In Our City: Embodying the Gospel Together Here (Jeremiah 29:7)

Here’s my message from September 27th of this year, the third in our fall vision series. You can listen to the audio here.

In a recent episode of Ted Lasso, Coach Beard meets a young woman named Claudine. As they’re on a first date, flirting back and forth with one another, she looks at him and says, “Zelda tells me you have a lot of good Burning Man stories.” Beard responds, “Well, I’ve heard it said that Burning Man has some great stories about me.”

Now maybe you’ve not heard of this insane event called Burning Man. But it’s a festival held in the Nevada desert every year focused on “community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance.” It’s known for its insanity. And its immorality. Basically, thousands of people running around naked in the desert. I don’t think, brothers and sisters, we should have any stories from there. But unfortunately, Burning Man has some not-so-great stories about us. Maybe you’ve heard this one.

An organization called “Shift the Atmosphere” showed up, planning to evangelize the “Burners,” as they call themselves there. But that group got almost immediately expelled. Why’s that? Filming people without their consent. Something strictly disallowed there. And, of course, they claimed religious persecution. “We’re being kicked out for sharing our faith!” Look at all these converts we’re making! “Darkness is mad,” they cried.

Well, they packed up their tents. And vacated the premises. Serving as just another negative example of Christian involvement in the world. Not shedding the light of Jesus Christ at all. And no doubt reinforcing the thinking of that festival - that their free love, and not the love of Jesus - was what the world truly needed.

Embodying the Gospel Together

We’re taking a break through our study through Genesis for a brief walk through our new mission statement in Karis. And it reads like this:

Karis Church exists to embody the Gospel of Grace together - in our city, around the world, and to the next generation.

If you’re fairly new to Karis, I’m glad you’re here for this series. You’ll learn, I’m convinced, what our church family’s all about. And for you O.G.s out there, I hope it’ll be really encouraging. To see what God has done. To be inspired for our future. But let’s jump in. Our first week, Aaron talked about the grace of the gospel - truly at the heart of who we are as a church. Last week, I talked about our calling to embody that gospel together. This week, we’ll being looking more specifically about our mission as a people. From what has been our theme passage over the years. Karis is all about embodying the gospel of grace in our city. And that’s because we’ve been positioned by God.

Positioned by God

The people of God, the tribe of Judah, wake up one day in enemy territory. They’re dragged out of Jerusalem by king Nebuchadnezzar. And they’re dropped right in the middle of the capitol of that empire. Jeremiah explains this to us, right here in verse 1. In this letter he sends. They’re living alongside their captives. As exiles, as refugees. In Babylon. And they’re no doubt deeply discouraged. Struggling to hold on to faith. Angry at the Babylonians. No doubt also mad at God. In deep need of perspective.

They’d been warned time and again. Yet they kept bowing down to idols. Their kings continued to disobey. So their Lord and God judges them. And He uses Nebuchadnezzar to do it. Babylon may be the axe. But it’s the Lord who’s doing the chopping. They’re there because of their sin. But also through the plan of God.

In verse 4, Jeremiah the prophet, speaking for the Lord, addresses “all the exiles I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.” The Lord had sent them. Down in verse 7, the prophet says the exact same thing. He speaks of the “city where I have sent you into exile.” They’re sent through Nebuchadnezzar. They’re sent for their sin. But ultimately they’re sent by God. Put there by the Lord. And, as we’ll see, with a purpose. And that’s meant to give them some perspective. There in that city. And that’s something you and I need desperately, too.

We are responsible. But God is in control. And even in some way over evil and sin. It’s one of the tensions we wrestle with as Christians. But it’s not something meant to trouble our minds. It’s meant to deeply comfort our hearts. As we scroll through world news. But also struggle with regret. Because however we got to this place where we are. Bad decisions. Stubbornness. Sinfulness. Evil. We’re still here ultimately because of the hand of our Lord. We’ve been positioned by God. And that includes our place here in this city. That’s the perspective you and I need. And it’s deeply encouraging. And here, in this city, we’ve been given a mission.      

