The Church, church buildings, and New Urbanism

Posted on April 9, 2008

A couple months ago I posted on new urbanism, mentioning a book by Philip Bess called Till We Have Built Jerusalem. New urbanism is “an American urban design movement that arose in the early 1980s intended to reform all aspects of real estate development and urban planning, from urban retrofits to suburban infill. New urbanist neighborhoods are designed to contain a diverse range of housing and jobs, and to be walkable.” One takeaway from this movement is the notion that neighborhoods can be redesigned to promote community. Urban sprawl mitigates this kind of community feel.

New York City has picked up on these ideas in an effort to beautify and re-urbanize the city. David Taylor (same Taylor who put together the Transforming Culture conference) reviews Bess’ book in “The Good City” in Books and Culture. It’s well worth the read.

I love the ideas coming out of New Urbanism and Philip Bess’ reflections. The notion that our architecture and infrastructure betrays and shapes a certain life philosophy is very important. Cities used be places where children played and people gathered for good, social interaction. Too often, urban centers are now skyscraper gardens with little social space left for anything than after hours entertainment. What would it look like for your city, your neighborhood to cultivate a more community-sensitive setting?

Then there are the architectural implications of new urbanism for churches. Should we just build buildings based on their utility or give greater considerations to aesthetics? Do more ornate and context sensitive buildings really make a difference in the quality of church communities? What about the impact of church architecture on the unchurched? A recent survey shows that unchurched folks are more inclined to visit an aesthetically pleasing church building. Hmm. What is the way forward for the evangelical Church in America given the rise of new urbanism, the insights of Bess & Taylor, and good old common sense?

The Middle Class Bottoms Out?

Posted on April 9, 2008

A study from the Pew Foundation reveals that most middle-class Americans believe they are not “moving forward in life.” The article notes: “For decades, middle-income Americans had been making absolute progress while enduring relative decline. But since 1999, they have not made economic gains.” Part of the reason for “bad times” is the borrow/spend habit that middle class Americans have developed. Again, “For the past two decades middle-income Americans have been spending more and borrowing more. Housing has been the key driver of both trends.” However, despite current feelings about personal progress, many of “the American middle class are optimistic about the future. Most are confident that their quality of life in five years will be better than it is now. And, gazing farther ahead, most expect their children to do better in life than they themselves have done.”

New Urbanism and "The Good City"

Posted on April 9, 2008

A couple months ago I posted on new urbanism, mentioning a book by Philip Bess called Till We Have Built Jerusalem. New urbanism is “an American urban design movement that arose in the early 1980s intended to reform all aspects of real estate development and urban planning, from urban retrofits to suburban infill. New urbanist neighborhoods are designed to contain a diverse range of housing and jobs, and to be walkable.” One takeaway from this movement is the notion that neighborhoods can be redesigned to promote community. Urban sprawl mitigates this kind of community feel.

New York City has picked up on these ideas in an effort to beautify and re-urbanize the city. David Taylor (same Taylor who put together the Transforming Culture conference) reviews Bess’ book in “The Good City” in Books and Culture. It’s well worth the read.

I love the ideas coming out of New Urbanism and Philip Bess’ reflections. The notion that our architecture and infrastructure betrays and shapes a certain life philosophy is very important. Cities used be places where children played and people gathered for good, social interaction. Too often, urban centers are now skyscraper gardens with little social space left for anything than after hours entertainment. What would it look like for your city, your neighborhood to cultivate a more community-sensitive setting?

Then there are the architectural implications of new urbanism for churches. Should we just build buildings based on their utility or give greater considerations to aesthetics? Do more ornate and context sensitive buildings really make a difference in the quality of church communities? What about the impact of church architecture on the unchurched? A recent survey shows that unchurched folks are more inclined to visit an aesthetically pleasing church building. Hmm. What is the way forward for the evangelical Church in America given the rise of new urbanism, the insights of Bess & Taylor, and good old common sense?

Running into the Two Hands of God

Posted on April 8, 2008

Yesterday we considered the issue of fatherhood or “sonship.” We observed that, like it or not, we are children of God or children of the devil (ouch)! This is observed by our actions, which reveal our motives—self-seeking or God-seeking. How can we escape sonship to the devil in favor of sonship to God? By trusting in the two hands of the Heavenly Father, to borrow a phrase from Irenaeus of Lyons. We renounce self-seeking legalism and license and rely on the Son and the Spirit.

The Hand of the Son

Let’s consider the hand of the Son first. Galatians 4:4-5 tell us that God sent his Son so that he might redeem us and that we might receive adoption: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” So God initiates our adoption through redemption. Jesus redeemed us—rescued us from our devilish estate—by bearing the judgment and exile we should have suffered. Death and exile from the presence of God was embraced by Jesus at the cross and in the grave. He took our curse/punishment.

This should remind us of YHWHs redemptive rescue Israel in Egypt. He sent plagues against Pharaoh, conquered his army at the Red Sea, and delivered his people. But what did he do after that? Did he deliver Israel from Egypt only to leave them to wander the wilderness by themselves for 40 years? No. He led them with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. He provided bread from heaven and water from a rock. He made a covenant relationship with them and gave them the Law and promises. He became their Father and they became his son: “Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”

Similarly, God did not just send his son to redeem us but also to adopt us. Jesus died to make us part of God’s family. As Galatians 3:26 reads, “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” So how do we get a new father? God sends his son to redeem us and adopt us. God forgives us of our sin in Jesus and offers us perfect acceptance. All we need to do is respond by faith, by trusting a Father who has shown himself infinitely good, gracious and godly. Biblical adoption is accomplished by faith, trust, reaching out to receive the embrace of the two hands of God. We have considered the first hand—the work and love of the Son to redeem and adopt, but what of the other hand of God? What of the Spirit?

The Hand of the Spirit

Galatians also tells us that God sent his Spirit: 4:6: “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit is the second hand of God the Father reaching down to pluck us out of our miserable estate and to place us in his delightful family. But why a second hand? Can’t God adopt one-handed? Gal 4:6 tells us that God sent the “Spirit of his Son” into our hearts. So, I guess if you wanted to change the image, you could—one really long arm—shoulder to elbow is Jesus, elbow to hand is the Spirit, Spirit of the Son! The point is that the divine family of God—Father, Son & Spirit—is adopting us.

Just as we are not only child adoptees, God is not only a Father. The divine community of God is conspiring for our eternal good. Now, back to the role of the Spirit. Gal 4:6 tells us just what the Spirit does in this adopted relationship. He cries out for and from us saying “Abba, Father!” What is the significance? The Spirit gives voice to our sonship, assuring us of our adoption into the family of God, reminding us that God is for us, not against us. The Spirit allows us to speak with our Father. Interestingly, this is Aramaic, the same language Jesus spoke from the cross when he cried out “Abba, Father!” The Spirit of the Son cries out from our hearts testifying that we are no longer children of the devil, spiritual orphans, deaf to the God’s voice, unable to receive God’s love. Why? Because God has, with his two hands, Son and Spirit redeemed us and adopted us. He has given us a new identity and a new voice by which we can have intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. Adoption is initiated by God and accomplished by the Son and the Spirit.

Jonathan K. Dodson