A co-worker showed me a clipped news article recently that proclaimed my township the safest one in the country. I couldn't believe it!
Wasn't it just the other day, well, last year when a distraught man gunned down his ex in a Gymboree at the local mall, spraying blood all over little children's clothes? And wasn't it fifteen years ago, though it seems like yesterday, when a student was stabbed to death at a football game in a fight over a girl?
I don't know about you, but from what I've heard and seen of the news, I double bolt my doors, I have an alarm system, and a small guard dog. And I never, ever, ever open the door for babies crying in the dead of night, or strangers in need of the phone, in need of directions, or whatever else. Babies crying in the dead of night by the way, do not crawl to unsuspecting victims' doorsteps by themselves; usually, they are carried there by serial killers and used as bait!
Anyways, I've been looking around lately, looking around at my town, wondering what it is that makes this town so safe, relatively-speaking as any town in Canada could take its top spot easily. I look around and I see a town of increasing social, ethnic, and religious diversity. Our mayor is Korean. In additon to Shoprite, we have the Hong Kong Supermarket, the Calcutta Superfood Store, among many other food markets catering to various ethnic groups. We have Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist temples, Christian and Catholic churches, two Jehovah Witness centers, and a spiritual center where psychic counselors, angel mediums, and New Age people gather.
My town, though I can't imagine it to be as diverse or as progressive as a city like San Francisco, is the kind of place where nonetheless if a minivan pulls up to a Taco Bell, and a bunch of Indian people in colorful saris and turbans get out, clapping and singing a hymn of worship to an elephant god with a hundred arms- you wouldn't look twice. There would, however, be second glances if a minivan pulled up full of protestors against another's right to choose.
It makes me think, now that I have a growing appreciation of my town, how if given the choice to live in an entirely all Christian town, would I or I wouldn't I? And the answer is I wouldn't.
In spite of what I believe, in spite of my personal affinity for Jesus' teachings, I feel more comfortable in a diverse environment, and I would feel more afraid, more paranoid (than I already am after watching the nightly news), and more self-conscious for fear of being called a "Christian hypocrite" in a town where morals and behavior, where every day actions, were measured closely, word for word, by the Bible.
How about you? If given the choice, and if such a town exists, would you choose to live in an all Christian town?
Comments (78)
i would not live in an "all christian town" because i have seen firsthand...and been reminded just yesterday of what christians are capable of doing to oe another. i guarantee the crime rate wouldn't drop because everyone in town "claimed" to be a christian.
someday, i will live in an all christian town...with people who are genuinely christians, saved by Jesus' blood...and there there will be no more tears & sorrows. and no crime rate.
No, even if I were a practicing Christian, I wouldnt. I mean I want nothing more than to keep my children safe but for one, anything can happen anywhere, even in A christian town. Secondly, I want to teach my children diversity. Not only do I want them familiar with other races and nationalities, But I also want them to know other cultures and religions as well. I dont want them sheltered like that. We live in NYC and its an everyday thing to walk past Jewish, Muslims and Christians withing blocks and I love that being the norm for my kids.
Absolutely not. First off, that is something no Christian should desire. We are supposed to be "salt and light," how can you do that in an all Christian town? What about loving and being with all of the people God has created, regardless of whether or not we agree with their beliefs?
Hmm.
An opening point: Jesus told us our purpose here was to "go into all the world and make disciples of all nations." Even if we did create an all-christian town, we've in essence removed ourselves from the world, haven't we? ...I can understand that some would desire to be "safer," but being safe really isn't one of a Christian's primary priorities. We were told to be cautious, but nowhere are we told to stay safe.
I find it interesting, though, that your own reasons against Christianville have more to do with others' judgment than anything else--it even seems to outweigh safety for you. I can understand the love of diversity (growing up in the outskirts of NYC, I love that I can hear twenty-three different languages spoken on my way to work, or have a plethora of ethnic-food options for dinner). But self-righteous Christian judgment doesn't seem to bother me all that much.
On the one hand, I want people I trust keeping me accountable about the important things, about whether my walk matches my talk. But when it comes to the stupid judgments about the peripherals, I know it's coming and usually end up laughing it off. Sometimes I wonder if I'm subconsciously inviting it, even. (Tomorrow I'm subbing at a conservative Christian high school. I have long hair. I wonder how this will work...)
Even beyond the Great Commission and judgment issues, I wonder about the logistics of Christiandale. How would you enforce it? Would they have to show proof of church membership to move into the area? A recommendation from their pastor? Personal interview? Would the mayor have the right to kick out anyone who did anything blatantly unChristian? Also: Christianville still wouldn't necessarily be safe. How many serial killers, gangbangers, and child molesters grew up and lived amidst the trappings of Christianity?
(Tangental side note, nothing to do with anything: while it's true that you should never open your door to strangers in the middle of the night, the idea that serial killers use crying babies as bait is a hoax.)
"How about you? If given the choice, and if such a town exists, would you choose to live in an all Christian town?"
I can see the pros and cons of both. I think that depending on where someone is in their relationship it could be really helpful. I don't really think that it would be a problem living in an all-Christian community so long as the people there are actively getting outside of their community and sharing their faith. Truth is...I doubt that would happen all that often.
Jesus shared wtih Jews and Gentiles alike about who He was. He didn't just stick with 'His own people' and I figure that if I'm going to be truly Christ-like I can't do that either. Perhaps it would be nice to live in an all-Christian community for up to a year and 'recharge'...but I can't see myself doing it long-term.
@ChrisRusso@xanga - thanks for telling her that she was being influenced by a hoax. Sheeeesh.
so a communist town? haha
If everybody in my neighborhood spontaneously chose to convert to genuine, lived-out Christianity, I for one certainly wouldn't object.