Given a Mission

We glimpse that in verses 5 through 7 right here. Listen to the Lord’s words through Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 29:5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Now there are a couple aspects of this mission God gives. First, they’re to be “in the city.” They’re to put down roots. Now if there would have been a time for the tribe of Judah to check out, it would have made sense then. Now they didn’t have a choice. Babylon was where they’d live. But they sure didn’t have to like it. They could keep their bags packed. Their hearts cold. And maintain their distance.

But the Lord tells them to be present where they are. To put down roots. He tells them, in verse 5 to “build houses and live in them.” Tents wouldn’t do. They’re not just passing through. The Lord calls them to make homes. To really invest. To root themselves there. And get comfortable. They would be there for awhile. They’re to “plant gardens and eat their produce.” Good gardens take time. Nobody plants them on vacation. God tells them to invest there in the ground. To provide for their needs. As the mouths to feed would soon grow in number.

That’s because the Lord also tells them, in verse 6, to “take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there and do not decrease.” Maybe you’ve heard - or said yourself, “Who wants to bring a kid into this messed-up world?” Now imagine if you were trying to survive the rubble in Gaza. That maybe expresses what they would have felt there. But the Lord tells them to keep on living. To get married. And marry off your kids. To keep on reproducing. To make babies.

Now do those two commands sound familiar at all? Maybe remind you at all of the beginning of Genesis? Where the Lord tells His first people in Genesis chapter 1? To “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it?” The Lord is giving His people that old commission again, that “cultural mandate” - but this time not in a luxurious garden. But in the desert. Or more like a prison camp.

We have this painting hanging on our living room wall. Created by my friend Matt, whom many know here. Of a brick with a sapling breaking through its surface. And that’s what the Lord calls His people to do there. To plant themselves right where they are. Even in the midst of the hard. And let God produce His life through them.

Now, we’re not in Iran. We’re in this great little city. But if that’s how God calls Judah to live there - how much more is that expected of us here? To be “in the city”? To put down roots?

Here’s a value we’ve always had here in Karis - of investing in our city and not duplicating what’s here. Making this our home. And trying to make it even better. Not trying to recreate resources our city has to offer. If there’s a program already going, no need to start another. Why form an athletic club, if we can all go to the ARC? How about we join in the festivals in our town? Instead of coming up with stuff to do on our own. Go to the parks. Take in the shows. Those are opportunities for us to make this our home. But also point citizens to the city that’s to come.

Our temptation can be to keep our distance from our city. To live like you and I are just passing through. But the Lord wants us to jump in. To call it our home. To build houses. Have families. Make babies. Have grandkids. To plant our lives here.

To not separate ourselves in some fortress or bubble. But to jump in. Walking the hallways of our schools. Eating in our restaurants downtown. Cheering on the Tigers on Saturdays. Clocking in for shifts at the hospitals. Coaching little league baseball. Yes, we’re citizens of heaven, first and foremost. But we’re also citizens of Columbia, Missouri. And we should see ourselves as resident aliens.

You probably have heard me say this more than once. But when I hear someone tell me, “I’ll just be here a couple of years,” I try to be respectful. I try not to laugh. But that’s pretty much what Tyler and Bobby said, too. Virtually everyone in our leadership thought they were just passing through. But let’s just say you’re here for a master’s degree. Wherever we find ourselves, I’m convinced God wants us to dig in, and be all in, for however long that He has us in that place.

Second, they’re told to be “for the city.” They’re to pursue their good. Now if there’d have been any occasion for those people to lash out, this would be the time. Imagine just how crazy this would have sounded to their ears. This empire, these people - that raped and murdered those you held dear. Who destroyed and pillaged that city you cherished. Pursue their good. What? Really?

“Seek” their “welfare,” it says. Last week, I talked about the biblical concept of peace. That traces back to the Hebrew word shalom. Now that’s the word used here. Shalom. Wholeness and completeness. Peace and rest. It’s what God intended for the world. And what the fall messed up. As Tom Nelson puts it, shalom is “not merely the cessation of hostility or war, but the flourishing of all of God’s creation.” The Lord tells His people - again amidst an evil, hostile empire, “Go and seek that, there, in that city.” Do good.

And God says through Jeremiah, “Pray to the LORD on its behalf.” Now as many have pointed out. They probably thought it hard enough just to pray in the city. The thought of praying for the city - now that would have sounded nuts. They knew Psalm 122 - to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They had Psalm 137 - a plea for Babylon to get justice. Here Jerusalem is getting the justice. They’re supposed to pray for Babylon’s peace. Wild.

