's kid and spent plenty of time at church camp. My wife was our SBC church youth director for a while and the South Carolina Baptist Convention has a pretty solid summer program. However I always had some concerns about the emotional pressure in the way worship music was constructed and presented, along with tearful altar calls. I think it genuinely reaches some kids. Others, I fear, are addicted to the feeling and the truth the receive falls 'on rocky ground.' I think it has to begin, and be sustained at home. But in truth, some of those kids don't have that option. Anyway, thanks for a great discussion.
Edwin, I think you've identified the tension present in many of these spaces. I too agree that the best place for faith formation is at home, yet therein exists another tension that home is not always an option. Good thoughts!
I hadn't thought about it, but you're so right. I was never comfortable with deep spiritual discussions with my pastor father. My wife and I tried hard to make those part of the fabric of our family life when the kids were still at home. Largely it seemed to work, but we left plenty of room for doubt and hard questions as well. Honestly, the best tactic of all may be bedtime reading and prayer. Have a great day!