by miss magnoliaSometimes in conversations with other Christians, I'll notice statements such as:
"I would never live there."
or
"I would never wear that."
and sometimes I wonder if it's Christians being stuck-up or if it's just a matter of preference. I was talking to a friend today about where I would live next year and mentioned an area of town that wasn't upper class, but more of bohemian/hippy/organic type of neighborhood. A lot of the homes in the area are older and more rundown looking.
She said, "Ew, don't live there."
It makes me wonder if we as Christians are a little too quick to judge and think we are superior. It makes me uncomfortable to think that we would only venture into those types of neighborhoods because of a "service project," but not because we really wanted to. Then once the service project is over with, we go back to our cushy lifestyles where we're comfortable with our circle of friends. Granted, not all Christians think this way and I think it's great that they don't.
However, more often than not, I've come across Christians who make comments that give them a feeling of superiority that I'm not really comfortable with. Is it that we've become too attached to the world? Then when we feel like being Christians, we put on our good Sunday clothes and talk about God to the people in homeless shelters that we only see once a year?
I know Jesus never lived a cushy lifestyle, and it's not that radical to think that maybe we should leave our belongings behind and take up our cross to follow Him.
Comments (28)
For a long time now, I've wanted to move into a neighborhood that most people are afraid of and bring the light of Christ to the people who live there. I really liked this post.
i used to be really afraid of these kinds of neighborhoods...and i am nowhere near rich or elite by the world's standards. i have just been afraid. i realize that i have been valuing my own safety over the sould of the lost. i have been really convicted about it actually, and almost wonder if i should be living among the poor and hurting...isn't that what Jesus did?
Good post. It frustrates me to no end when Christians are like this. While I would never tell anyone to purposefully live in an area where there is great danger, I feel that if God has called them to be there, He will keep them safe. How prideful we are. In essence, we're saying that we're above them when we say stuff like that. Their living situations may not be ideal, but that is where they are, and we have no right to make fun of that. My school is in Chicago suburbs, and I'm involved in a tutoring program for students in one of the Chicago housing projects. Not an idea area, for sure, but we do it anyway. We get a lot of garbage from people who just don't even want to go there to see what it's like. All I want to do is spend more than just a few hours a week there, to live with them and be able to minister to them better in that way. I know that we can truly have a better ministry when we are thoroughly involved and committed to the area of our ministry. Living there is the best way to do it.
On a tangent, this is also how I feel about students at my school taking spring break "mission trips" to minister to people... in downtown Honolulu. Yeah, I'm sure they were drawn to it because of the ministry. While I'm sure they do good things there, it is obvious that the main draw to spending $1000 on such a trip is that it's in Hawaii. We are only 30 minutes away from inner city Chicago. Why not spend $200 on transportation and food for the week, live and minister in Chicago, and donate that extra $800 to someone who needs it here? There are so many needy people here. I just don't understand it.
@quiet_strength - Well said.... I agree completely.
I can see where some of these neighborhoods are scary and rough. However, I grew up with parents who (not acting irresponsibly at all) have taken on ministry roles in Chicago inner city, and we've been going there, for a while. My dad's job location doesn't allow them to actually move there, but they've been maintaining good relationships with people who DO live there. It's not something I grew up being scared of-- although I know there is danger there, honestly there is danger in suburbia as well. It is just more obvious there.
xcellint post very xcellint
we live in a "bad neighborhood, and while witnessing may have a potential here...we haven't had the opportunity for it. being "neighbors" doesn't mean so much to people anymore...and for the msot part, we know few of the people around us. we are as fault for that as they are...but...
and there's a lot to put up with, too. i get tired of not being able to go into the backyard because the renters next door yelling at each other on the back porch, or sneding so many marajuana fumes up that i can't go outside without unintentionally getting high. our house was broken into this fall, as well.
i know these things happen in "upper class" neighborhoods as well, but people seem to like the facade up there, too. i sympathise & appreciate that our neighbors have problems, but would like them to share them with me in a way that i could help, not be kept up at 1am by.
I live in one of the best neighborhoods in our area... not out of my own choice but because our father left the house to us and it is paid for so I can't see the logic in tossing aside a free place to stay. But I also am sometimes offended and hurt when people who profess to be Christians have that superior attitude towards others just because of the neighborhood they live in or their income level. I do a lot of volunteer work downtown by the riverfront and I have come to love the people I work with. And they have shown me the beauty to be found in their neighborhoods. I love being there now and sometimes spend nights at the shelter just to be closer to where I need to be the next day. It hurts me how many of my Christian friends shy away from me when they find out I like being in "those" neighborhoods with "those" people.......~Echo
This particular issue has been discussed in my denomination. Some people feel that we "live above our people" or pridefully think of ourselves as better than those living in sketchy neighborhoods.
There are reasons to move into the neighborhoods where we minister. Here are a couple reasons that people don't: a better school system for those that have children, and mostly, a home separate from the place of ministry as a place to go and recharge, spiritually and emotionally, perhaps even physically. My ministry can become rather intense, and my home in my nice neighborhood provides a reprise.
Also, look at it from a different perspective: the people in suburbia neighborhoods need Jesus just as much as those in the urban neighborhoods. What about ministering in the place where you are, rather than moving to the place where you want to minister.