But doesn’t that sound like someone else we know? Jesus, on the cross, praying, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). And what He tells us in the Sermon on the Mount?

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

But are we really surrounded by a bunch of enemies here? I certainly don’t think so. Yes, our city’s filled with sinners and sin. But you and I aren’t exceptions to that. No, largely we’re praying for our neighbors, our friends. Our co-workers, fellow citizens. Asking the Lord to work for their good.

Eventually we’ll get to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12. And there, the Lord commands him - to multiply into a nation. To expand across the earth. And to be a blessing. That’s back then, at the formation of this nation. Here they are years later, having failed to do that. And the Lord gives them basically the same calling again. Now that’s kindness. That’s grace. Now this is a bit easier, in a great place like this. But that’s what God calls us to pursue right here. Our city’s good. To seek and spread peace. To go be a blessing.

Here’s a value we’ve tried to live out in Karis - serving and not denigrating our city. How can we jump in and help? Actually be a solution to problems. You’re not gonna see Karis as the people on social media - raging at the schools, blasting the restaurants. Everybody’s trying. It’s not easy trying to start or run a business. I grew up in a superintendent’s house. It’s not easy waking up at 5:00 a.m. and trying to determine if it’s too snowy for school. It doesn’t help to gripe. It’s so much better to show up with a smile and a willing heart.

Our temptation also can be to lash out at our city. To rage against all the brokenness we see. But the Lord calls us, like Judah, to dive in and seek peace. To put in the work. And to do the most important work you and I could ever do - to pray to the Lord on behalf of our city.

To not stand outside and hurl rocks at our town. But to sacrifice and serve. Getting on the PTA. Adopting a highway. Serving with a non-profit. Like CASA or Love Columbia. Loving mercy. Seeking justice. We long for the day when His shalom will cover the earth. And we get to point ahead to it, to be a billboard for it, in the way we serve, the way we pray. We should live like servant exiles in this place we’ve been positioned. That’s the mission we’ve been given.

My wife is nursing faculty and has been used in big ways in MU Health. And she was recently mingling with some politicians. And one of our representatives was sharing some remarks that made it sound like he thought Christians were a big part of the problem. And she got to share with him how there were still Christians trying to seek the good of our world. And how she, too, was grieved by people taking the Lord’s name in vain. And someone walked up, who knew my wife. And knew people connected to the City Garden School, that meets here in our building. Which by the way, has very different beliefs from us. And she told that state rep that, yes, Amy and Karis, were different. What an encouraging story that was to hear.   

So much of this comes down to self-awareness. And having humility. Understanding the gospel. Our problem’s not over there. It’s really in here. And the battle’s not with them. It’s really with me. And the more we grasp that, the more we’ll be filled with compassion. And run toward our city, ready to serve. And alongside other churches, also.

Amy has often expressed sometimes it can be tough. You invest in someone. You share the gospel. They end up in another church. But she just remembers and reminds me. We’re about our city. His kingdom. It’s about Jesus, not us.   

Did you notice the rest of what Jeremiah says here? Put down roots. Pursue their good. But then there’s that next phrase in verse 7. That sounds like we do it out of self-interest. Imagine if everyone carried around knives in our city. And metaphorically, that’s true - in our society today. People are divided. Everyone’s fighting. And we decided to carry around big ol’ knives, too. We picked up swords, and began swinging them around. Now that’s where our kids get to live, too. Who wants to walk around in a place like that?

But what if we encouraged people to put those swords down? And in the language of Isaiah 2 - talking about the new heavens and new earth - we turned them into “plowshares” - into instruments of good? That’d be pretty good for you and I, too. That last phrase of verse 7: “for in its welfare, you will find welfare” - it’s not that our welfare is our primary motivation. But it’s the result of living in a place full of shalom. As the old expression goes: “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Think back again to what was happening with God’s people. They were stuck there in exile. But the Lord wasn’t finished with them yet. No, God would still use Judah to lead to a Messiah that would bring that promised blessing to the world. By surviving and thriving, they’d find their way out of that place. But even bigger, they’d end up giving birth to the redemption of the world. Stop sulking over there. Come get in on the fun. It’ll be better for you, Judah. And better for us, church. Certainly, the world.

