City of God, City of Satan: A Biblical Theology of the Urban City

Bob Linthicum's combination of solid Bible scholarship, coupled with his heart for the city, produces a winner! He shared some of these ideas 20 years ago when he led an all-day seminar for leaders at First Presbyterian Church, Pomona, CA, when I was Senior Pastor there. Only sorry I waited so long to buy and read this thrilling volume! He has fleshed-out previously embryonic ideas into a masterpiece! Dr. Robbin MacDonald, Pastor Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church Safford, AZ

"We enter the city equipped with an urban sociology and urban tools for ministry, but we carry with us the baggage of a theology designed in rural Europe." This is a fantastic analysis of urban culture and the theology necessary to adequately meet the spiritual climate of megacities. Many Christian workers come from rural or small town backgrounds, and find themselvers ill-equipped to deal with the cultural differences in the cities. Not only theory, but also very practical in its approach, this book lays out a strategy for praying through the ways that God is working in a city, and how the follower of Jesus can join in. An example: "Spend time in silence and in an open, prayerful spirit before that map [of your city]. Ask God to reveal to you seven sites in the city that are particularly precious to Him. Wait for God to show you those places. Those seven sites might come in one sitting; it may take several days. But wait on God with openness and receptivity. When the seven places have been given to you, you are ready for the most exciting part of this spiritual exercise. Visit every one of those sites." And, ""Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jer. 29:7). The English words "peace," "prosperity," and "prosper" are all translations of the same Hebrew word, shalom. Shalom is a comprehensive word not easily translated into English, because our word peace is inadequate. The idea encompasses the manifold relationships of daily life, symbolizing Israel's ideal quality of life under the Law. Shalom is a state of wholeness and completeness, possessed by a person or a group that includes good health, prosperity, security, justice, and deep spiritual contentment." This book is highly recommended for followers of Jesus who live in, work in, or have influence in the cities.

Robert Linthicum has a heart for urban ministry and it shines through in each chapter in this book which is organized in three parts. The first part focuses on the city. The second part focuses on the church's role in the city, and the last part focuses on the role of the individual Christian in the city. Linthicum believes that the Bible is an urban book and in many of the chapters the author exposits a particular book of the Bible such as Jeremiah, Jonah, Nehemiah or Ephesians. Linthicum will then explain the urban context of the Scripture finding applications to that culture as well as contemporary culture. The city of God and the city of Satan are symbolized in the Scriptures as the cities of Jerusalem and the city of Babylon. Jerusalem was supposed to be the city of God, yet due to the disobedience of the people it became the city of Satan at times. Linthicum advocates a holistic approach to urban ministry. He talks about the systems in the city that become so easily corrupted by the enemy. This creates a systemic evil in a city that needs to be approached spiritually, economically and politically. The author spends considerable time teaching from the Old Testament regarding the responsibility of the people of God in the city. The exiles who were taken into captivity were told by Jeremiah to "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper (Jeremiah 29:7)." The word "exile" in the original language can also mean "sent." Many involved in urban ministry feel exiled when in reality they have been sent by God to bear his witness in a particular community. Robert Linthicum challenges the church regarding urban ministry showing the compassion of God for the city and at times showing the inability of the church to deal with urban problems. One of the most powerful image or thoughts in the book comes in the very last paragraph of chapter five. "For our Lord was not crucified in a gothic cathedral on a golden cross placed upon a marble altar between two silver candlesticks. He was crucified on a rugged cross between two thieves, on the city's garbage heap, at the kind of place where cynics talk smut and thieves curse and soldiers gamble. That is where Christ died." The reader is challenged to take Christ to those who need Christ.

This book should be a must read for every person interested in urban ministry. The title of the book comes from the author's premise that every city includes elements of "Babylon"--"a city totally given over to evil and to the Evil One" and "Jerusalem"--"an idealized city...belonging to God,--a city of peace." What impressed me most about the book is that Bob has spent an hour a day for the past 20+ years studying the city in the Bible. Of the 20-25 books I have read on urban ministry, this work is certainly the most thorough. (Imagine the level of the granularity that one would come to after studying the same topic for over 20 years!) It is the dynamic equivilent of Strong's Concordance. In this 300 page work, Robert addresses the role of prayer, presence and proclamation of the church in the city. He also gives visible signposts that the city is being transformed by the church. It is the epic work of urban ministry.