Loved this quote towards the end of the chapter where he tells the story of a member in his congregation as an individual who embraces this vision. He happens to be the mayor of Anaheim, and he is seeking to restore a sense of beauty, vitality and community to the city’s downtown.
Using the principles of the free market, he convinced the city to rezone the light-industrial area around Angel Stadium to create a city center filled with apartments, shops, boulevards, cafes and offices. Anaheim, like many suburbs in California in the 1960s and 1970s, wiped out its historic downtown, replacing it with strip malls and parking lots. The city and its community have suffered ever sinc … [The mayor] wants to reverse this trend and bring back a thriving downtown, which will bring back residents and a strong sense of community. He is promoting the shalom of the city.
So once again, we return to this idea of salvation being more than just an individual’s personal experience with God. As important as that might be, it is too small a salvation for what God envisions.
I especially appreciated this example, because of an interest I have in community and dwellings places that promote that. Just received an unexpected gift this Christmas that explores this whole idea even more, The Architecture of Community by Leon Krier.
Shalom out.