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Suburbianity: What Have We Done to the Gospel? Can We Find Our Way Back to Biblical Christianity?
Rick Warren famously wrote, "It's not about you." But much of the Western church seems to disagree, having settled for a self-centered message of personal fulfillment. With incisiveness and a passionate love for the church, pastor and author Byron Forrest Yawn offers a compelling call away from narcissism and back to the powerful and transforming gospel of Jesus. He shows the difference between… As Byron exposes the false gospel of "suburbianity," he offers readers a better to look beyond themselves and embrace God's call to be His image-bearers and ambassadors, partnering with Him as He restores people and all creation to His original design.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
11 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Byron Forrest Yawn
12 books8 followersByron Yawn is the senior pastor of Community Bible Church in Nashville, Tennessee and a much-sought speaker. His book Well-Driven Nails received much positive acclaim from prominent ministers, including John MacArthur and Steven Lawson. Byron has MDiv and DMin degrees from The Master’s Seminary, is married to Robin, and has three children.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 5, 2013
“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing,” is perhaps Stephen Covey’s most well known quote, and it is one which translates well into the life of the church. The problem according to Byron Yawn is that the church, the American church, the suburban, American church, has failed miserably in keeping the main thing the main thing. We have made ourselves and our American dreams the main thing and pushed the main thing – Jesus Christ, and His rescue of sinful humanity through His life, death, burial, and resurrection – to the bottom of the list.
Suburbianity begins with a rather lengthy introduction, but it serves the book well and should be regarded as the book’s first chapter. Don’t skip it. Yawn use the introduction to paint a picture of the church in suburban American, and to address the great need of a people who are buried in a kind of church culture, but who fail to realize that their religion bears little resemblance to biblical Christianity. Yawn writes, “…my target audience is the Christians wandering aimlessly out in the American suburbs, unaware that they are currently imbibing a designer religion that has no essential relationship to Christianity.”
In the main body of the book Yawn addresses four specific areas: the effects of the suburbs on Christianity, the way we assume people know and embrace the gospel, the mess we’ve made of the Bible and its core message, and decluttering our concept of the church. In the first area the reader is made to realize that the problem griping the suburban church is so much more than mere consumerism. It is a complete misunderstanding of what we’ve been saved from and for what purpose we have been saved. In the second area we are shown how the church fails miserably by assuming that people in the third world, those in urban centers, and those trapped in poverty need to hear the gospel, but not my neighbor with the three car garage and certainly not the people sitting in the pews. In the third area Mr. Yawn works to press the importance of understanding that the Bible is all about Jesus, rather than all about me and my life. In the last area the challenge is for the roots of the gospel to grow deep in the soil of our hearts, and to let gospel be the incessant proclamation of our words and deeds.
This book is good, very good. This book won’t make you feel warm and fuzzy. In truth, this book will probably make you feel like a kid who got pushed out of the locker room in his underwear. The contrast between the religion of the American suburbs and the message of the Bible described in this book is jarring, but I think few suburban Christians would be able to find grounds to disagree with Mr. Yawn. This book is Scripture saturated. I can think of few books which have so effectively used Scripture to highlight both the problem being address as well as the solution. This book quite often made me feel awkward and embarrassed as my own “suburbianity” was exposed. Thankfully, this book also left me encouraged because the solution to the problem is a simple one – let the gospel smash our “suburbianity” to bits and let gospel resonate in every area of our lives. You might even end up excited about the potential for the church in suburban America as you let the power of the Gospel fill you with hope.
You should buy this book, you should quit reading whatever you’re currently reading and read this book, and then you should buy a case of these books and give them to any Christian who will take one. I recommend this book 100%.
Suburbianity begins with a rather lengthy introduction, but it serves the book well and should be regarded as the book’s first chapter. Don’t skip it. Yawn use the introduction to paint a picture of the church in suburban American, and to address the great need of a people who are buried in a kind of church culture, but who fail to realize that their religion bears little resemblance to biblical Christianity. Yawn writes, “…my target audience is the Christians wandering aimlessly out in the American suburbs, unaware that they are currently imbibing a designer religion that has no essential relationship to Christianity.”
