As someone who came from the very culture Mike outlined, he was spot on. And I’m part of several groups who have since deconstructed just like Joshua Harris has. It was exactly that way for millions of us, no maligning necessary. There is room for more than one interpretation of life in general, if one is willing to see that.

Well, I’m sorry, but I think you’re wrong.

I took your words for what they meant. I do not have time nor desire to be disingenuous as you accused me of. Not generous you say? How generous were you with your observations and comments of the evangelical movement you described? You broad brushed millions of people and disparaged their experience which was and is legitimate. You gave no balanced view on evangelicalism.

Absolutely love the way you have put these words & thoughts together, Michael. So helpful – thank you.

As I say above, I think we should teach people to obey scriptural injunctions, but do so in light of the grace and freedom we have in Christ. That would include teaching sexual ethics the same we we teach them to practice hospitality or feed the hungry or be a peacemaker, etc. — that is, as central to a Christian understanding of human flourishing, and not to imply that all is lost if young people or new Christians fail to fulfil these things. As I say above, we can still teach that God has set standards and given us laws for our own benefit and his glory, but we must be gracious and understanding with teens that learning to embrace those standards takes time, devotion, and maturity.

Good response. Could someone please describe what the alternative to the purity culture should look like.

Time to #ReimagineCHURCH which calls us to #ReimaginePRAYER so we discern the (probably) surprising leading of the Lord that will give us direction to #ReimagineDISCIPLESHIP in the 21st century.

Clearly Harris is a product of the Bible Bubble culture and his community in East Portland is known as a stronghold of Evangelicals, surrounded by the culture of Portland. I don’t think I have to explain Portland, Oregon to anyone . . . anymore. Both Evangelicals and the church in general have had a hard and difficult time trying to respond to the Portland question. Portland is North America’s Dark Pit. Church people here have been trying to counter Portland since the 1970s.

I applaud Harris — as you would I think, in trying to take an action in living out the Christian Life as best as he understood it from his Christian culture upbringing. Right or off base, it’s an action in response to the Gospel that Harris leads out on. Ultimately a fail by Harris, but I think it was an amazing effort by Harris.

I was a Bible Theology student in Portland (Multnomah) at the time Josh Harris penned his book. I grew up in Portland not far from Joshua Harris. We know the same people. Attended the same events.

Harris pulled his moves and grabbed the stage microphone for all the world (and Focus on the Family) to see when we were still working on the Jim and Elizabeth Elliott method the last 30 years. He was in high school at the time. My Bible College classmates were his Youth Pastors. We were not big on his breakout book I can assure you. We talked about how Harris was no Jim Elliot and we all agreed it was a strange approach to the Purity question. Fast forward to 1993-1998 Promise Keepers Core Values and Mantra, it was pretty much the same as 1990s Joshua Harris. Laying down a “Fear Based” approach to women of worldly cultures and any other women out there including Christian women.

I think Harris’s failure and walk away is probably where most if not all would have ended up if we would have traveled down the same paths and insulating ourselves from what Jesus was actually about in the world.

I was raised 7th Day Adventist till age 12. I’m 56 now. Ive been pulling back from the Evangelical train for 25 years now. About the same amount of time as my high school friend Hugh Halter. Growing up Christian Culture Boy or Girl in Portland offers you amazing chances to actually try and get the Gospel right in this world. I love Portland and the stories that come from here. I love raising my son here. Raising a child outside the Bubble is not hard or easy. It’s just life.

I’m excited for Josh Harris. Jesus will use all of it for the Kingdom and Josh, I believe will have a good front row seat to see Jesus do His thing in this world with the Josh Harris Story.

Ash, appreciate your comments and thanks for sharing about your life. You make a great point re my binary approach, but to clarify I wasn’t assuming tge alt was promiscuity, but rather just the idea that a relationship didn’t necessarily have to be aimed at being lifelong. I guess my query would be this: are you saying the idea of entering a relationship which contemplated a lifelong partnership would have been too asphixiating?

From someone who hurts that my parents cannot say this, I thank you. Seek, and you will find—may it come to you with joy.