Foundations for Christian Mission, Mentor's Guide, MG04

1 6 8 /

F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

An Evangelical Conspiracy against the American Inner City?

(Based on a true story). A prestigious Christian graduate school was establishing and funding a number of initiatives to reach unreached populations around the world, including Muslims, Chinese, and Slavic peoples. Many scholarships were offered to international students with a burden for ministry, and the school has equipped hundreds of qualified spiritual laborers serving Christ in fields all across the world. However, less than 25 minutes away, lay one of the largest ghettos in the United States. Over a million people live in substandard housing in violent, gang and drug infested neighborhoods, and virtually no Christian groups minister in their midst. When confronted with the disparity in the school’s investment of thousands of dollars and hours in foreign mission but none in their own local community, the director of the school lamented how difficult it was to find donors to fund initiatives among America’s urban poor. He found it easier to raise funds for the training of people in Honduras than in Houston, in Jamaica than in Jersey City. How do you explain the overall neglect of evangelicals to the needs and potential of the city? Why would it be easier for the director of the school to raise substantial funds for ministry overseas, and yet find it nearly impossible to get people to underwrite the equipping of workers for urban America? The concept of the city is central within the Old and New Testaments, and provides us with a simple overview of their ancient characteristics. Cities in the ancient world were different than villages in that they were a collection of houses and buildings surrounded by walls, were significant and impressive for their time, and some were dependent for protection and supply upon others. A common reality in the ancient world, cities of old were relatively small, typically unpaved, strengthened by thick walls and high towers, and seats of government and power. In terms of their spiritual meaning as outlined in Scripture, cities were associated with human rebellion and idolatry (e.g., Enoch, the city of Cain), with independence and arrogance (as in the case of the Tower of Babel), and with evil and godlessness (as with Babylon). Cities were judged by God for their sinfulness (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Jericho, Nineveh), and denounced for their false sense of security and power (specifically, Jerusalem). Although associated with the rebellion of humankind, the Scriptures teach that God adopted the city as symbol of his dwelling place and blessing. In spite of the fact that David won the city in battle, God selected Jerusalem for himself, and determined to make her a praise in the earth. Divine irony is present here; God transforms the secular image of

3

Restatement of the Lesson’s Thesis