In the main body of the book Yawn addresses four specific areas: the effects of the suburbs on Christianity, the way we assume people know and embrace the gospel, the mess we’ve made of the Bible and its core message, and decluttering our concept of the church. In the first area the reader is made to realize that the problem griping the suburban church is so much more than mere consumerism. It is a complete misunderstanding of what we’ve been saved from and for what purpose we have been saved. In the second area we are shown how the church fails miserably by assuming that people in the third world, those in urban centers, and those trapped in poverty need to hear the gospel, but not my neighbor with the three car garage and certainly not the people sitting in the pews. In the third area Mr. Yawn works to press the importance of understanding that the Bible is all about Jesus, rather than all about me and my life. In the last area the challenge is for the roots of the gospel to grow deep in the soil of our hearts, and to let gospel be the incessant proclamation of our words and deeds.
This book is good, very good. This book won’t make you feel warm and fuzzy. In truth, this book will probably make you feel like a kid who got pushed out of the locker room in his underwear. The contrast between the religion of the American suburbs and the message of the Bible described in this book is jarring, but I think few suburban Christians would be able to find grounds to disagree with Mr. Yawn. This book is Scripture saturated. I can think of few books which have so effectively used Scripture to highlight both the problem being address as well as the solution. This book quite often made me feel awkward and embarrassed as my own “suburbianity” was exposed. Thankfully, this book also left me encouraged because the solution to the problem is a simple one – let the gospel smash our “suburbianity” to bits and let gospel resonate in every area of our lives. You might even end up excited about the potential for the church in suburban America as you let the power of the Gospel fill you with hope.
You should buy this book, you should quit reading whatever you’re currently reading and read this book, and then you should buy a case of these books and give them to any Christian who will take one. I recommend this book 100%.
September 10, 2019
If you can picture starving to death while stuffing yourself at an all you can eat buffet, you have an excellent image of the modern American church in your mind. As Robert Webber said, “The church started as a missionary movement in Jerusalem. It moved to Rome and became an institution. It traveled to Europe and became a culture. It crossed the Atlantic to America and became a big business.”
suburbianity is an expose of modern American Christianity and the myths it is built around. At the start of the book the author tells us There is much about who I am as an American that is opposed to who I am as a Christian. Regardless of what I have believed, the best of American ideals are not fundamentally Christian. In many instances they are diametrically opposed to the essence of Christianity. You cannot blend the two and retain Christianity. You cannot confuse them and remain faithful. They are not the same. He joins the chorus of Evangelicals stating the basic, historic fact that America has never been a Christian nation.He then goes on to list a few of the American beliefs that endanger the gospel: A moral majority threatens the heart of Christianity, Schooling choices are not signs of spirituality or good parenting, Principles for living taken from the bible are often distortions of the bible, legislating morality is not helpful, knowing the gospel is not evidence of believing it and abortion is not what’s wrong with America. He tells us that Restoring a “biblical worldview” to American culture and politics will not save a single soul. and explains that, According to Jesus, morality as a goal of religion is as damning as immorality.
Something that I absolutely loved is how he speaks of non-Christians. Hearing many Christians speak of their unsaved brethren- both liberal and conservative- you would think non-Christians are the worst people you could possibly know. It’s ridiculous. As Yawn explains towards the start of the book, You do not need Jesus to be a good person. There are plenty of good people in our communities who have nothing at all to do with Christ. Later he tells us, My unsaved Hindu neighbor is one of the most decent men with one of the happiest marriages and some of the most well-behaved kids I have ever met. And finally, We must keep in mind that there is nothing uniquely Christian about humanitarianism. We did not come up with the concept. Plenty of secular organizations do a much better (and smarter) job than the evangelical church does. Amen. Let’s get rid of the idea that kindness, morality and basic human decency are the purviews of Christians.
Then Yawn goes on to describe the religion many do practice in the good ol’ U.S. of A. Suburbianity is the general conviction among professing evangelicals that the primary aim of Christ’s death was to provide us with a fulfilled life. . we’ve saved countless sinners from a poor self image but not much else.. . . .to put it directly, if Christianity is all about cleaner living, personal happiness, inner peace, staying affluent in the suburbs, keeping our kids from bad influences, or finding deeper fulfillment, Jesus is not even necessary. At this point the author asks us to tell the difference between most sermons we hear and the teaching of New Age gurus. I swear I have heard some of the things written by Deepak Chopra in church.
