Evolving In Monkey Town (Rachel Held Evans) – A Wonderful Picture of Evolutionary Discipleship

About a month ago, I had the opportunity to read Rachel Held Evans’ first book – Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions.  It was truly a delightful and refreshingly honest book that had many resonances with my own spiritual journey.  Some of the main questions that we share are those that involve culture wars and also the nature and scope of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.  Not only so, but we have both had an “evolution” towards embracing theistic evolution.  But what is truly wonderful about this particular book is that it is not primarily about evolutionary biology, but about the nature of the evolution of the church and its disciples.  One of my favorite quotes (ok, in all honesty, her poetic use of language relinquishes several quotations that are worthy of being highlighted) explores the use of evolution as a metaphor rather than simply a biological perspective. She says:

Just as living organisms are said to evolve over time, so faith evolves, on both a personal and a collective level.  Spiritual evolution explains why Christianity has thrived while other ancient religions have perished.  It explains why our brothers and sisters in rural Zimbabwe and those in the Greek Orthodox Church can worship the same God but in much different ways.  Christianity never could have survived the ebb and flow of time, much less its own worldwide expansion, had God not created it with the innate ability to adapt to changing environments.  The same versatility that allowed Paul to become all things to all people applies to the church collectively.  The ability of the body of Christ to change—to grow fins when it needs to swim and wings when it needs to fly—has preserved it for over two thousand years, despite countless predictions of its imminent demise.  (Evolving In Monkey Town, 21)

After reading this book, one thing is clear: it is difficult to put down!  I read it in two sittings.  Rachel has given us an insider’s look on how an authentic follower of Jesus always has room to evolve.  Her personal evolution is a wonderful picture of the discipleship journey; an evolution of the soul so to speak.  I recommend it.  I may read it a second time.  I hope to buy some copies as stocking stuffers for my family and friends!

Below is a chance for you to hear from Rachel directly.  This video will give you a glimpse into her life and the passion she brings to her book.