I'm not saying that we should avoid the urban or potentially dangerous neighborhoods. If you feel God calling you to them, by all means, go. And I disagree with Christians who think they can't live with the people the minister to, I just think there's more to consider.
Jesus loved the most unlovable...the tax collectors, the prostitutes of His day.
Where do you think Jesus would be ministering today? Yup..you guessed it.
Good post! Concern over loss of comfort or safety should not cause us to withdraw from a ministry opportunity that God places before us (and then sooth our conscience by sending money or making a day trip).
Growing up, my parents were missionaries and we lived in a more or less "rough" neighborhood (audible gunshots at night at least once a week, low-level mafia across the street, occasional gunpoint/knifepoint robberies, etc.). We never really worried about the danger (or if my parents did, they never showed it)...the people in our neighborhood were our friends, we loved them and tried to help meet their spiritual and physical needs (and they were often a huge blessing to us, as well). All the missionaries and national pastors I knew who had effective ministries lived among the people to whome they ministered. As has been pointed out multiple times...that's what Jesus did (not just in his ministry, but even in his incarnation).
But if you're really living Your Best Life Now, why would you live in those neighborhoods? How will anyone know you're blessed to be a blessing if you're not living abundantly in a 5400 square foot McMansion?
Oh...oops. Sorry. I've been watching too much Daystar Network lately.
@echois23@xanga - it'd be tight if you let people live with you for free.
@RuthViola@xanga - I don't think you'd find Jesus in the suburbs. I think the suburbians would find him in the streets (again).
I think if lift our standards based on what we have. However, Jesus humbled himself that he wants no material possession but be of service to man.
I wish I can be like Jesus but we are weak in our faith to survive in dangerous neighborhoods. Jesus has so much trust and faith in the Lord that he was able to do it. Maybe our faith is not that great to live the same life that Jesus had.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - I do bring people home..... I get a lot of flack for that in my neighborhood too...Nothing upsets the upper middle class southern neighborhood more than a rainbow of street kids and adults playing out in my front yard....... LOL .I bring folks home all the time..... we never even know who might be in our house from day to day........ Grandma always said that you know a house is full of love if the house is full..... and ours is always full............
Good post, you have great points.
Moving into a "dangerous" inner-city neighborhood with the thought of setting up a ministry there would be like moving into any mission field that is alien to you. Some of the natives would welcome your ministry and kindness and some would put you to the test..... If God calls you to serve there, you really don't want to refuse Him; but if your going there is motivated by proving that you love the "little people", you probably won't last long (maybe lliterally). No one likes condescension or patronization. I would resent it. Wouldn't you?
What is required, I think, is to choose to ignore the "dangers" and be genuine in your acceptance of those around you. Dangerous people can sense your fears and insecurities and will try to intimidate you. Also, you may get a surprise. There might actually be other believers living there who are products of that culture but have been born again.
I read a book co-written by Joyce Meyer, "The Penny" which I would recommend to everyone. It is a novel set in an inner-city and dealing with different cultures. I believe that it brings the issue of ministry to an inescapable confrontation. Good read!!
@echois23@xanga - That rocks! Can I come over?
i think that judging people's actions around you by their religion is kinda in line with what they're doing... i mean maybe it's not because of their religion that they feel superior but because of the culture they grew up in. it is better to trust in the Lord than put your confidence in man.
I live near a large deniminational headquarters, and attend a private christian school, and a lot of the people around are white upper-middle-class Christians. Now, I don't think that there's anything wrong with that, but the fact is that it's mostly a matter of what they're used to. They wouldn't live in a run-down neighborhood because they've never had to. They've been comfortable all their lives, and that's what their Christian experience is. Not to say that this is right, it's just the conclusion I've come to.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - sure if I happen to find you wandering around homeless in downtown Memphis and especially if the shelter is full my bros and I would birng you home for sure... or if your house just burned to the ground...... or if you were trapped at the airport or bus station because of bad weather.... or if you are a teen whose parents just kicked you to the curb.... or an abused spouse.... or an ex-con whose trying to start over..... or a prositute who wants to get her life together.... or a gang member who wants out but needs a safe place to begin the process....never know when I might run into you....
This is a good blog. I do not think we need to be comfortable anyway that is not what christianity is about, it is not about our comfort but rather showing those down and out someone loves them, but going to a shelter once a year does not help with that we must be willing to go anywhere. That is not to say we should not live in nice areas but rather to not be afraid to live where God calls us
@echois23@xanga - It's a deal!! Next time I'm in Nashville visiting my brother I'm taking the bus to memphis.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - Great Memphis is a lot of fun.... you can usually find me at the riverfront chatting up teen gang members, homeless folks and prostitutes... sometimes you will run into me at St.Jude playing games or doing puppet shows for the kiddos or at the abused womens shelter.... keep your wallet in your front pocket along with your pride, don't wear gang colors and always remember your roll of mug money..........~Echo
GREAT post. Yes, I agree: lots of Christians are scared of the world, even though they wouldn't say that, and wouldn't think it themselves. Lots of Christians are also scared of non-Christians, and thus don't associate with them...at least, not as long as they can help it without looking rude.
We have, have, HAVE to let go of fear and LOVE. We have chosen the wrong enemy, and are fighting a losing battle, at that. Maybe someday we'll see who the real enemy is, and realize that he's going to be defeated, and then maybe we'll realize that who we've been fighting against all along have been our teammates...waiting for someone to show them God's love.