The pride of a city comes in its big majestic buildings or its bustling and attractive shopping/eating district (which not unintentionally funds the city). But that’s the façade of the city. Move out of downtown and wander into the neighborhoods, there you will find out what the city is. It’s full of the ‘foreign’–both geographically and historically–and the poor, living invisibly among the equally as invisible middle class.

Often a city official or an urban missionary will notice a need within a demographic, and stumble into an area of a city that they will attempt to fix…or reach. They will want to improve a seemingly dilapidated space to put in a park that they think everyone will immediately love and be able to come together in community. Someone will come in, look at it, throw in a park bench, maybe some trees and a fountain in the middle of a lawn, and place a plaque of dedication to make it meaningful. Or maybe a missionary will come in and start throwing churches and scripture at a seemingly needy demographic, telling them they need to leave their current life and become good–good in the missionary’s eyes: where there’s a church, a steeple, and exactly three wise men in the year-round nativity. It is, of course, this sort of ignorance that creates contempt of such people, churches, and organizations.

Think about this: whenever someone comes up to you demanding that you change something about yourself, you pretty much come to your own defense with your rifle in one hand and your sword (capital s?) in the other. So why would it be a good idea to force someone else to change who they are? That’s what happens when someone throws a generic development in the middle of a dilapidated neighborhood, or when someone bellows the wrath of God to those who are going somewhere other than church on Sunday. Most of the time this is a well-intended thought, but it can push someone away from the purpose…far away. A good example is when the European missionaries went out to reach the Native Americans, and when they couldn’t force assimilation the penalty was brutality and death. History repeats itself…it seems whenever ‘Christians’ weren’t being persecuted they were persecuting. Unfortunately, it is this un-Christlike behavior that is equated to what Christianity is, while those who are the most Christlike are sadly associated with the former. For me the question is begged: when does Jesus command His disciples (former and current) to kill or even just harass someone if they don’t assimilate? I’ll give you a hint…He didn’t.

I Corinthians 9:19-23 (ESV): “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.“

The Apostle Paul made that profound statement on his approach to witnessing. He’s not saying that you should deceive someone and act like you’re someone you aren’t, but instead be respectful of a person and their background. A Jew will always be a Jew – there are some beliefs and traditions that may be more difficult to let go of than others, but fortunately Jesus will also meet someone where they are at. He simply begs people to follow Him – He will change the hearts of man, but he will not change who we are, because, well, He’s the one who made us who we are! We need to follow these examples. Instead of tearing down a dilapidated, yet significant, area to build a generic park and reach a people, why don’t we renovate it to reflect its community and bring that community together?

Instead of imposing our own beliefs and traditions on someone, why don’t we get to know where someone is coming from? Take a look at the ministry of Christ (and those who went after Him): Jesus met people where they were. John 4 tells the very popular story of the woman at the well. Sure Jesus wanted her to leave her sins behind and follow Him, but He doesn’t command that she stops being a Samaritan and become a Hebrew before she follows Him. He meets her as a Samaritan woman, sees her as a Samaritan woman, and wants her to follow Him as a Samaritan woman. That’s who she was – it was her identity, there was no changing that. So, whenever we wish to meet the needs of an area or a people, let’s first study (because we don’t necessarily have the foresight that Jesus did) and respect the history and tradition of that old and seemingly dilapidated neighborhood, examining why there might be significance in what may seem worthless. Instead of forcing change in culture and tradition, use it as the basis for your ministry.

A city always has been and will continue to be an extremely diverse place. Ancient and historical cities were ports of trade, central to all nations and their well-being. They brought together people of all sorts of backgrounds: religious, traditional, racial, or otherwise. It became the mission of the Apostles to reach all of these people, and the Apostles met them where they were – they didn’t try to change their traditions. Cities in America – such as New York or Chicago – were founded by people of all backgrounds. These groups established themselves in an area and have most often never left. The diversity of the city is what made the city. The Italian neighborhoods in New York City were established by immigrants, the Muslim neighborhoods of Chicago are inhabited by those who desired to establish their own cultural (and in this case religious) community. The internet and ease of communication in modern business have made cross cultural exposure more prevalent than ever! It is important to recognize and respect the history and background of who you wish to witness to and embrace the diversity that is the world we know.

Ministry should not be about turning someone into your twin and making them follow your traditions, instead, meet a person where they are and get to know who they are. That’s the person Jesus wants to know – not another incarnation of you. The Gospel and doctrine are vital, likemindedness and tradition are trivial. John 3:16-17 (ESV): For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

The world has become frustrated with a fake Jesus, because of the darkness that His followers bring.