So as you might see on Scott's blog I vented a bit of my confusion at the intentional community, new monasticism, or whatever you want to call it movement. I've had some time to think about it, and I still don't know how to phrase it in an articulate way, but I'll try...
- Why is it that moving into the ghetto seems to be in vogue? Have we given up on reaching people anywhere else? I fully feel that God sides with the poor, however I think there's a bit of glory seeking involved as well. It's sexy to say you live in the ghetto and get shot at on your way to the grocery store. I catch myself doing it all the time, so I should know. But poverty is not necessarily a badge of honor to those who have always been poor.

- If you are moving into the ghetto, are you really just a Christian gentrifier? Are you bringing the gospel packed in the form of white suburban culture? It's pretty hard not to do that, since so many aspects of our worldviews are conditioned and deep below the surface.

-Counterpoint: A friend did mention to me that many of us have forgotten how to have community, so some intentionality is needed to get us back on track. I see the point here and will need to explore the idea more fully.

So maybe those are my issues, in ugly blunt form.

This entry was posted by 141NYC, on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. You can leave your response.