Trinity Baptist Church Online

Why Be Pro-City?

A Biblical Perspective on the Nature of the City

 From the beginning God intended man, who was created in His likeness, to create and build. The command to Adam and Eve to subdue (Gen. 1:28) implies a “re-creation” or a building commitment. As they were fruitful and multiplied, and then by necessity grew into community relationships, the command to subdue is partially fulfilled in the making of shelters. Eventually, population growth would create small towns and then even cities. In a pre-fall world, with no need to defend against the effect of sin, and with the full blessing of God, the material construction of any city would have simply served as a trophy or testimony to man’s understanding of the activity of a Creator God.[ii] The human diversity within the city life would have powerfully mirrored to the rest of creation the interdependence and unity of the Godhead, whose image human kind was to bear.  

When sin entered the world God’s desire to see His image bearers commit to re-creation found a competing agenda. Instead of “building” for the glory of God, they could be tempted to less noble purposes, like self-exaltation and the mustering of mammon.  Yet interestingly, even after the fall, by putting a mark of protection on Cain, the first city-builder (Gen. 4:15), God endorsed the idea of building a city if only to allow man to establish a place of refuge from the wilderness and his adversaries.  Any safety found in the first cities was a daily confirmation of God’s common grace to all mankind. In every generation, in every nation, what was often intended for selfish gain, God intends to use for good (Gen. 50:20). As a result, throughout the Old Testament the ability of a city to provide security became its godly hallmark in the midst of a fallen world. Through this provision, cities were seen as good gifts from God to the people He loved (Deut. 6:10; Zech. 1:17).

Unfortunately, because of its association with men like Cain many Christians have sincerely believed that the Bible teaches that cities are born from the worst of man, and symbolically represents the epitome of man’s activities against God. Yet, an unbiased look at God’s Word would reveal that God makes no such judgment on all cities (1 Chron.19:13). One evidence that God loves cities might be found in the story of man. Life begins in the Garden of Eden but our story concludes in His city, Zion, the New Jerusalem. The immense New Jerusalem is the focus of eternal living. The joy of every believer concludes in the perfect merging of the city and the church (Rev. 21:2). That the final destiny for all believers revolves around a city is rarely disputed (Rev. 21 and 22).  An urban address is the climax of creation. It seems that God’s desire to bless man with the best of eternal living conditions, includes a unique version of city life.  Rural to urban is the flow of God’s grace.  

However, as we flow in His grace toward that climax, the Scriptures give us the chance to look closely at other cities like: Enoch (the city built by Cain); Babel (i.e. Babylon); Jericho; Jerusalem; Samaria; Nineveh; Antioch;  Ephesus; or Rome.  Each of these post fall cities are common-grace cities, for they reflect a bit of the greatness that could have been, if a relationship with God had not been broken. Likewise, each city today, because of sin working against God’s grace, is in reality “two cities” caught in a spiritual dogfight. One segment is nourished by God the other by godlessness. One worships the true God, Jesus Christ, and the other worships cheap idols spawned from the deceitful games of the Anti-Christ. Each city described in the Scriptures brings with it a history lesson that helps us to reflect upon the choices we make for our own city in our generation.    

Thus, in the Scripture there are both negative and positive views given of cities.  At times the city exalts the very essence of pride and selfishness (Gen. 4:17-24; 11:1-9).  But clearly, at other times the Bible presents cities as a place of refuge (Num. 35:6-24; Josh. 20:1-9); a place of protection (Ps. 48); a place of highest joy (Ps. 137) or a place to secure peace and prosperity (Jer. 29:7).  We cannot conclude that the Bible only gives us an anti-urban and negative conclusion about the city.  In fact, though some cities go terribly wrong, as a general observation, God offers strong cities as gifts to those He loves (Deut. 6:10-12; 28:49-53).  Again, that a city is the final destiny of all Christians speaks clearly regarding God’s positive view of the city. 

What the Bible does teach is that it is misplaced trust and misplaced security that are objects of God’s contempt. It is not the city, nor the cultural development and creativity nurtured in the city that offends God. It is the self-centered motives behind these activities that bring judgment.  Since flourishing cities often become the means for man to secure material prosperity they very often also become the places where men forget the Lord (28:12). However, we must not forever link cities with rebellion against God.  

Again, it is in that context that the Bible presents a double-edged evaluation of the city.  It is a place of both, God’s gracious bestowal of peace and prosperity, as well as the place where man makes his own quest for security and power apart from God.  From that choice ultimately come either cities of God or cities of Satan, cities that bring shalom and testify to the Living God, or cities that rob us of peace and mock our Heavenly Father.  The spiritual framework of every city (large or small) is aptly described by Greenway:

   Scripture depicts the religious warfare of the city as a battle between Babylon and Jerusalem. Babylon is the representative city of human-kind, rebellious, greedy, violent, idolatrous, and doomed. Jerusalem, on the other hand, is the representative of the City of God.  It is a theocracy, for there God reigns.  It symbolizes God’s peace, unity, and righteousness.  In Jerusalem Messiah is King, while in Babylon he is despised and opposed.  True citizens of Jerusalem are in covenant with God, citizens of Babylon are in league with the devil.

   Herein lies the nature of the religious warfare that rages in the city.  There are, as Augustine pointed out, two cities within every single city.  There are Babylon with its citizens and Jerusalem with its citizens.  These two are essentially at odds, for they serve different standards. The master of one is Christ; of the other, Antichrist.[iii]

Conclusion

For this reason Jesus cautioned His disciples to evaluate every city, determining city by city, town by town, who its master might be (Luke 10:8-16).  Keep in mind, as long as there are people who welcome the Gospel in a city there is hope for that city. As long as there are sound churches in that city, God has not yet abandoned that city. The presence of His Church is a validation of His love for that city. For this reason, when city leaders become “pro-church” God will shed His grace in exciting and new ways into the lifeblood of the city. Brockton area Christians should always be praying that the city leaders will humble themselves before God, as well as jealously consider ways to become pro-church. A pro-church city is always a blessed city (Prov. 11:10). 

Though Christians should never be deceived into thinking that through human strength their city will become a kingdom of God, at the same time they should not presume that God has judged that city.  Also, as gifts of God, cities are a strategic object of attack by the enemy.   Cities, as a result, bear the scars of abuse and warfare. The plight of urban warfare is more than a commentary of social ills. It reveals a failure to pursue the spiritual infrastructure of the city. Still, by God’s mercy, many compassion services and help-oriented ministries arise in the city serving both the urban and suburban wounded alike.   

God has not abandoned His desire to use cities as means to bless people. Around the world people continue to migrate to cities looking for hope. Some project that by the year 2020 there will be at least 500 cities of at least one million in population. At this point in history there is something very strategic about the role of the city. So, instead of us mocking the city, perhaps we should together affirm it.  Instead of by-passing it, we should learn to accept our share of the city’s care (Jer. 29:7).  God expects His people to partner with His an agenda to bless people looking for hope.  

People outside the City of Brockton, would you at least pray for the revival and revitalization of this city? And, would you consider some level of commitment to support urban missions? Perhaps your church could even partner with an urban church in our city. Help the churches of Brockton take our city for God.

by Rev. Dr. Mark T. Oliver