The section searching for the Moral of the Story begins with The suburban church is constantly revising the Bible’s message, and that is a major reason why the modern Christian in America has no real idea what the Bible is all about.. I admit I chuckled a bit through this section as Yawn takes us through the creation of a sermon on Noah’s Raindrop. You will have heard sermons constructed just like this, will have read books written to these basic guidelines. But as the author explains, Anytime we reduce the Bible down to ethics, we’re no different from those who think the Bible is a myth.
He then turns things right side up. I don’t want to deceive people by preaching a message that has them assuming their lives will improve if they turn to Christ. Christ did not die to accomplish this in the popular manner of speaking. Ultimately, it may get worse. Jesus may ask you for everything you love. He gives a long list of things at this point which have us looking at the gospel as it is, rather than what we want it to be. In this section I especially appreciated the discussion on communion. he told us to remember His death because it is the only reality that won’t allow us to take the gospel for granted. It is the thing without which Christianity ceases to exist. As has already been stated, His substitutionary sacrifice is everything and the one thing that distinguishes Christianity from every attempt at self-salvation out there. And he reminds us that The whole of the Bible is an accounting of all that was involved in putting Jesus on the planet and saving the planet from the consequences of us.
There is so much more to unpack here, especially the section on the proper treatment of biblical “heroes” (I hate that term) and the church as strategy but I will let those interested read that for themselves. For my part, this book was refreshment for the soul just when I needed it. Between suburbianity and unChristian I was able to unpack a lot of what disturbs me about the modern church and how to keep myself on track spiritually, which makes both books well worth the time I spent reading them.
suburbianity is an expose of modern American Christianity and the myths it is built around. At the start of the book the author tells us There is much about who I am as an American that is opposed to who I am as a Christian. Regardless of what I have believed, the best of American ideals are not fundamentally Christian. In many instances they are diametrically opposed to the essence of Christianity. You cannot blend the two and retain Christianity. You cannot confuse them and remain faithful. They are not the same. He joins the chorus of Evangelicals stating the basic, historic fact that America has never been a Christian nation.He then goes on to list a few of the American beliefs that endanger the gospel: A moral majority threatens the heart of Christianity, Schooling choices are not signs of spirituality or good parenting, Principles for living taken from the bible are often distortions of the bible, legislating morality is not helpful, knowing the gospel is not evidence of believing it and abortion is not what’s wrong with America. He tells us that Restoring a “biblical worldview” to American culture and politics will not save a single soul. and explains that, According to Jesus, morality as a goal of religion is as damning as immorality.
Something that I absolutely loved is how he speaks of non-Christians. Hearing many Christians speak of their unsaved brethren- both liberal and conservative- you would think non-Christians are the worst people you could possibly know. It’s ridiculous. As Yawn explains towards the start of the book, You do not need Jesus to be a good person. There are plenty of good people in our communities who have nothing at all to do with Christ. Later he tells us, My unsaved Hindu neighbor is one of the most decent men with one of the happiest marriages and some of the most well-behaved kids I have ever met. And finally, We must keep in mind that there is nothing uniquely Christian about humanitarianism. We did not come up with the concept. Plenty of secular organizations do a much better (and smarter) job than the evangelical church does. Amen. Let’s get rid of the idea that kindness, morality and basic human decency are the purviews of Christians.
Then Yawn goes on to describe the religion many do practice in the good ol’ U.S. of A. Suburbianity is the general conviction among professing evangelicals that the primary aim of Christ’s death was to provide us with a fulfilled life. . we’ve saved countless sinners from a poor self image but not much else.. . . .to put it directly, if Christianity is all about cleaner living, personal happiness, inner peace, staying affluent in the suburbs, keeping our kids from bad influences, or finding deeper fulfillment, Jesus is not even necessary. At this point the author asks us to tell the difference between most sermons we hear and the teaching of New Age gurus. I swear I have heard some of the things written by Deepak Chopra in church.
