Many have asked me, “Why are you planting a church? Why in the city?” Their questions and the tone reveal that, generally-speaking, people see the city through negative lenses, believing that the city is too liberal and hardened to the Christian message. How can a new church exist, let alone thrive, in a liberal culture? Surely, it makes more sense to plant a church in the suburbs where it has a chance of expanding and thriving in a more conservative culture. They reason that suburban populations are more open to hearing the Gospel and belonging to the Christian culture.
Although I welcome these questions and understand that the assumptions are normal, the reality is that due to the explosion of technology and increased growth in populations (in the U.S. and globally), cities are becoming powerful centers of influence on American culture and throughout the world.
Think about it....where do we go to watch our favorite sports teams? Where are our government centers? Where are our laws created, discussed, and voted on? Where do our young adults go for university education? Where are the best hospitals located? Where do we attend venues of high culture (i.e. opera, plays, concerts, museums, etc.)? Where are the centers for advanced technology and medical research? Where are the communication centers for TV, radio, magazines, etc.)? Where do national and international commerce and trade intersect?The answer to all of these questions is the city. Cities are pace-setters for our society. The city is influential and critically important in shaping and directing our society, which could include advancing the Gospel and Christian values.
Why start a church in the city? If Christians (including myself) are able to reach our cities with the Gospel and impact the city for Christ, then we participate in influencing and impacting the city and culture nationally and even internationally.As Timothy J. Keller, pastor of a growing Presbyterian church in Manhattan, NY, claims, "As the city goes, so goes the culture." May it carry the gospel!
Pastor Bryan Craig
303.885.2861
denvermosaic@gmail.com
denvermosaic.org
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1 comment:
Good thoughts, Bryan. Thanks. Out here in the suburbs we value the city center and want to carry Christ to culture fron the inside (city) out and outside (suburbs) in. There is reason to discount any place that people need Christ. Thanks for the work Denver Mosaic is doing.
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