Sunday, April 15, 2007

Define Urban


The term urban refers to the "whole" of a populous city along with the idiosyncrasies unique to that city. It ties together the strands of cultures, peoples, landscapes, faith, and thought into what I would call the "Metropolis". So the urban landscape is a fluid creature that ebbs and flows as the currents change. Our communities are changing everyday, some for the "worse" and some for the "better". Question is: Who defines "worse", and who defines "better"?


City politics and public policy are also major factors in the defining and shaping of our metropolises. They determine which neighborhoods will receive an apparent economic infusion and which ones will seemingly remain depressed. They determine which schools will close, which ones will remain open, and which ones will experience a "renaissance". They determine the property taxes and property values; deem neighborhoods enviable or not; and call down the power of "immanent domain" at will. In the shadow of such policies stand the people, the collective souls of poor and rich, of middle-class, of African-American, of black, of white, of Latino, of immigrants, of Christians, of Muslims, of Catholics, of Jewish, of Asians, of Indians, of educated, of homeowners, of renters, of laborers, of professionals, of homeless and working poor, of LGBT, of languages: OF VOICES.

No matter what the face of the city looks like or how loud the voices ring, the metropolis is the light on the hill; and as the cities go, so goes the nation. But there is a certain poverty in spirit that lies at the center. At the heart of the metropolis, then, is the idea that in all urban centers a peculiar kind of "brokeness" exists. I believe that this is a theme central to many urban ministries. This includes the inner-city, the ghetto, and the 'hood. Though the preceding terms are not synonymous and possess obvious stigmas, so much of this Ministry of Reconciliation in our cities encompasses reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, restoring hope, bridging the gap. Hence, the dialog and labor of many urban ministries revolve around the "broken places".

The "broken places" are the places where hopelessness seems prevalent, pervasive. Take for instance the Brightmoor Community in Detroit. Blight. High crime. Closing schools. Drugs. Flight. In the face of these, many lose hope. There is tremendous effort by urban ministries to address the issues, develop relationships, and fulfill the ministry of reconciliation in places like Brightmoor. Yet "broken people" are everywhere. Devon Street in Chicago is a bustling avenue of cultures, ethnicities, and faiths. Howard Street in Evanston has a similar feel also. Are these not part of the urban landscape, of the urban dialog? They are. There are urban ministries that address the needs of people from different cultures and faith traditions also.

So the term "urban" carries with it many meanings and perceptions. As it relates to urban ministries, I believe it is up to them to define the purpose for which they serve one segment of the city over another and to what end is their cause. We are called to make disciples, to bear fruit, and to love. If enough of us respond to this calling in our cities, we can see repentance and revival similar to the days of Nineveh. And the light of salvation will shine as a beacon of hope over the metropolis and beyond.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Riders on the Storm

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.[1] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”[2]


In the famous lyrics "Riders on the Storm", Jim Morrison sings, “Riders on the storm/Riders on the storm/Into this house we're born/Into this world we're thrown/Like a dog without a bone/An actor out on loan/Riders on the storm.”[3] We are not simply riders on the storm, thrown into the world without a purpose. For God made everything in Creation with a purpose. As I listen to the rain fall against my window pane, I muse on the truth that its falling is necessary, although it seems it dampers my day sometimes. Without the rain the land would be dry, plants and vegetation would not grow and would die, and there would be a drought. So it is with people. God created us for a purpose.

One of those purposes rest in our relationships with other people. As disciples of Jesus we are called to serve one another. When we choose not to serve others in love and humility, our relationships become barren wastelands: dry, arid, without growth, dead. When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet in John chapter 13, he set for us an example. Traditionally, the washing of feet was a job performed by the youngest or the lowest in a household. However Jesus, being the Master, demonstrated for us that serving others in like-manner positions us for greatness. So how is your serving this week? Remember that when we with godly attitudes serve others in love with humility, we are serving the Lord.

[1] Matthew 20: 26-28
[2] John 13: 14-15
[3] The Doors, 1971 album “L.A. Woman”

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Welcome to The Urban Remnant

A remnant is defined as the leftover or the small part that remains after the main part no longer exists. About six years ago when my wife and I still lived in Detroit, we and our friends discussed the growing trend of the city's population drainage. This version of flight appeared to find its effect in a number of factors: increased blight, failing schools, poor city services, high property taxes, etc. As brain-drain increased, we also observed another trend, though alarming to us, that was observable for several years; that increasingly many of the local churches in the city were becoming hubs for commuter traffic. What I mean by this is that most of the members of these local churches, particular in the large historical congregations and ministries, commuted from other cities or neighborhoods to attend worship services. We saw this trend as the growing barrier to local churches effectively reaching the communities they serve with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Essentially, the people of God were not living amongst the people they serve.

Our urban communities are changing everyday. The name Urban Remnant concerns itself with the city and the people who choose to remain despite others who choose to leave. Its about the Ministry of Reconciliation lived out in the broken places. Its about making disciples, bearing fruit that remains, and positively affecting the spiritual growth of our local communities through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This blogspot acts as a forum for discussing these matters.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Orphans of the Storm

"Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"
James 2: 5

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This type of poverty marks the character and attitude of a person whose value and self-worth is not tied to material possessions or the abundance of wealth. As Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5 – 7, he knew that the people equated “being rich” with finding favor with God, for the Pharisees and Jewish leaders possessed material wealth. So they believed that their own lives were of no value to God. Not so! As James writes in his epistle, “God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith…” This faith is in God alone to fulfill the promises of His Word to those who find their value and self-worth in Christ.

My wife and I along with eight other mission team members recently returned from a short-term mission trip to New Orleans this spring. As we encountered people of all kinds of backgrounds and nationalities, we began to understand one thing among many: God is good. Thousands of people living on the Gulf Coast have experienced tremendous loss: of houses and property; of jobs and livelihoods; and especially of loved ones. In turn, many thousands have lost hope because their value and self-worth were tied to the things they possessed. They question God and wonder if He truly loves them. New Orleans is a broken place; and the Father has positioned this city in such a way to truly come to know Him as He draws it to Himself. The trip provided a tremendous opportunity for us to hear their stories and to show the people that God does love them and that He values them more than they can imagine or think. This is the Ministry of Reconciliation. By demonstrating God’s love to them and sharing the Gospel, my hope is that many saw that they can be rich in the faith required for God's reconciliation with them.