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A review by rerosenthal85
Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions by Rachel Held Evans
3.0
I wish there was an option for half-stars. I liked this book much more than three-out-of-five stars would suggest. While I'm not convinced that I subscribe to everything Rachel (her, not me) believes or suggests in the book, I'm coming away from it feeling like I really *get* her. Or like she really *gets* me; I'm not sure which. Maybe it's because I have a natural affinity for other strong-willed women who love Jesus, love reading, and who have got wind of the idea that they can be or do anything a man can be or do (and bonus points if her name is also Rachel!). Anyway, the best way I could possibly put it is that it's like those people with the stickers on their Wranglers or Rubicons that say, "It's a Jeep thing; you wouldn't understand". The best way I could synopsize my "amen" for this book would be: "It's a raised-in-church-kid thing; you wouldn't understand."
I too grew up with sword drills, apologetics classes, and scare-the-hell-out-of-you (literally) alternatives to Halloween. Not everyone who grows up in that kind of environment chooses to spend the rest of their life afterward following Jesus. I have. The adjustment to the adult, independent thinking version of this requires some self-confrontation. This book is a pretty brave confession of the good, the bad, and the ugly details of what that journey looked at for one girl (it's different for all of us), and how different life and faith look when you've come out on the other side. It's comforting. It's a great reminder that you can have a great "testimony" even if yours doesn't involve the big SDA (you know--sex, drugs, and alcohol!). It's a relief to say, "yeah, me too" that many times in less than 250 pages.
I have a copy of Ken Wilson's book "Jesus Brand Spirituality" on my shelf. One day in June of 2008 after hearing him speak, I had him sign it for me after a brief but impactful conversation on this very topic: letting one's faith adjust and become more real in spite of/because of the idiosyncrasies of church culture. On the inside, he wrote, "Rachel, Without a church it's just words. Thanks for your patience with her." While at times patience has been required in working out the stuff of faith and life, I remember that God offers us His own character, which is never subject to change or adjustment, in response and in invitation. He's way more patient with me than I deserve, and He just keeps holding His hand out and beckoning me in closer. I'm grateful for the reminder. Thanks, Rach. :)
I too grew up with sword drills, apologetics classes, and scare-the-hell-out-of-you (literally) alternatives to Halloween. Not everyone who grows up in that kind of environment chooses to spend the rest of their life afterward following Jesus. I have. The adjustment to the adult, independent thinking version of this requires some self-confrontation. This book is a pretty brave confession of the good, the bad, and the ugly details of what that journey looked at for one girl (it's different for all of us), and how different life and faith look when you've come out on the other side. It's comforting. It's a great reminder that you can have a great "testimony" even if yours doesn't involve the big SDA (you know--sex, drugs, and alcohol!). It's a relief to say, "yeah, me too" that many times in less than 250 pages.
I have a copy of Ken Wilson's book "Jesus Brand Spirituality" on my shelf. One day in June of 2008 after hearing him speak, I had him sign it for me after a brief but impactful conversation on this very topic: letting one's faith adjust and become more real in spite of/because of the idiosyncrasies of church culture. On the inside, he wrote, "Rachel, Without a church it's just words. Thanks for your patience with her." While at times patience has been required in working out the stuff of faith and life, I remember that God offers us His own character, which is never subject to change or adjustment, in response and in invitation. He's way more patient with me than I deserve, and He just keeps holding His hand out and beckoning me in closer. I'm grateful for the reminder. Thanks, Rach. :)