A Vision for Our City

In Cincinnati where I live, a regional planning group sent out a survey asking residents, “What makes a great city?” Dozens of characteristics were listed, and respondents were asked to select what we consider the top five. Not surprisingly, possible responses included access to jobs, adequate parking, quality public schools, a variety of housing options, clean and safe neighborhoods, professional sports teams, and the opportunity for business growth.

There was a glaring omission in the survey, though. When someone asks, “What makes a great city?” one of my top responses would be “a strong faith in God.” But nowhere on the survey could I find a single mention of the church, God, or a statement acknowledging any kind of religion. It’s as if the drafters of the survey gave no thought at all to the importance of faith for our city’s well-being.

The survey went on to ask additional questions. “What are the most pressing issues facing our city? If you could shape the future of the city, what one thing would you change?” Again, multiple factors were mentioned—high foreclosure rates, crime, racial segregation, air and water quality, health concerns, problems with public transportation and homelessness—but out of more than 100 possible responses, faith didn’t make the list. Not even once!

Part of me feels angry with the people who created the survey. How could they be so blind? Do they have no regard for God? Don’t they realize that our secular city would be an empty, soul-less shell if not for the believers who work, worship, serve, and give here?

Another part of me feels disappointed with the church. Have we done such a poor job connecting with our community that Christians appear completely irrelevant? Have we demonstrated so little involvement with our neighbors that we aren’t even on the radar? Why doesn’t the church immediately come to mind when planners think about improving our city? How can we change the landscape when we aren’t even part of the picture?

No city will be great if it leaves out God. In the book of Revelation, John receives a vision of the greatest city imaginable. It’s “the Holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). Words can hardly capture its beauty. To describe it, John uses negatives to tell us what it’s not like in this heavenly urban center. No more tears. “No more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (v. 4).

Professor Lewis Foster said of that heavenly city, “Do not presume there must be oxygen to breathe or gravity to hold us in place.” No, it will be different—brand new—a different kind of world. Foster further explained, “Life is there without end. Health is there without restriction. And light is there without further source than the very presence of God himself.” According to Jim Walker, a minister in upstate New York, “We will even need a new greeting. Down here we say, ‘How are you? How have you been?’ In Heaven, that will be a silly thing to ask. In Heaven we will be super-fine, all the time!”

The greatest city of all will have no dark alleys because the glory of God will light up every corner. No potholes in the streets of gold. No crime, no shame, no lies, no misery, no loneliness, no broken hearts.

Until we enter that city, let’s keep dreaming, serving, and working to bring our imperfect neighborhoods into conformity with the Father’s will—even if the city planners don’t notice.