Suburban Myopia

If you have any thoughts on this I really want to hear them.

As many of you (should) have gathered I am a bit frustrated with the consumer church and the suburban psyche. This has led me to start living missionally (the belief, and lifestyle that represents that I know I exist, as a part of the church, not for myself, but to usher in the kingdom of God into this world) and part of that means leaving the suburbs (not that moving is always required).

I remember talking to people about how frustrated I am with the self-centeredness and lack of community in the suburbs. How the idea of a suburb in the first place was moving out of the city and away from the poor and minorities. The thought process that living in a community of only white upper class people will keep the land values high and family values intact makes me sick. We have allowed finances and comfort to dominate our lives, and have removed compassion and diversity. As a part of these conversations I often mentioned that I knew that my frustration meant I ultimately would be back in the suburbs ministering to suburbanites, trying to open their eyes to some of these problems.

Well the time has come sooner than I anticipated (God has a funny way of doing that doesn't he?).

Here enters my new brainchild, Suburban Myopia.

I will define the term (I haven't coined it, and do not know who did, but as it is not commonly used, I will take the liberty to put my own spin on the definition) simply as "the purposeful inability of suburbanites to see problems in their city because they sequester themselves from them."

The definition needs to be tightened up, I know.

So SM is my idea for a ministry, which might in fact begin to exist next weekend. The ministry would exist to bring awareness about the plights of the poor and oppressed in the very cities which the suburbanites have fled. As awareness is raised, opportunities will be created for suburbanites to do something to help as well (giving money alone will probably not be an encouraged option).

SM will strive to put a face to poverty and challenge inaction and unconcern.

So for the first "mission" of SM I want to get together a group of 40 or so people together, all dress up like homeless people (making sure not to belittle the homeless or reinforce harmful stereotypes) and hold signs on the streets of a suburb.

Here are a few ideas for some of the signs.

If Christmas is Jesus' birthday how come you get more presents than him?
'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Just because you don't see me doesn't mean I don't exist.

There are 14,999 more of me in Houston.

Why is it illegal to be homeless?


These are just some thoughts. More will need to be brainstormed. If 40 "homeless" people showed up at a busy intersection in a suburb it would make some noise.

To help you get a feel for the ministry I want you to think of the brilliant anti-smoking campaign, the truth. If you haven't seen their commercials go here and click on the white tv button just above the center of the page. There are three commercials available to view, but they have had many more. The campaign is pure brilliance. Doing public service announcements in public. Drawing as much attention as possible in busy areas. This is the feel I would like to have only for poverty and oppression awareness.

Of course I would like the ministry to have a more practical side as well. It would be necessary to connect the ministry with trustworthy organizations that aide the poor an oppressed.


Again, any ideas would be greatly appreciated. As well, if you are in the Houston area (there goes my semi-anonymity) and are interested in taking part in the homeless street corner gig on December 23 please email me here.