"Why the City?"

Why the city?

Not because it is trendy. I have never been accused of being trendy. I couldn’t be if I tried. Living in the city is a badge of honor for some because they feel like they are on the razor’s edge of changing culture. It is better to be on the rising of the tsunami rather than be one one watching it barreling your direction.

The picture is big to squash the paragraphs. Creates tension. Its "city reading."

Being part of the city can’t be my identity.

It isn’t because it is comfortable. Being in such close proximity to people all of the time is not anything that I thought I would ever choose to do. I like my space. I want people to get out of my way. No, we definitely don’t seek comfort or convenience in the city. Give me wide open spaces where people cannot see how goofy I can be around them. When you are close to others (in every way) its SO much easier to see imperfections. It is much simpler to not have to live with all of the brokenness of people around me as a constant reminder of my own.

A large reason of why we want to live in and love the people of the city is found in what Steven Um and Justin Blizzard write in their book “Why Cities Matter”:

“Cities are built upon the things from which humanity attempts to derive its ultimate significance. Whether centered around a mosque or a financial district, a cathedral or an entertainment sector, all cities are built in honor of and pay homage to some type of a 'god’…Its not if you’re worshipping; its what you’re worshipping. In the same way, it’s not a question of whether cities are centers of worship-cities have always been built around things that their inhabitants see as holding cosmic significance- it’s a question of what a city is worshipping.” (pg 32)

All people are worshippers. When we get together no matter how hard we try to hide it we will worship together. It may be trying to one up each other on an accomplishment at school or a promotion at work. It may be driving slowly down the obnoxious neighbor’s street in order for them to turn green with envy over your bright, new (red) sports car. It may be a humble gathering of those who treasure Jesus. One way or another, we are worshipping right now.

Our city will take on the character of what we worship. If it is the ancient God Mammon, we will erect statutes of the Dollar Almighty. If it is the Eternal God, we won’t waste time with statutes to depict His image, but the character of our lives will overflow his image in ways we don’t even know (and could never fully plan for).

We live in the city and love the city because people are in the city. Myraids of worshippers who ascribe meaning to myraids of lesser treasures. We live in the city so that our little image will reflect Jesus’ greater image in order that people will treasure that Image.

I just wish we still had a big backyard.

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. (Acts 17:16-17 ESV)