On this side of the cross, we get to go be that blessing. Here in what Augustine called the city of man, we get to point to the city of God. As Jesus put it Matthew 5, we get to be the “light of the world.” “A city set on a hill.” Where our light can shine. A city within our city. Pointing to the new city to come. Seeking to be the best possible citizens. While knowing this is not truly our home.

As Jesus prayed for us in John 17:

John 17:15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

The Lord wants us to remain. But to be different. Sent for Him. In the world. For the world. But not truly of the world. Sanctified, different. Set apart from sin. Devoted to Him. Aliens. Exiles. Positioned by God. Given a mission.

Reminders

Now as we go about that mission, here are a couple of reminders, along with a couple of cautions. Here’s the first reminder: for us to pursue holistic ministry. As we seek to be a presence, and offer His peace, we have to make sure that we also do it with words. The best service we can give. The most important prayers we pray. Are that those in our city would embrace the gospel. That they would trust in Christ’s cross. That they would hope in His kingdom. As we’ve been saying in this series. Yes, we embody the gospel. But we proclaim it, too. Body and soul. Word and deed. Holistic ministry. We want people to know and love Jesus.

Here’s a second reminder: for us to expect harmful opposition. Some people will love what we do and say. They’ll be drawn to the light. But others will certainly lash out against it. As Chris Watkin has put it, we’re pursuing our - really His - definition of shalom, and people will hate us and harm us for that.

Several years ago, the local church called The Crossing was featured in an edition of The New York Times about their partnership with the True/False Film Festival. This conservative evangelical church working with this progressive international film festival. It was a beautiful thing until they preached through Genesis. And one of their pastors gave a sermon advocating for the position the church has taken on marriage and gender for just the past 2000 years. And that partnership was severed. Really over a matter of days.

Several years before that, we also partnered with True/False. First as an army of volunteers. But later, our church had this art gallery downtown. And it served as the box office for that festival. We had gotten priced out of that space by those days. But I always knew it was a matter of time. Because some of the world will be drawn to the light. While others will lash out and scatter into the dark. We have to expect harmful opposition.

Cautions

Let me turn to a couple of cautions. Here’s the first: for us to avoid dangerous idols. We’ve already talked about the allure of separation. But we also can’t ignore the danger of assimilation. Getting so close to the world. That we’re no longer any different. As Richard Keyes once explained, we can look like musk oxen, arctic animals that circle themselves, pointing their horns outward, protecting their young. We stay out of - we stand against - the city. But there’s also another danger. That we become chameleons that are so desperate to reach our city, that we lose our distinctiveness. We blend in - and have nothing to offer to - our city. We have to resist that.

Running after the same things. Money, sex, power. Turning that bouncy orange ball into our god. As we worship with our kids in gyms on Sunday mornings.

The apostle Peter warns against this danger:

1Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Judah was in this mess, because they ran after foreign gods. And they easily could have fallen back into that again. And we have to fight against that tendency, as well. By avoiding dangerous idols.

Here’s a second caution: for us to ignore deceitful prophets. Judah in Babylon wanted to hear some good news. They don’t want to be resident aliens. They hate  being servant exiles. They want to hear that it will all be over soon.

In the beginning of chapter 28, we hear of this man named Hananiah, who comes along and tells them what they want to hear, in verses 3 and 4. “In just a couple years, I’ll set you guys free. I’ll bring you all back.” And Jeremiah responds by calling him out, along with other false prophets. Listen to verses 8 through 10.

Jeremiah 29:8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the LORD. 10 “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

Jeremiah warns those men to repent. And he calls God’s people to trust. And Karis, I want you to hear that those false prophets still exist today. Saying not to be a presence. Not to pursue peace. But rather to separate ourselves. To be willing to fight.  To seize influence. Remove enemies from power.

If we get the right people in office. And expel all the foreign influence. We can truly be a nation under God. These are the bearded, cigar-smoking theobros online. These are the big-haired prosperity preachers. They all agree on one thing. The ends justify the means. We can get back in power. We just have to fight.

