Today we had a young lady visit who was a part of our young adult community in rural Tennessee. The first thing she said to Breanna was, “I didn’t know y’all lived in the ghetto,” with typical southern drawl.
Vantage point matters…it matters in how we often interpret all facets of life, and depending on what vantage point we have, we may see two completely different pictures.
Example… the neighborhood in Atlanta that I live in and am in the process of planting Renovation Church in is Grant Park. Grant Park is the largest neighborhood in the city, and a historical landmark community. The neighborhood is experiencing great change and urban renewal. Young professionals live here, and more are moving in. We are 32% above the national average for residents making over 100k a year, yet there are many homeless people I see everyday…living outside my loft, and involved in our gospel community. This creates a beautiful tapestry of different peoples when you add to it the people who have lived in this neighborhood for 20 plus years.
Also interesting is because of the renewal of this city neighborhood, my family can not afford one of the $300,000 bungalows in our own neighborhood. This is the starting price for a 3/2.
Here is the point, where we see a beautiful neighborhood, a great life in the city, and a chance to incarnate Jesus in the concrete jungle,our visitor today saw a place to be feared, or as she said, “the ghetto.”
So the big idea…vantage point helps determine worldview. In the greater scheme it has implications for everything, even faith.
What do you see when you look at God? A chance gain things or a chance to gain Him? What do you see in the Church? A chance to serve or a chance to be served? How do you see your city? As your personal playground or a mission field?
I cannot stand get stuff on my door or car. We have a local Chinese restaurant that constantly puts stuff on our doors.
The worst issue we’ve had was going to our car after service one Sunday morning. There was some KJV only flyer on all the windshields. I saw what it was and thought WHAT? I mean…c’mon!
I don’t think you live in the ghetto. Near it, yes. But in it, no.