A Theology as Big as the City

A Theology as Big as the City
Ray Bakke
InterVarsity Press (1997)
The main concept of this book is to present both the need for an urban theology and also Ray Bakke’s search for a theology of the city based on his life experiences. God values cities, although most systematic theologies are developed through a rural lens. After an overview of the need for an urban theology, the author addresses urban theology from Genesis all of the way through the Bible to Revelation.
The author argues that the primary challenge to effective urban ministry in the 21st century is theological, although other challenges are demographic, missiological, ecclesiastical, and financial. Christian leaders will not be effective in addressing global urban issues unless they are solidly grounded and equipped with an urban theological base. An important aspect of urban theology is a sense of place, a concept that has been lost on many Protestant churches in recent years. Power is also a theme often addressed by the author.
The chapters of this book actually present the information along the lines of the chapters in the Bible. For instance, the second chapter entitled “God’s Hands Are in the Mud” presents an overview of the urban theological concepts found in the book of Genesis. God demonstrates in Genesis that He values His creation, and that He partners with us to steward its resources. From an urban perspective, many Christians “throw away” deteriorated city neighborhoods even though God values their redemption.
In a chapter called “Two Letters, Two Urban Spiritualities,” Bakke presents Philippians and Colossians as two different and unique perspectives on community development and spiritual transformation. He presents insight into the public spirituality of Colossians and the personal spirituality of Philippians. The author argues that both forms of spirituality are crucial to the fabric of a healthy urban community. This concept is great, but one limitation of this book is that much more could have been written about each of the concepts covered in the chapters. A great foundation has been put in place by this book, and perhaps future authors will expand on Bakke’s arguments which would expand the field of urban theology.
This book was most valuable to my work in the area of urban and suburban partnerships. The ideas also carried over very well to the L.A.M.P. partnerships between churches and schools. Although the social gospel concepts were emphasized, I also gleaned a great deal of practical application toward my personal spirituality. I was forced to ask myself, “What biases do I have toward reading and understanding the Bible?” Because of my life experiences, I would definitely say that I have always read the Bible through a rural, white, middle class, American lens. Reading this book encouraged me to expand my view of scripture.