Cities are fundamental to God’s design and plan for the world. Although the Bible starts in a garden, it ends in a city. We saw the Word revealed in the big cities of the era through willing disciples who, you’ll notice, were not sent to the Gobi desert to preach to the sand, they were sent to metropolitan areas like Antioch, Phillippi, Corinth, and Nineveh.
Although there is deprivation and need everywhere, in cities where people live in close proximity we can actually weigh the problems because of the negative critical mass of issues and need. Here is where we can do the most good. But, like Jonah called to Nineveh, we are hesitant. So, how do we raise this elusive standard we like to talk about?
Back in Medieval times the word “Standard” meant something very different than it does today. Back then it was a flag that indicated the presence of a sovereign and when the command was given to “raise the Standard”, it meant to lift the flag as a rallying point to gather an army.
I like that meaning. When we raise our Standard—the cross of Jesus—we are rallying troops to a place of battle. We are indicating the presence of our Sovereign. We are claiming that space as His.
So as we find ourselves in His space in this city, we are called to act—not take a boat to Tarshish. We are to step into the battle, not run away from it. We know how that turned out.
Through our work at UNITE INDY I have met deeply committed ministry partners, members of the police force and legal system, and volunteers who understand that by building relationships and changing the fortunes of not only the adults, but of the children of poverty we will enrich our city both now and in the future—benefitting us all.
Only with the support of suburban churches, volunteers from businesses and suburban areas, and simple one-on-one relationship building, can we create that positive critical mass that can effectively counter the issues we face. Together we can raise the Standard of Love and the Standard of Peace along with the standard of living.
Please think about how you can become involved in this gathering army. UNITE INDY is on the road to Nineveh. Can we count on you?
Peace,
Nancy
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