The section searching for the Moral of the Story begins with The suburban church is constantly revising the Bible’s message, and that is a major reason why the modern Christian in America has no real idea what the Bible is all about.. I admit I chuckled a bit through this section as Yawn takes us through the creation of a sermon on Noah’s Raindrop. You will have heard sermons constructed just like this, will have read books written to these basic guidelines. But as the author explains, Anytime we reduce the Bible down to ethics, we’re no different from those who think the Bible is a myth.
He then turns things right side up. I don’t want to deceive people by preaching a message that has them assuming their lives will improve if they turn to Christ. Christ did not die to accomplish this in the popular manner of speaking. Ultimately, it may get worse. Jesus may ask you for everything you love. He gives a long list of things at this point which have us looking at the gospel as it is, rather than what we want it to be. In this section I especially appreciated the discussion on communion. he told us to remember His death because it is the only reality that won’t allow us to take the gospel for granted. It is the thing without which Christianity ceases to exist. As has already been stated, His substitutionary sacrifice is everything and the one thing that distinguishes Christianity from every attempt at self-salvation out there. And he reminds us that The whole of the Bible is an accounting of all that was involved in putting Jesus on the planet and saving the planet from the consequences of us.
There is so much more to unpack here, especially the section on the proper treatment of biblical “heroes” (I hate that term) and the church as strategy but I will let those interested read that for themselves. For my part, this book was refreshment for the soul just when I needed it. Between suburbianity and unChristian I was able to unpack a lot of what disturbs me about the modern church and how to keep myself on track spiritually, which makes both books well worth the time I spent reading them.
December 11, 2024
It must first be noted that Byron Forrest Yawn is no longer in ministry. In 2020 it was discovered that he was having an ongoing affair with a congregant and the wife of his ministry partner and professionally baseball player, Ben Zobrist.
It is essential that this context is kept in mind throughout the reading of *Suburbianity. While not explicit from the text on the page, there are hints that Yawn is a man on the precipice of fracture. Through he denies arrogance, his sarcastic and cruel tongue indicates an undertow of pride…one that sadly led him to harm his church and others.
As for the content of the book, while often written in a meandering manner, there are some great insights.
What is worth preserving from this text are these points:
- Believers are called to be missionaries in whatever context than inhabit (Uganda to Utah). Everyone is equalized in their need for a savior, from the affluent to the destitute
- Christ does not call us to live comfortable or easy lives
- Avoiding conviction (specifically talk of sin) means preaching an incomplete gospel. We are called to an inconvenient faith that requires us to die to self
- Christians should be careful giving reverie to biblical characters. They are just in need of Jesus as we are. Stop seeing them as individual prescriptions for living, but rather continually orient them towards their true purpose: to show that God fulfills His promise and to point to Christ
- Church is meant to prepare us to infiltrate the world. Sunday is the beginning of service not the end of it
Yawn’s message is rightfully convicting, but lacks a depth that a more multi-faceted approach would take. What were the “suburbs,” the temptations of comfort, that Christians have faced and fought throughout church history?
It is sad to see another pastoral name stained. For all of his criticism of Christians focusing inward, I wish he had done a better job of inspecting his own heart.
“Search me and know my heart…” is not a selfish ask, but a vulnerable act of surrender.
It is essential that this context is kept in mind throughout the reading of *Suburbianity. While not explicit from the text on the page, there are hints that Yawn is a man on the precipice of fracture. Through he denies arrogance, his sarcastic and cruel tongue indicates an undertow of pride…one that sadly led him to harm his church and others.
As for the content of the book, while often written in a meandering manner, there are some great insights.
What is worth preserving from this text are these points:
- Believers are called to be missionaries in whatever context than inhabit (Uganda to Utah). Everyone is equalized in their need for a savior, from the affluent to the destitute
- Christ does not call us to live comfortable or easy lives
- Avoiding conviction (specifically talk of sin) means preaching an incomplete gospel. We are called to an inconvenient faith that requires us to die to self
- Christians should be careful giving reverie to biblical characters. They are just in need of Jesus as we are. Stop seeing them as individual prescriptions for living, but rather continually orient them towards their true purpose: to show that God fulfills His promise and to point to Christ
- Church is meant to prepare us to infiltrate the world. Sunday is the beginning of service not the end of it
Yawn’s message is rightfully convicting, but lacks a depth that a more multi-faceted approach would take. What were the “suburbs,” the temptations of comfort, that Christians have faced and fought throughout church history?
