By George Dallas McKinney, Ph.d., D.D.

The reported death of God in the cities of America and the world is a false report.  Those who are involved in ministry in the city testify that in the city, as everywhere else, where sin doth abound, there grace doth much more abound.  Christ the wounded healer is present in the concrete jungles, in the overcrowded rat and roach infested projects in the halls of justice, and in the jails.  As our eternal contemporary, He is wherever there is human hurt and suffering.  Since God has never forsaken the city, neither must the church. 

A careful examination of the urban scene reveals that the church and all social institutions are both challenged and threatened by conditions which are widespread in twentieth century America.  These conditions, though observable because of physical manifestations, are primarily spiritual and theological.  They are basically problems arising because of man’s rebellion and alienation from God and man’s pride, selfishness and contempt for his fellow man.

In recent years the church too often has been in captivity to the society for economic and social reasons and has not been free to fulfill its prophetic role of pronouncing judgment as well as proclaiming the way of healing and salvation.  Rather, the church has too often simply reflected the prevailing social or political values and has said by its silence and/or complicity that the majority and might makes right.  Consequently, the church in many cities of the United States has lost its effective witness. 

America must apply its teaching regarding forgiveness, healing and redemption to itself before it can respond constructively to the desperate cry of the larger society for direction.  It may be that much of the distress in our cities is due to the abandonment of the cities by the many representatives of Christ, leaving only a remnant of his followers to do what Christ has commissioned all of us to do together.  The city is the scene of spiritual confusion.  There is to be found a proliferation of cults and non-biblical religions, often led by opportunists and spiritual pimps who capitalize on the ignorance, spiritual hunger and vulnerability of many city dwellers who have never heard the Gospel.  Moreover, here are those in the city like these counterparts in the suburbia who heard the Gospel but rejected its claim upon their lives.  Paul in Romans Ch. 1 gives a clear statement of the major cities of America today.  “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written.  ‘The just shall live by faith.’  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.  Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.  For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” 

The biblical diagnosis of the spiritual climate in the city is also the correct diagnosis of the spiritual climate of suburbia.  The wealthy who reject Christ and the poor who reject Christ believe the same lie – that gain (wealth) is Godliness.  Greed and covetousness motivate both.  Yet there must be a spiritual change in the heart and conscious – a new birth wrought by God that brings (a new philosophy of wealth – the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof).  And a new understanding of stewardship – to whom much is given, from him much is required.  Those who have wealth and power are stewards, accountable to God for the responsible use and distribution of it.  Believing this, we issue a Macedonian call to our brothers and sisters who fled the city, – “Come back and help us.”

Ministry to the City

Since God has not forsaken the city, the church must maintain a dynamic compassionate servant ministry there.  The church must maintain and preserve all that it can of its past liturgy, its worship, its teaching and healing ministry.  Yet it must not be afraid of using new forms, and methods to proclaim the good news.

Now the call to ministry in the city, like every call of God to ministry is initially a call to prepare for service.  The suffering servant must be thoroughly furnished unto all good works.  (1 Timothy 4:17).  The equipping of the servant must follow a Baptism of love, which will enable the servant to represent Christ in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi religious environment.  This baptism of love will prepare the servant to remain faithful in the face of violence, hostility, and other satanic forces.  The inner city provides an excellent opportunity for the Christian soldier to gain wounds for the cause of Christ.  Here is an opportunity to get to know Christ in the fellowship of his suffering and to imitate Christ as a wounded healer.  So we see that God has not abandoned the city in spite of the prognosis by the experts in urban affairs that the city’s sickness is unto death, the church must believe that even if there is spiritual, moral and economic death in the city, our God is able to speak life and cause a resurrection in the city.

The destiny of our nation is bound to the destiny of our cities.  God hears the cries of the hurting and the hopeless in the city.  He sees the growing tensions between the powerful and powerless, the “haves” and the “have-nots”…He knows the sin and the uncleanliness that prevail.  The only power to save the city is God’s redemptive power.  Yet He chooses to use human instruments.

God has asked “Who will go for us?”  But He has also directed and commanded that we shall be witness in Jerusalem and the uttermost parts of the world.

Title:  Reclaiming the City for God

Action Items 

I.  Mobilize prayer cells throughout the community

II.  Involve pastors and church leaders in regular prayer meetings

III.  Mobilize volunteers for specific ministries

A.  Outreach to gang members

B.  Outreach to prostitutes

C.  Prison ministry

D.  Sponsor those in adoption programs

E.  Encourage community service

IV.  Establish after-school learning centers using church facilities.  Sponsor programs to encourage the pursuit of excellence and education.

V.  Utilize church resources for reaching the un-reached through responding to felt needs.

A.  Childcare

B.  Halfway house

C.  Scouting

D.  Debutante Academy

E.  Feeding Program

F. Homeless Ministry

VI.  Special youth outreach through music, drama, and dance

A.  Give attention to spiritual formation and character building