Jeremiah 29:5, 7
“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce … 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.”
I’ve been considering this verse as we prepare to live in/around Washington, DC, because it’s a city preoccupied with national policies, international events, and just power in general. The city itself seems secondary, and a lot of its residents are just passing through. What will it mean to “seek the welfare of the city” there? What will it mean in the context of a church community?
This interview offers some good thoughts on the church engaging city leaders, instead of being set 'against' local government.
I also like the part of the verse about planting gardens and eating their produce. Scrappy backyard, please!
“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce … 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.”
I’ve been considering this verse as we prepare to live in/around Washington, DC, because it’s a city preoccupied with national policies, international events, and just power in general. The city itself seems secondary, and a lot of its residents are just passing through. What will it mean to “seek the welfare of the city” there? What will it mean in the context of a church community?
This interview offers some good thoughts on the church engaging city leaders, instead of being set 'against' local government.
I also like the part of the verse about planting gardens and eating their produce. Scrappy backyard, please!
bravo, alc! can't wait to enjoy your blog for a good long time to come.
ReplyDeletelove the picture on your banner, too.
thanks darby! the picture is a cropped version of a picture my mom brought back from her college trip to jerusalem ... i've got it framed here at home. i need to improve my camera skills!
ReplyDeleteI think Washington DC, and even more the churches in it, might surprise you. If you look around at people our age you may feel that the city is secondary. Try instead looking to the 50-somethings who have lived here for 30 years, the pastors who have struggled over budding church plants that are now large, established churches, and the families who are very tied to their Virginia roots, and you'll get a different picture.
ReplyDelete