Of Farmers and Urbanites

Luke 23: 26 records "One Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country..."

Many commentators talk about how Simon was a farmer who in town on business. How do they know that Simon was a farmer? Well, of course! It is because the text says that he came in from the country- what other reason would he have been out there?

As scholars, pastors, and teachers of the Word of God we need to be careful in our reading of the Scriptures. We must not want to read into the Scriptures our own particular views of the world, of life, and of the way things should be. I am an urban pastor which makes me question what in the world Simon was doing out in the country. That does not mean that he was a farmer though! Maybe he was an urbanite who just happened to be coming back into the city.

We need to be careful pastors, teachers, and scholars. We need to be careful that we are not reading our ideas into the text, but instead should be reading out of the text.

Here is how William Hendriksen handles these commentators that want to put Simon in overalls and a straw hat, "The further speculation that the man must have been a farmer, because on this particular Friday morning he came from the country, is... without any basis. Even today many people besides farmers have business or social connections in the country. Some even live there!" NTC, Luke, 1023.

Some live in the country- that does not make them all farmers. Friends, watch your reading of the text. Be careful as you work with God's Word. They're not all farmers.

God's Hope for the City

Roger Greenway notes that the early history of redemption is the 'pastoral origins of humanity'. He goes on to say that, "The cultural mandate given to Adam and Eve in the garden to fill, rule, and subdue the earth was nothing more than a mandate to build the city.

The couple was to multiply, so providing the citizens of the city. Their cultivation of earth's resources as they extended their control over their territorial environment through the fabrication of sheltering structures would produce the physical architecture of the city. And the authority structure of the human family engaged in the cultural process would constitute the centralized government by which the life and functioning of the city, would be organized, under God. The cultural mandate given at creation was thus a mandate to build the city, and it would be through the blessing of God on man's faithfulness in the covenanted task that the construction of the city would be completed. Urban culture built in perfect obedience to God, would typify our hope in Jehovah."

Of course, we all know that this original design fell under the power of sin. But that did not thwart God's intentions for building a city. There was a promise that one would come from the seed of the woman and crush the head of the serpent. And the history of redemption, up to this point, has been the achieving of that redemptive goal.

So where is the hope for our cities? What is the hope for LA, New York, Seattle, Miami, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Philadelphia, and all of the other urban centers that we speak of? It is the hope that Jesus Christ has come to restore and redeem a people unto himself. Of course, that may sound like hope for individuals and not for cities- but we must end with the fact that the Scriptures speak of a day when a New Jerusalem, the city of God, would come down, and all of her citizens would live under the eternal rule of a just, gracious, and merciful King- the Lord Jesus Christ.

The message that we bring to our cities needs to be this: This is the way God has intended it; and this is not the way that God has intended it. God believes in urban renewal- but only under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, restore our cities.

Ministry or Busy-stry?

Today's Church is in need of a paradigm shift when it comes to ministry. When we think of the congregation becoming involved in the ministry of the local church- what do we think of? We most often think of 'what' they can do. What committee can they serve on? What Sunday School's need another instructor? What busy work can we assign to make them feel a part of the work of the church?

Honest.

But how should we answer this question, "Pastor, what could I do to be more involved in the church?" How would you answer this question? I am afraid that most pastors, elders, and church people think in the ways listed above.

"The real work of God is people work- the prayerfully speaking of His word by one person to another- the jobs are never all taken. The opportunities for Christians to minister personally to others are limitless.

So you pause [when asked how one could be more involved in the life of the church], and reply, "See that guy over there sitting on his own?... He's on the fringe of things here... How about I introduce you to him, and you arrange to have breakfast with him [once in a while] and read the Bible together? Or see that couple over there? THey are both very recently converted, and really in need of encouragement and mentoring. Why don't you and your wife have them over, get to know them, and read and pray together once a month? And if you still have time, and want to contribute more, start praying for the people on your street, and then invite them all to a barbecue at your place. That's the first step towards talking to them about the Gospel, or inviting them along to something." (Marshall, Payne; Trellis and the Vine, p.26)

It's interesting to me that replacing the thinking that centers around committees, jobs, and busyness and replacing it with people-centered ministry is a paradigm shift. But it is. Have churches lost the sense of missio ecclesia? Have even Bible believing, Christ honoring Churches replaced Christ exalting people focused ministry with the business model that is so foreign to the Scriptures?

I think we all need to reflect on the purpose of the Church and what God has called the Church to do.

A Letter to My Readers

Friends and Family,

I wanted to let everyone know that I have accepted a call to pastor the Los Angeles, CA Reformed Presbyterian Church. I look forward to beginning the hard work of ministering in Southern California.

I have presbytery examinations on December 13th in Los Angeles and will be ordained and installed in the early part of February. The official move will be some time between those dates.

After being in Grand Rapids almost 11 years, I really have grown to consider Grand Rapids my home (and I know that Lydia feels the same way). The friendships and the relationships that have developed over these years are strong and will be missed greatly. Our college friends, seminary friends, congregation, and co-workers at Pine Rest will be missed greatly as we begin this new phase of life.

Lydia and I also want to acknowledge that it will be difficult to be so far away from family. Chicago and NW Pennsylvania are distant lands from the sunny hills of Los Angeles. We appreciate their understanding and support as we make this move. With the modern advances in communication and relatively inexpensive travel, we hope that it will not seem so distant.

Please be in prayer for us as we move our belongings, family, and most importantly- our ministry across the country. We will update you all as things progress.

With grateful hearts,

Nathan and Lydia Eshelman

All Christians are Urban.... Or Will Be

Many Christians have the idea that it is more godly to live in the country than in the city. They make arguments about clean air, home grown food, less noise, space to play and roam. Many wonder how someone would want to raise a family in the city. They cite crime, poverty, oppression, and the overwhelming amount of sin as reasons to stand clear from city life.

Tim Keller has a quote that I think is quite extreme, but fun to quote nonetheless. Keller says: The country has more plants than people and the city has more people than plants. God loves people more than plants, therefore God loves the city more than the country! Funny? Well, an overstatement at the least. (Huge overstatement)

Roger Greenway argues that no matter what your view of the city is, if you are a Christian, you are bound for urban life. Revelation 21 is his text:
The world to come, Scripture teaches, will be an urban world. The redemption drama that began in a garden will end in a city, the new Jerusalem. Heaven's citizens will be urbanites. Drawn by bonds of grace from all races, nations, and language groups, new-city citizens will live together in perfect harmony as God's redeemed people, his new covenant community. This city to be will enjoy everything the cities that might have been [if it were not for sin] would have posessed, and one thing more: the citizens of the new city will not only be sinless, they will be sinners washed clean. Their is the story of redemption.