A Perspective on the Transience of People in Cities

I’ve often heard that one of most the challenging aspects of having an urban church is the transience of people. In a city like New York this seems all the more so. People stay for a few years and then move on due to many good reasons. Even if some people stay for a good amount of time, rarely would they consider raising a family in the city. The thought of cramped quarters, financial costs, and distance from family members (who can help with child rearing) may be too much. In the light of this, I can dwell on why people should stay in cities and even offer good theological reasons why they should do so. However, I think there is a more nuanced view. The very transience of the city can be the single most benefit for the church today. If people view the call of God to share his love to the ends of the earth seriously and incorporate it into their daily lives, then wherever they go, they will be bearers of Christ’s love. They even have the potential, in fact, to be tentmakers, like Paul, going from place to place and making disciples of all nations. Their jobs can even allow them into places where Christianity is not ordinarily found. This will also probably give them credibility and contact with people, since they are there for a job, and it will require very little financial resource from the church. From this perspective, I hope that many Christians leave New York for God glorifying reasons. That said – I also hope that some people do stay and love New York the way God does. Both options are good ones. What matters is the motivation of hearts.