It is sad to see another pastoral name stained. For all of his criticism of Christians focusing inward, I wish he had done a better job of inspecting his own heart.
“Search me and know my heart…” is not a selfish ask, but a vulnerable act of surrender.
April 24, 2019
Wow, really enjoyed this thought-provoking book about Christians and the church in the American suburbs. The suburbs have its own danger to Christianity, we are not persecuted like in other countries but we can be lulled to sleep with our abundance or have a self-centered theology in the pursuit of happiness and comfort instead of being devoted to the gospel and cross of Christ.
February 4, 2017
Great critique of modern evangelicalism/white middle class church. This books points out where we've missed the main point, and how important it is to make sure people, even and especially people in church, really "get" the gospel.
April 23, 2020
A biblically backed book that will challenge you and your church in their faith and proclamation of the Gospel!!!
January 1, 2013
Have we lost the gospel?
Along with Byron Yawn, I believe the answer is yes.
When walking through the Christian bookstore, it is almost impossible to find a book about the gospel. I see books about marriage, weight lose, relationships, but very few about Christ and Him crucified.
Byron Yawn's book is about this very subject. Much of today's Church has lost the Gospel. We have turned our services into self-help seminars. Everything is about me. Even books written to tell us it is not about you, go on to tell us it IS about you.
Every sermon is about 10 ways to have a better life, marriage, family, etc.
We have also sold out the Gospel for Marketing schemes. Most choices in church are centered around - “What can we do to get more people?” We take our cue from Forbes or Time magazine.
Yawn's book is excellent! He hits us right where it hurts but he doesn't leave us there. He explains where we went wrong and how to fix it. The Gospel is not how can my life be better. It is what Jesus did on the cross.
We think the drunk or drug addict are the people who need the Gospel. In reality, the man in the business suit needs it just as bad. All have sinned! The Gospel is for everyone!
If we have all have sinned, then we all need a savior. We all deserve punishment in Hell. The good news is someone took that punishment for us and we are free.
I really liked this book and highly recommend it.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*I received this book, free of charge, from Harvest House Publishers and Netgallery in exchange for an honest review.
Along with Byron Yawn, I believe the answer is yes.
When walking through the Christian bookstore, it is almost impossible to find a book about the gospel. I see books about marriage, weight lose, relationships, but very few about Christ and Him crucified.
Byron Yawn's book is about this very subject. Much of today's Church has lost the Gospel. We have turned our services into self-help seminars. Everything is about me. Even books written to tell us it is not about you, go on to tell us it IS about you.
Every sermon is about 10 ways to have a better life, marriage, family, etc.
We have also sold out the Gospel for Marketing schemes. Most choices in church are centered around - “What can we do to get more people?” We take our cue from Forbes or Time magazine.
Yawn's book is excellent! He hits us right where it hurts but he doesn't leave us there. He explains where we went wrong and how to fix it. The Gospel is not how can my life be better. It is what Jesus did on the cross.
We think the drunk or drug addict are the people who need the Gospel. In reality, the man in the business suit needs it just as bad. All have sinned! The Gospel is for everyone!
If we have all have sinned, then we all need a savior. We all deserve punishment in Hell. The good news is someone took that punishment for us and we are free.
I really liked this book and highly recommend it.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
*I received this book, free of charge, from Harvest House Publishers and Netgallery in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2013
You can read my full review at Quieted Waters.
This book is a shot across the bow of every American Christian. This is a cautionary tale: do not confuse your conservative Christian comfort with Christianity. This was a welcome warning to me.
June 25, 2016
Dry, burnt toast and boring. Mostly just a guilt trip but I did like how Yawn pointed out the comfort we feel as Americans is easily equaled to what being a Christian is, when in reality its not.
(Small Group Read)
(Small Group Read)
April 11, 2014
A challenging read. Makes you think about how one speaks to people on a general basis - instead of just talking about the weather or politics or whatever the latest small talk topic is, it challenges you to talk about the things that really matter - God, faith and salvation.
April 14, 2013
Ridiculously good! A must read.
May 22, 2013
This book was engaging, convicting, and a great conversation starter. See my full review: http://triciaoaks1.wordpress.com/2013...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews