City defined

How do you define a city? Can we compare the cities in the New Testament time with cities in the 21st century? These are the questions that come to mind when we try to comprehend how churches in the New Testament cities have managed to provide a citywide connection while having a local identity. We may conclude that it was possible for them because of the city's size and population. However, when we look closely at what constitutes a city, we discover that fundamentally, cities that are different in area or population sizes have similar composition and nature. There are several sociological definitions of a city, focused on size, density and close interaction, but they fall short of capturing the full picture. Tim Keller's description of a city might be helpful here. He said, 'A city is a walkable, shared, mixed-use, diverse area. It is a place of commerce, residence, culture, and politics.' (Tim Keller). When we apply the city identifiers included in Tim Keller's definition, we recognise them in both the contemporary and cities mentioned in the New Testament. The mechanism or strategy of how the citywide connection materialises might be different, but the case that necessitates citywide collaboration and connectedness maintaining local presence remains the same.

City Consciousness

'There is no reference in the New Testament to church that is smaller than a city.' (Swanson & Williams)

City consciousness is about recognition and awareness of our connectedness as the church of Jesus Christ in the city. It is a proactive awareness of what God is doing and saying to his church in the city and our city's nature, culture, and state. It is loving the city and seeking its shalom. It is about local engagement from a citywide perspective. It is an acknowledging that it takes all to reach all. It is about equipping the disciples to be an instrument of the gospel transformation of the city.

Why City Consciousness?

The convergence of the local and the whole city

The local unavoidably converges with the city in the congregation's life, necessitating the minister to have city consciousness. You can adequately or appropriately serve your locality when your concern for the local embraces the city. We are ministering to the people who work, study and entertain in the city. The disciples we are raising, at some point, will ask the question, 'How can I be an effective witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how can I impact society with the values of the kingdom through the sphere that I am serving in?' (Swanson & Williams) The local minister's job then becomes equipping, mobilising and helping the disciple transform the domains of society where they work and live. This is where the local converges with the city. Therefore, the more we know our city's culture and what the Lord says to his church in the city, the more relevant our ministry becomes to our congregants.

2. Because cities are underserved places for gospel ministry

Due to their complexity and magnitude, cities' gospel needs could only be served by a collaborative effort of churches, networks, ministries, and denominations. Where that is lacking, the gospel needs of the city remain untouched or only scratched. No one church, institution, denomination or network could serve the needs of the city. The recognition of our need for others to reach the city comes from recognising the vastness of the need and corporate call to reach the city. What happened in Nehemiah's time and the project to build a wall explains what we are trying to point out here. Nehemiah urged the city people to solve the problem by engaging in their locality. The wall they were building in front of their house becomes significant when it is seen in connection with the wall the others are building around the city. City consciousness then encourages people to engage locally, understanding the importance of their work for the city.

3. Urbanisation is where the world is heading

In 2018 United Nations identified that today, more than half of the global population lives in urban areas, while the urban share worldwide is rising from around one third in 1950 to about two thirds in 2050. These changes has huge implications on the way we understand and do mission. ‘God has localized the Great Commission by bringing the nations to the cities of the world.’ (Swanson & Williams). Due to its unique position within a nation, the city’s mindset, obstacles and opportunities represent the nation. Therefore, our city conscious theological reflection will help us influence and shape the culture of our cities and effectively serve God’s purposes.

4. It helps us grasp God's perspective of churches in a particular city and how He relates to them

As evident in the New Testament, churches in a specific city were treated as one church. When God spoke, He spoke to His church in the city. We see this clearly in the Epistles and Jesus' message to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. Paul writes his letters to the churches in a city, not just to one particular church. As if in that specific time and space, God's message, challenge, rebuke, and exhortation were the same to all of them. As if at that particular time and space, God's message, challenge, rebuke, and exhortation were the same to all of them. His prayers were directed for the churches in that city. Again, in Paul's mind, the churches in a particular city encounter the same challenge, face the same problem, need the same encouragement and required the same truth highlighted or taught to them. Therefore, we can say that Paul was city-conscious in his dealings with churches. It also means that God was speaking the same message to the churches in the city.

A city consciousness, therefore, has important implications.

It helps us comprehend God's message to His church in the city.
Help us share God’s perspective of seeing churches in a particular city as churches with the same mandate to reach the city with the gospel. This makes collaboration for the city not a luxury that we can do without but a necessity.
God has put the resources necessary to reach the city within churches in the city. Therefore, it is through collaboration that we can access and benefit from what is entrusted to us.
We might be working at a particular locality of the city, but we all are involved, figuratively speaking, building the same wall surrounding the city.
We may miss what God is saying and doing in the city if we are entangled in our locality without city-consciousness.

City-consciousness not without a problem but despite the problem

In the New Testament, churches in a particular city were different from each other in many respects. We see how they struggled to respond to their call to unity and collaborative front to reach the city due to these differences. Whenever they encounter divisive doctrinal, ethical or cultural issues, they were challenged to embrace gospel centred principles and instructions to continue in unity to be faithful witnesses of Christ in the city. These principles and teachings are fundamental to us today to overcome nonessential doctrinal differences and tribal and traditional boundaries to cultivate citywide connection. The following are some of Paul's principles and instructions to the churches in Rome and Corinth to tackle division and ethical problems.

Their primary concern must be the other/the church's wellbeing, not themselves, as Christ was concerned for us, not for himself. The strong do not just follow their conscience but take careful account of the weak' needs and vulnerability.
There are bound to be different emphases on a particular truth within the local church or between churches; therefore, they should understand selectivity. Selectivity is acceptable as long as we do not become absorbed with one aspect of the truth, to the extent of excluding the whole truth as it is in Christ. When that happens, it becomes a cause for division and strife. Instead, we need to understand that each has an important emphasis and should feel free to bring it fully into the Christian community's life. Such mutual recognition, giving each person/church the freedom to express their convictions and insights, would lead to a restoration of true unity in the same mind and the same judgment.
Focus on the wholeness of Christ: is Christ divided? The answer is no; Christ is not divided; that is why unity in Christ is possible.
Focus on the Cross of Christ: was Paul crucified for you? Jesus is the only one who can unite men and women, and he does so through his cross because we can come to God only via the cross of Christ all are equal at the cross. We never move from the cross. When we do, we move from the place of reconciliation -with God and with others.
Focus on the Lordship of Christ: were you baptised in the name of Paul? To be baptised in the name of someone means to come under his authority. They have come under the Lordship of Christ through baptism, and they all now only belong to him.

This consideration is significant when we do ministry in our locality with city consciousness; knowing what we do either promote or prevent the spread of the gospel in our city.

Questions to consider:

If Paul or Peter write a letter today to the churches in London, what would they write about? What would their message from God to the London Church be?
If you were writing to the churches in that way, what are you praying and thanking God for, and what would you say about the challenges?
What would you advise the churches to be careful of, to repent on, to speak up? What would you recommend them not to neglect?
What would you say to them about the gospel, evangelism, mission or church planting opportunities in the city?

One church for London: becoming city conscious