Plastic Jesus is a good conversational book written by self professed metrosexual, ex-football player, human sexuality professor, and teaching pastor, Eric Sandras. The whole metrosexual/football fanatic seemed like a contradiction. But, I’m dealing with it, especially since I enjoyed the book.
I’ve just recently finished "The Jesus of Suburbia," a similar book. Like I’ve written before, I tend to binge on like topics until I can’t take anymore. Eric does a great job of cutting through the pretense of Christianity, the plastic facades and encourages followers of Jesus to abandon the manicured exteriors of suburban Christianity to embrace authenticity in relationship with Christ and others. 
One of my favorite parts of Eric’s book was his retelling of a ministry trip to a small village church in Brazil accessible only by boat. This small church building was absolutely packed and this village was receiving the Gospel of Jesus. At the height of of this spiritual rich moment, the crowd parted and a woman who was well known in the village approached the altar with her six year old son. The boy was paralyzed on his left side.
Eric described how he was positive this boy would be healed. As he prayed, it became obvious that the boy would not be healed. Eric’s faith had turned to doubt as he questioned how God could allow this woman and boy to be shattered this way.
In some kind of turning point in the way Eric would live, he broke from his pastoral persona and told the lady that he did not know why God did not heal the boy. But, as "waves of love for the boy overwhelmed him," he said, "I do know that God loves you." Eric goes on to share the story of this woman and boy and how the woman had felt nothing but abandonment in her life. This woman left repeating over and over how amazed she was the God loved her. While she experienced acceptance, Eric experienced doubt about who God was.
This experience sums up the contradictions of the faith in Jesus Christ that Eric has experienced and shares that the Bible has called us to live. According to Plastic Jesus, faith in Christ is a commitment to a depth of experience with a God that has not been totally figured out and a rejection of compartmentalized, orderly, and success-oriented suburban Christianity.
I enjoyed it and would recommend it to just about anyone regardless of their spiritual location.
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I found Plastic Jesus to be quite a good read myself. I thought Sandras’ insights and observations were refreshing and transparent. If you want to keep with the suburbia theme, you should check out Death by Suburb by David Goetz.
I just went and bought The Jesus of Suburbia because you talked about it…I can’t wait! Thanks.
Clint, I’ll check out the book. It sounds good.
Dawn,
You’ll enjoy it. Also, I enjoyed checking out your blog. Great space…watch your phone conversations when you are around family though.
Thanks for the great comments and feeback regarding Plastic Jesus. Puting one’s life (mainly screw ups) out on the pages of a book can be a bit intimidating. I’m stoked you dig it. On another point, I really enjoyed listening to your podcast series on sex. The Dr. gives ya an “A”.
Eric Sandras
the BuckNakedFaith guy
Many thanks, Eric. Getting an “A” on a sex sermon series from a Human Sexuality Prof/Church Planter is pretty cool.
I’m going to have to circle back and dig into another book of yours now.
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