But hear me clearly: it’s all a lie. They’re walking the same path as those prophets in Babylon. They’re talking like that serpent, tempting Jesus in that desert. Who told Him. See the kingdoms of the world. You can have all that now. And not have to deal with that cross. If you just bow down to me. Right here, now. We must ignore deceitful prophets, Karis.

Here’s another tension that we see come through Scripture. His kingdom has come. But it’s not all here yet. This tension between the already and the not yet. We see Jesus working in our world. But we await this day when Christ fully rules the earth. For now, we’ve been positioned by God. We’ve been given this mission. To put down roots. To pursue their peace. And long for that day. And that leads to my final point.   

Promised a Hope

Now verse 11 and following might be familiar with you. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” But they’ve been ripped out of context. Cross-stitched into hangings on grandma’s wall. Printed into graduation cards that perhaps you’ve received. But they’re addressed to a nation trapped in a foreign land. Who sees no way out. And the Lord is saying. Dig in. Hold on. There’s still a future ahead for you. Again, the Lord is giving them perspective.

And that’s a promise we can claim, as we seek to minister in this city. And particularly as our country, unravels a bit more each day. His kingdom is here. But it’s coming in full. And one day, Jesus will ascend His throne. He’ll rule over all nations. And He’ll usher in perfect shalom. Don’t lose hope, friends.

But I also want you to hear this in the midst of your suffering. However rough things are - no matter how discouraged you feel - if you belong to Jesus, “welfare,” shalom, is in your future. You have a “future and a hope.” You can count on that. And don’t let any goofy televangelist sell you a cheap substitute for that.

In the book of Hebrews, in chapter 11, the author says this, speaking of Abraham: “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” That’s what we long for Karis. And it’s in our future, if we’re in Christ. Until then, let’s get to work. Rooting down. Doing good. Embodying the gospel of grace. Trying to be the best possible citizens here - pointing to that kingdom of heaven. Doing our best to love.

Tim Keller once said,

“If you and your church were to disappear off the face of the earth tomorrow, would anyone in the community around you notice you were gone? ...and if the community did even notice would they say, ‘We are really glad they are gone,’ or ‘we are really going to miss them.”? (Tim Keller)

Embodying God’s Grace in our City

I’m come to think that we might be missed. Maybe you’ve been in the world where you craft strategic plans. And put together mission statements like the one we’ve shared here.

A distinction often is made between ideals on one hand, and values on the other. Ideals are obviously things that you wish were true, that hopefully materialize as you get down the road. Values are things that are truly cherished and exemplified by your organization.

I remember getting this email back when we started. When we were gathering people to make up the plant. This guy emailed, who ended up helping us launch. He said, “So is this really a church or just an idea?” I had to be honest. It was just an idea back then. Pamphlets listing ideals. Sharing prayers. Casting dreams.

But I’m thankful now, for what I’ve seen God do. Over the last 20 years, He has been at work in so many ways. That slogan we used back then - “in the city, for the city” - has begun to take shape. We’ve seen God call a people here. With a hope in what He’ll do. Taking this mission into this city we’ve grown to love.

I heard of Stephanie and Laura over in the Paxton Keely PTA. CASA has so many people from Karis now, they’ve had to place a moratorium on hiring any more. God’s brought teachers and professors. Doctors and nurses. Artisans and craftsmen. Musicians. Writers. Business owners. Service members. Therapists. Civil servants. Students. All pouring out their lives in our city. Doing work that honors Jesus. Looking for opportunities to love. And youth, kids - at school - in our city - you can do this every bit as much as us. Embodying the gospel of God. It’s long been brought out of the realm of ideals. Becoming genuine values a long time ago. The Lord has been kind. And I think our city has noticed.

Living as the Light of the World

Burning Man is known for the big ceremony at the end of the event. This giant effigy, a wooden man, is burned in that desert, for all to see and celebrate. Instead of trying to go and infiltrate, and tear that truly pagan celebration down - what if we let our light shine, as Jesus instructs us to do? And became that city on a hill? The light of the world? And by letting that light shine before others, as Jesus says in Matthew 5, they “see [our] good works and give glory to [our] Father?” What if we continued to seek to blaze - together - that all would see His glory - here?

How about, Karis, we get after it for another 20 years - that is, if the Lord permits? And continue to live in our city and for our city, confident in God’s plan and steadfast in our hope. Let’s pray.