Living in a place where Christianity is mandated by the state as the religion that everyone must practice, however, would be discouraging, depressing, and self-destructive. Also, it would involve some serious misinterpretations of Jesus' actual message ("My kingdom is not of this world"). We only need to look at the occasions in history when this has been tried (e.g. Geneva under John Calvin) to know that the self-righteous, the neo-Pharisees, and the spiritual abusers will inevitably rise to the top of such a system, making it unpleasant all around. Genuine Christianity is not about controlling anyone's behavior, except possibly your own!
Our founders gave us religious freedom for some very good reasons!
I went to an all Christian college, that was bad enough. I think being surrounded by all christians actually makes you more laxed in some sense. You are not forced to defend yourself (majoirty of the time), you have this sense tha tyou are surrounded by fellow believers all the time, and that that will help you to go. You become less relient on God, becuase you are not singled out.
I actually found that i did devos less, prayed less, and cared about church less... even though I do not really believe many of the Christians around me were sincere in their faith.
I don't think I would... I'll get that in heaven...
the mission and Commission is most important than that of safety (in a wise way of course)... to live in a cloistered environment and not interact w/ the world to bring them to Christ... that's not why Jesus has us here....
we HAVE TO deal with non-Christians and be the voice, hands, legs, arms, and heart of Jesus so that we can get non-Christians to become Christians... through love, sacrifice, suffering, and maybe a little bit of in-your-face-ness
if you want a "Christian" town... we'll get that when we get to heaven... but since we're not and we have to deal with elephant gods and angel mediums and psychics and JWs and other such who do not honor the God of the Bible and Jesus Christ... we must obey Jesus and fulfill the Great Commission as we live here....
Hell no.
I need diversity and the ability to feel comfortable.
That my own individual diversity is appreciated instead of shunned.
I know that seems to be a horrible out look on all Christian societies anyone plans on attempting to make but looking at the past and the insanity that has occurred from this, well. I'm not saying it'll have a favorable outcome.
Oh my gosh, no. I know a lot of familys that practically live in a "Jesus cult". I don't think there is anything wrong with being really conservative and protecting your children, but my point of veiw is "what happens when they leave home?" Most of them do NOT end up like they were in fifth grade, and for good reason.
I just couldn't imagine how weak my faith would be if there was barely any temptation or people to deal with. I actually wish I was in a place where I was more judged for being a Christian, instead of being judged for being a real Christian by tons of hypocrites.
Plus, the point of being a Christian is not to get yourself to Heaven (that's the reward), it's to bring more people to Christ. If your living in a place where they are all Christians (even if they are "Christians"), that's not really possible. By taking away the world, one is taking away the choice between God and the world, and also muting the whole point of being a Christian.
As a christian I've already put in a contract for a "christian town". The bible said that believers have our citizenship is in Heaven. Someday I'll have my christian town but down here its not possible because christian or not there is still human nature and to name yourself a christian does not mean immunity from sin it just means forgiveness.
i would never live in an all Christian town, for the same reasons i refused to go to a Christian high school or college. i like diversity and interacting with lots of people who don't necessarily agree with me! i live in a section of NYC that was talked about in the NY Times
recently as being one of the safest & nicest areas, and the cops chalk it up partially to diversity :3
the last census lists my town as being at least 33% non-citizen immigrants, which means i have lots of yummi food ehehe
HELL. NO.
All Christian town = Worst idea EVAR!
No way! What's the point of living with people sharing the same beliefs anyway? Also, some Christians are kinda self-righteous... I was one of them. And I know how hard it is for people to cope with them...
yeah, totally with you, I would not.
"Babies crying in the dead of night by the way, do not crawl to
unsuspecting victims' doorsteps by themselves; usually, they are
carried there by serial killers and used as bait!"
Please tell me you don't really believe that. The chance of being murdered by a serial killer is very, very low. There's a difference between reasonable caution and paranoia.
Heck no! Our town is entirely too Christian as it is. I prefer a little more diversity. It sucks to never have your views represented in things like politics.
I would no more want to be surrounded ONLY by "a bunch of Indian people ... clapping and singing a hymn of worship to an elephant god with a hundred arms" than by people who think they descended from a man and rib-woman who were tricked into eating a magical fruit by a talking snake, and who worship a Jewish zombie whose flesh and blood they symbolically eat.
They all sound a bit insane.
I think a secular humanist community sounds nice, though.
I didn't read any of the comments yet. But just based on the title, I would say definitely no. I wouldn't want to buble myself in a Christian world.
I might feel safe and comfortable, but looking back at the apostles, how they all ended up for the sake of Christ, I think I would be too selfish to be in a Christian only place.
Honestly, I believe my mission or calling in life is to reach out to the lost, and win as many souls to Christ as possible, like Paul said.
Each and every second in life is a golden opportunity ti be an ambassador or witness of Christ to people. I would not want to miss any chance at all.
Be blessssed! =)
An all Christian town would be a nice place to visit, take a vacation, recharge spiritually. But my calling is to be in the world, among the sinners, ministering to the dregs of society.
a town can be christian and diverse ...
the interesting question would be ... "Would you live in a town of just revelife commenters?" I would say no way!!!!!! hehe
no,i wouldnt because we are called to reach out to the world with the love of Christ, who would we reach out to and tell about God to???
No I would not live in an all Christian town. As a Christian I like to reach out to others. Over the last year I have also experienced a lot of hurt from people who were my Christian brothers and sisters---a Church even rejected my husband and I. Jesus never meant for us to be exclusive and cast away from UnChristians.