Christians Leading the Way

I have the privilege of leading a multi-ethnic church in an urban context in Pittsburgh. We are a passionate community of followers of Jesus Christ, and we are committed to building healthy relationships with one another across cultural boundaries. I would like to share some of the language that I've been utilizing publicly during worship services and also privately in individual conversations with church members and community members. I am sharing it with the understanding that it may be helpful for some people who are searching for how to respond to the tension that is currently prevalent in the United States as a result of circumstances in Ferguson and New York. Here's the approach that I've been taking:

It is important for us as a church to acknowledge that there is currently a lot of tension in our country with regard to the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Followers of Jesus Christ must lead the way when it comes to reconciling human beings to one another because we have been reconciled to God. We cannot choose to be silent and disengaged on this subject. We must engage. We can get involved by praying, listening, and engaging in civil dialogue. All of those things are good, but they are not enough in and of themselves. Christians must also act. We can act in a wide variety of different and creative ways. We must each ask the Holy Spirit for discernment with how to act, but we must act. For some, action may include intentionally building relationships with people that are different from us racially and socioeconomically. Invite people to coffee, lunch, or dinner. Ask good questions and listen with an attitude of humility as Christ modeled. Uncivil discourse leads to an attitude of pride which deteriorates into an “us” versus “them” mentality. Civil discourse led by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit unites people together into a “we” mentality where we experience mutual transformation. Some may feel called to act by such things as protesting or writing or mentoring or discipling or worshiping together or advocating, but all actions should stem from healthy, cross-cultural relationships. Christians should be modeling these types of healthy relationships and authentic interactions.

Encountering God in the City Highlights

Last night I wrapped up teaching another round of Encountering God in the City at the North Way East End ministry center in East Liberty. Last fall at E.G.I.T.C. we built a foundation of why it is so important for followers of Jesus to engage cities in our modern world. This time around we selected a different topic each week, I introduced some concepts on those topics, and then we had some great dialogue. The various topics were:

• History of Urban Ministry
• Calling and Theology of Work
• High Risk Youth and Orphan Care
• Asset-based Christian Community Development
• Reconciliation and Multi-ethnic Church

We learned about the rich history of 2,000 years of Christians mobilizing around the world with various urban ministry models that were uniquely contextualized to different eras and cultures. We learned that each of us has a unique calling to participate in God's redemptive mission, and that we can find joy at work by being stewards of our time and talent while advancing the kingdom of God. We learned about God's heart for children and young people living on the margins of our cities in the U.S. and around the world, and appropriate responses from Christians. We learned how to focus on the assets in urban communities instead of the needs, and how followers of Christ can impact the process of transformation in cities through engagement in real estate development. Finally, we had a meaningful discussion about how Christians should be leading the way in our culture when it comes to reconciliation instead of dragging our feet and lagging behind. 

Last night's class was one of the most open conversations about race and class that I've ever been a part of thanks to the transparency and heart of the group. That has been a theme throughout each of the E.G.I.T.C. sessions... everyone's openness and willingness to learn from one another. The goal isn't just to learn with our heads, though. The goal is to be transformed and mobilized to make a difference in our city. Will Pittsburgh be a better place because of E.G.I.T.C.? Only time will tell. I have high hopes for these passionate followers of Jesus Christ, though. They're a group of world changers. I'm blessed to be around such amazing people in a world class city like Pittsburgh.