The gospel renews cities by Christians changing their view of the city, by being changed by the city themselves, and being changed by the gospel in the city.
Change Your View of the City
Christians have a terrible reputation for seeing the city as a bad place, something to flee from, something to judge, something to escape. Alternatively, some Christians view the city as something to be conquered or saved. They swagger into a city as great spiritual giants, as enlightened benefactors. We should not approach the city as a recpient of our great wisdom, character, and resources. This is parochial. The city isn’t something to escape or conquer but it is something to love and renew. We need to change the way we view the city. To “renew†is to reinvigorate, to change for the better. It is neither triumphalistic (conquer/take) nor is it escapist (flee, run).
Be Changed by the City
The Gospel alone can give us the humility, the happiness, and the purpose needed to renew the city. Tim Keller has noted that because Christians are accepted in Christ, they don’t have to have all the answers to non-Christians questions. (Nor do they have to have all the answers to our questions.) We can and should learn from city. Become more environmentally friendly, artistic, excellent, financially wise, and so on.
Be Changed by the Gospel
Because we have a well of deep, lasting joy in Christ we can serve (not exploit) the city for happiness. Because we get our purpose not from the city or from the suburbs but from Christ, we are freed to serve and renew the city.
Because we have a well of deep, lasting joy in Christ we can serve (not exploit) the city for happiness. Because we get our purpose not from the city or from the suburbs but from Christ, we are freed to serve and renew the city. Henry Drummond, Scottish evangelist and author articulates our purpose well: “To make cities—that is what we are here for. To make good cities—that is for the present hour the main work of Christianity.†The gospel frees us to make good cities.
From “How to Renew a City” sermon