Darryl's Blog
A gospel movement in Toronto
Tim Keller's article A New Kind of Urban Christian got my attention when it was published a couple of years ago. We need more Christians living long-term in cities, the article says, living as a dynamic counterculture, radically committed to the good of the city as a whole, and integrating faith with work. I love the vision of Redeemer Presbyterian, where Keller pastors: "To build a great city for all people through a gospel movement that brings personal conversion, community formation, social justice, and cultural renewal in New York City and, through it, the world."
Last year, Richard Florida got me thinking about the strategic importance of Toronto. He's got me thinking about it again with his new book Who's Your City?
According to Florida, Toronto is part of a mega-region, one of forty in the world. Florida says of Toronto:
Toronto is a significant economic center with superb universities, leading arts, entertainment, design, and culture industries; it also has what is arguably the most diverse population in the world. Like London, but unlike most major U.S. cities, Toronto offers schools that work, low crime, and safe streets. Unlike London, New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, it also remains reasonably affordable, which allows it to retain a wide mix of social and economic classes.
Is it time for a gospel movement in Toronto as well? One in which churches seek the common good, influence culture, and bring personal conversion, community formation, social justice, and cultural renewal? I keep hoping so. There are a couple of good developments that I'm hearing about, but we're still not at the movement stage - but I keep hoping.
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What do you think it would take Darryl?
George:
I think it would take a few things: an understanding of what ministry to the city could look like, a renewed passion, churches working together, the planting of new churches, and prayer. Obviously all of this would take a move of God.
I love what the late Oswald Smith had to say about how a movement of God would happen. It takes 4 things:
- the people of God getting right with God,
- travailing in prayer,
- preach the Word,
- the anointing of the Holy Spirit
I think he's right on. As I consider what could happen in downtown Toronto it has to start with number one, the people of God getting right with God. It's interesting to read and listen to the many voices that are out there now, communicating how they believe the church should be responding in the urban centers. Most of it is centered on social gospel, as opposed to inviting the lost and broken to God's throne of grace where they can find the only life that satisfies and that lasts for all eternity. It's interesting to me, the blogs I read, many of those in the liberal/emerging category, that's what it's all about, helping people practically but nothing to do with actually telling people about Jesus.
As an example, just recently, a well-known downtown Toronto ministry pastor, quite well-known, wrote a book and everything, was being interviewed on the Drew Marshall show. He was proud of the fact that at his ministry they don't have Bible studies, they are much too busy helping people get jobs. A downtown alcoholic dies in a stairwell and he's the first guy on the news bemoaning the fact that there needs to be more housing for these folks, more shelter beds etc, etc. Turns out, the guy wasn't homeless at all, but he had an alcohol problem.
So many professing Christians talk a good game of wanting to help people practically but nothing about pointing them to the One who can set them free. Really makes one wonder if they themselves have been set free. I still need for an emerging/liberal professing Christian to explain to me why, if they have been saved and set free by Almighty God, why that wouldn't be a burden on their hearts to see the lost and broken set free as they reach out to them. No-one yet in that category has been able to answer that. Makes no sense.
Anyways, back to your post, your right it would take a move of God. The big question, how does that happen. I like what Oswald Smith says and we know how God used him.