urban -> suburban -> rural?
There is an urban problem of choices - which is also the strength. We choose to live in an urban setting. We choose this to purposefully limit our traveling. Everything we need (food, work, library, recreation, parks) has an option that is walkable, bike-able, or bus-able. If we drive somewhere, it is a choice either for expediency - malls are suburban and take too long with the bus OR comfort, the bus with 3 small children isn't easy. We choose our setting for the diversity of people - I want my children to see people around, for the "sesame street" idea of multiple colors to have meaning. I like being home from work in less than 30 minutes. I want to spend my time with my family, not on a bus and I have that option.what we've found however is problematic. Our convictions are reformed calvinistic type. by conviction of preaching and practice - we find ourselves in a church in the suburbs. We worship away from our physical community with a group of believers who are apart from us during the week. This group of believers is also fragmented throughout the suburban archipelago of the puget sound but we'll ignore that for the moment.
Where is the reformed presence in the city? Why are cities typically bereft of a stout faithful biblical gospel? Have the reformed types given up grappling with homosexuals, public schools, homelessness and other social issues forced upon you by close neighbors? Have the reformed types given up on the city? The city NEEDs the gospel, the city needs a gospel strong enough to handle the depravity - the reformed gospel - a gospel of grace. Meanwhile b/c we are organic eating (mostly), homebirthing, birkenstock, bicycle commuting, homeschooling, family oriented,community involved, evangelically hopeful, our suburban comrades also look at us a bit suspiciously.
Solving a problem like maria, I mean like community NEEDS a revival of reformed types. Ultimately, this is a problem of american indepentism. If I don't like the church in my neighborhood, I can leave (I'm guilty). If I don't like my neighbors, I find a new club. We can ignore our differences by changing our place. (there's an aside about why this is different in rural communities - they have less choice & can't move as easily but...anyway) Moving together & starting a suburban commune isn't the solution either. Suburbs are bad social architecture by definition - they center on transportation. Suburbs are the product of transportation affording people to live AWAY from where they work. The solution doesn't begin with everyone committing to a place. It begins with everyone being convicted of serving your neighbor while fearing God. As always its a matter of heart, not geography.
posted by bikenomad @ 9:42 PM
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