general conference toronto june, 2000 general conference toronto june, 2000 2. can anything good...

General ConferenceToronto • June, 2000General ConferenceToronto • June, 2000

112. Can Anything Good Come Out of City? 2. Can Anything Good Come Out of City?

C. Urbanism and PluralismC. Urbanism and Pluralism

D. Urban DisciplesD. Urban Disciples

B. Rural/Urban TensionB. Rural/Urban Tension

A. The ChallengeA. The Challenge

OverviewOverview



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Lyle Schaller in 1993 . . . “There are three great areas of our world which the churches have not really penetrated.

They are: Hinduism, Islam and the culture of modern cities.”




An Executive of a Foreign Mission . . .

“God made the country and man made the suburb. But the devil

made the city.”

Dwight L. Moody in 1896 . . . “If it was not for the work I am called to do, I would never show my head in this city or any other

again.”



Juvenal in the 2nd Century AD . . . “‘What can I do in Rome?’ he asked. ‘I have never learned to

lie”

Jacques Ellul in 1970 . . . “The city is dead, made of dead

things for dead people.”




Two EGW Compilations published in 1946

Country LivingEvangelism




Foreword to Country Living in 1946 . . .

“The advantages of country living have been

repeatedly stressed through the Spirit of

Prophecy counsels. The gathering storm clouds

signalize the appropriateness of resounding the

call to leave the cities. It must be evident to

every thoughtful SDA that city living, with its

congestion, allurements, and mounting labor

conflicts, does not provide a wholesome

environment for christian families.”




Evangelism, pages 384-385. . . “Those who bear the burden of the

work in Greater New York should have the help of the best workers that can be secured. Here let a center for God's work be made, and let all that is done be a symbol of the work the Lord desires to see done in the world.”




Evangelism, pages 29-30. . .

“As far as possible, our institutions should be located away from the cities. We must have workers for these institutions, and if they are located in the city, that means that families of our people must settle near them. But it is not God's will that His people shall settle in the cities, where there is constant turmoil and confusion.”




The first cities were man-made creations and need redemption. Believers are pictured in the Bible as pilgrims who are on their way to the heavenly Jerusalem. Although God never directed cities be built, His redemptive concern for the people in Babylon, Ninevah and Jerusalem shines brightly.




Acts of the Apostles, page 11 . . . “The church is God's fortress. His city of refuge,

which He holds in a revolted world.”

Acts of the Apostles, page 12 . . . “During ages of spiritual darkness the church of

God has been as a city set on a hill. . . . It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts.”




Acts of the Apostles, page 16 . . . “God’s glory must be revealed, His word

established. Christ’s kingdom must be setup in the world. The salvation of God must be made known in the cities of the wilderness.”




Evangelism, pages 34-35 . . . “I dreamed that several of our brethren were in

council, considering plans of labor for this season [1874]. They thought it best not to enter the large cities, but to begin work in small places, remote from the cities; here they would meet less opposition from the clergy, and would avoid great expense. . . .”




Evangelism, pages 34-35 . . .

“One of dignity and authority--One who is present

in all our council meetings--was listening with

deepest interest to every word. He spoke with

deliberation and perfect assurance. "The whole

world," He said, "is God's great vineyard. The cities

and villages constitute a part of that vineyard.

These must be worked."




Because of the large and worldwide migration into the cities, the church must develop strategies to disciple the urban areas. The new and emerging mission frontier has changed from the rural outpost to the urban jungle.


“Should I not be concerned about that

great city” (Jonah 4:11)?

“Should I not be concerned about that

great city” (Jonah 4:11)?



What is the most likely response when you tell a person today that you keep the 7th day Sabbath? A) You are keeping the wrong day. B) Sunday is the right day of worship. C) It really doesn’t matter what day you keep. D) We can’t be friends if you keep the Sabbath.




Modern urban society presents a unique and challenging context for the church. In North America and beyond, the church and society have influenced one another in a variety of dynamic and important ways. It is clear that a major shift towards subjectivism has taken place in both the church and society, which has led to the rise of pluralism.




George Barna has defined the most relevant aspect religion in America . . .

The civil religion of America is not based on the Bible but is built on a type of Jeffersonian self-reliance which might be articulated as: “The most quoted ‘Bible verse’ in America is: ‘God helps those how help themselves’; 82 percent believe that is a direct quote from the Bible.”




The cities bring together diverse people who have diverse views.

“Institutionally, cultural pluralism is brought about by modern urbanization. The relatively modern city encompasses a broad spectrum of more or less distinct cultural traditions in close proximity to one another. . . .” This cultural diversity is also reflected in the modern media of mass communications. . . . Hence one need to be in the city to experience it.”




Modern culture has attempted to solve the inherent friction between opposing ideas by promoting . . .

The supermarket of ideas approach to personal belief.

In order to maintain harmony, these are not be criticized at the check out stand of public opinion.





TimeRelatio

nsMethod Color Slogan

19th Centur

y

I’m right, you’re wrong

DebateBlack and

White

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it

20th Centur

y

I’m ok, you’re

ok

Dialogue

Gray

I’m not broke. you’re

not broke

21st Centur

y

I’m not ok,

you’re not ok

Putting Down

Black

If it ain’t

broke, break

it.



The Paulson Collection of EGW Letters, page 259 . . .

“Los Angeles demands constant labor because of its changing population. San Bernardino calls for earnest missionary effort. The work for all these places needs to be done by those who can adapt themselves to the needs of the field.”




If the church today is to be both relevant and prophetic it must recognize that while it is in the world of pluralism it must never become part of that world. The church must not only avoid isolationism which completely separates itself from others but also the extreme of syncretism which attempts to combine divinely revealed truths with human theory and practices.




Eddie Gibbs (2000:231) . . . “Undiscipled church members

present one of the greatest challenges facing the church, not only in the West but around the world.”




Irene Martinso

n




Benjamin, Jae, Jeremy

Del Pozo




Lisa Newman




Mae-Keng

Louie




Wang, Li-Zheng




Small Group Study




Han Li-Jie




Four Ph.Ds




Carlos Rios


general conference toronto june, 2000 general conference toronto june, 2000 2. can anything good...

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