Journal: Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Volume: JBMW 20:2 (Fall 2015)
Article: Book Review of Thomas Bergler. "From Here to Maturity: Overcoming the Juvenilization of American Christianity". Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2014. 192 pp. $20.00.
Author: Scott Corbin

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JBMW 20:2 (Fall 2015) p. 68

Book Review of Thomas Bergler. From Here to Maturity: Overcoming the Juvenilization of American Christianity. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2014. 192 pp. $20.00.

Scott Corbin

Assistant Operations Director
The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Louisville, Kentucky

In the Spring of 2012, American religious historian Thomas E. Bergler dropped a bomb on the playground of evangelicalism with his The Juvenilization of American Christianity. In Juvenilization, Bergler lays forth an incisive critique of several Christian subgroups: mainline Protestantism, the Black Church, Roman Catholicism, and Evangelicalism. His major thesis was that, in an effort to try to reach youth for the world in the early-to-mid 20th century, the various groupings surveyed actually served to “juvenilize” their youth and thus poison the well for future theological and ethical development.

While all of the critiques served as fascinating case studies, the chapter that stood above them all was his chapter on Evangelicalism. In it, he offered a withering critique of certain patterns, practices, and innovations that did more harm than good for the evangelical enterprise in the long run. Because of the juvenilization that occurred, the rise of things like the seeker-sensitive movement and other forms of individualistic spirituality would reign supreme within evangelicalism, serving to be a fertile ground for the propagation of Christian Smith’s “moralistic therapeutic deism.” Instead of local churches being a place of formative transformation, the churches began to parrot youth camps and tent revivals—those ministry practices whose original intent was toward pushing youth and non-believers inside the walls of churches. The tail had begun to wag the dog.

Thomas Bergler’s The Juvenilization of American Christianity served as a catalyst for a much- needed conversation and self-assessment for Christians, especially evangelicals. Yet, questions began to be raised about how helpful Bergler’s book was. “After all,” many would say, “what good does it do to raise a criticism but not offer any practical suggestions for moving forward?”

It was that question that animated Bergler to write a follow-up to The Juvenilization of American Christianity. From Here to Maturity: Overcoming the Juvenilization of American Christianity is

JBMW 20:2 (Fall 2015) p. 69

Bergler’s response to critics who raised the “so what?” question in terms of American Christianity’s juvenilization and what to do about it. Coming in at right under 150 pages, From Here to Maturity is a quick survey over some of the issues and what those ...

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