The Church in the City

As a church in Kenya this is our critical moment to reclaim our role as the ambassador for Christ. In his book City of God, City of Satan, Robert C. Linthicum says it’s the vocation of the church in the city to expose to those in it their blindness and show them that they can see if they will. “To expose the principalities and powers and their infiltration of the city’s political, economic, and religious life”[1] and to claim dominion over these powers by naming the name of Christ throughout the whole life of the city committed to its transformation because the gospel is broadcast and concentrated everywhere.

Cities are centers of influence in every sphere of life. What happens in the city become a standard that is exported to the rural areas? Most churches have their head quarters in the major cities and that is where policy and strategies are formulated. As the gospel is shared in the city it trickles down to the country side. A strong church in the city though may not practically reach out to everyone in the city ensures that the voice of God is heard everywhere and the gospel challenge presented to everybody. God’s voice is not only heard but also understood. There are no mixed signals that confuse people but clear communication which calls people for a response.

Since as a church we have been entrusted with this eternal gospel of Christ, we must then present it in variable but understandable methods. This will help counter the many detractors and competitors for the souls of men in the city.[2] The clarity of the message to the people determines the extent to which we win or lose. This calls for both devotion and innovation, devotion in an intimate relationship with Christ to decipher His timely word and innovation to enhance understanding of the people to communicate relevantly and effectively.

The church can practice its presence through prayer to stem out vindictive spirit, counter violence, help reform the political process by holding politicians accountable on the way they use their power, not for themselves or the political party but to show compassion to the city’s hurting, marginalized, poor and powerless.  This will result in peace instead of strife and it’s what being salt and light is all about (Matt 5:13-16). It is what is being a pillar and foundation of truth. Providing the hurting, the poor marginalized and weak with a strong shoulder to lean on, strong foundation upon which they can reconstruct their lives. This is the church that Jesus died to raise. It is the church he seeks to build and is building, a living organism that carries His name and is a strong tower where the righteous and those who seek righteousness can find refuge.

To command a transforming Christian presence that cannot be ignored, the quality of life of every individual Christian in the city must then be above reproach. D. L. Moody described the Urban preacher as, “…the pastor who climbs into the pulpit each Sunday with the Bible in one hand and the Newspaper in the other.”[3] For transformation this statement applies to the preacher as well as the flock. The newspaper will give the Christian relevance and the right use of the Bible guarantee his effectiveness.

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[1] Robert C. Linthicum, City of God , City of Satan (Grand Rapids : Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 143

[2]Reesor, Allen, Pete Gackenbach and Peterson Wang’ombe, Custom Discovery Research Data Report Kenya (Pompano Beach: Book of Hope International, 2008), page 22

[3] Linthicum, 177

TOOLS THAT PREPARE US FOR GREATNESS

           “You have tested us, O God;    you have purified us like silver. You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance.” (Ps 66:8-12 NLT)

1.      Tests

A test is a tool that God can and would use to check our motives. It causes us to search our hearts. A test separates the real from the fake, the true from the false, the right from the wrong, the silver form the dross, the wheat from the tares.

A test is usually from God. Only God has the permission to test people because he sees the hearts and understands the intricate nature of human beings. Of course men set up tests but only in the parameters of the known and clearly established fields like subjects of study e.g. Engineering, Chemistry math’s etc. You can never be tested on what you have never been taught.

When undergoing a test there is an aspect or a tendency to be confused especially so when (or because) you do not have all the answers. Do you remember the litmus paper test in High school? I always wondered which one turns out red or blue.

         

One of the biblical person who was really tested was Abraham. I try to imagine what was going on in Abraham’s as he set out to go and sacrifice his son Isaac. It is a possibility that he wondered whether it was God or the devil speaking to him (Ge 22:1-2 NKJV).

2.      Limitations

Limitations are hindrances/barriers/lids/prisons that we encounter daily or we put on ourselves or other people put on us. Limitations force us to think, be intelligent, to manage our resources faithfully or become skillful and innovative.

When God puts a certain limitation on you it’s for your good.

He seeks to help you pay now so you can play later, cry now so you can laugh later, mourn now so you can rejoice later, lack now so that you can enjoy abundance later.

In an atmosphere of limited resources God will grows your skills and enhance your faithfulness level. Your limited boundaries today may just be a preparation for your future expansion.

Jesus said whoever has, more will be given to him, he also said whoever is faithful with little will also be faithful in much.

Limitation usually frustrates. They make us uncomfortable with the status quo. They challenge us to reach out for something great than we already have.

It sound like a contradiction that Abraham, whom God had called to be the Father of many nations, had only one son and that He and his wife were barren for a whole century.

Jabez also knew what limitation is when he made the following prayer: "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So God granted him what he requested.” (1Ch 4:10 NKJV)

His limitations challenged him to think out of the box and reach out to someone greater, and pray for expansion.

3.      Burdens

Burdens are things or issues that weigh heavily on us. They increase our inertia and force us to slow down. When burdened we need great energy/strength/ability to move around. They challenge our independence; increase our interdependence and reliance on God and people. The measure of your burdens is an indicator of level of your responsibilities. Irresponsible people cannot shoulder a burden. They whine and complain and can never be great people. Burdens come wearing tags like financial, relational/social, service/work burdens or even spiritual burdens.

Burdened people can easily get discouraged, become hostile and give in, if they don’t watch their attitude.

Paul the apostle once said, “I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?” (2Co 11:27-29 NLT)

The writer of proverbs reminds us that, “If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.” (Pr 24:10 NLT)

4.      Trials

Trials are not tests. Trials are tough and overwhelming. A test can be executed in our mind and heart but a trial would include physical pain. They not only challenge the quality of our choices but also may involve physical and emotional affliction. Abraham was tested but Job was tried.

The Bible says, “We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.” (Jas 5:11 NLT)

Joseph was both tested and tried (Ps 105:16-19 NLT). Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego were tried. Saul and Hezekiah were tested.

All the four things whether tests, limitations, burdens or trials can be tools that God can and will use to bring out the best in us and consequently promote us to greatness. It’s not a pleasant experience to go through any of these but God’s grace can carry us through when we rely on him. He promises in Psalm 66:8-12 to bring us to rich fulfillment, to bring us to the place of abundance in Him.

So despite what you may going through, I would like to encourage you that your tests, limitations, burdens and trials are not meant to kill you or just hurt you for the sake of it. They may be calling for a response of greatness in you and God will bring you to a place of rich fulfillment if you trust Him.