Life in the City... by Gordon Smith

In this series of seminar, Rev. Smith pointed out 7 characteristics of the city and suggested 5 spiritual practices that a Christian can exercise to live IN the world but NOT OF the world -- to live as salt and light in this world.

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Characteristics of the city:

1. People are busy and always in hurry:
   Many demands & expectations from work, family, church... People try to pace up to accomplish more
   ** Challenge for Christians: How to slow down?
   
2. With lots of noise & interruption:
   Difficult to find a quiet place.
   ** Challenge for Christians: God speak to us in silence.
   
3. Huge contrast and inadequecy:
   Wealth v. poverty; the powerful v. powerless... people are often perceived as winner or loser, full of competition.
   ** Challenge for Christians: How to practice thanksgiving and learn to share one's possession with others?
   
4. Impersonal:
   City dweller are surrounded by strangers. People are treated as things and depersonalised. Career > relationship.
   ** Challenge for Christians: Love your neighbour.
   
5. Artificiality:
   Advertising and other media shapes our values. People are convinced that one's persona can be created on our own. People are not living out their authentic self.
   ** Challenge for Christians: Our values shall based on the Bible.
   
6. World of consumption:
   We are urged to buy more, more than we need. Buying becomes a kind of entertainment or therapy.
   ** Challenge for Christians: What do we need?
   
7. Human accomplishment:
   Difficult to see the world as built by God. More easy to see it as human construction. Overemphasis of entitlement. People believe what they have is what they earned and deserve for it.
   ** Challenge for Chrisians: Jesus does not take this kind of power. What we have are all gifts from God.

On the other hand, the city attracts resources and hence it's influence is big. Christians need to live in the city in order to make some difference. Christians ought to reject the God of the city by living out the Christian values, and our relationship with Christ is the key.

5 Spiritual practices (daily practice for the lifetime):

1. Thanksgiving (Col 3:15-17; Ps 100; Rom 5:8):
   Whatever we do, do with thanksgiving, for the Lord is good and His love endures forever. We sin because we doubt the good of God. Even in the darkest day, God is good and His love's still with us.
   Be a thankful receipient but not a demander.
   Everything we have is a gift from God, not earned nor we're not entitled to it.
   Be content in what God has given us.
   ** Exercise: (1) Write down 10 grateful things, take a break, write 10 more, then break again, come back and write 10 more. (2) Take a little walk as a spritual journey with a heart of a pilgrim.
   
2. Confession (Jn 16; Ps 139; 1 Jn 1):
   Confession is the intentional response to the Holy Spirit's convicting ministry.
   God is merciful.
   5 elements in confession...
   (1) acknowledge our wrong
   (2) accept the responsibility of what we've done (stop blaming)
   (3) plea for mercy
   (4) live as a forgiven one
   (5) turn away from sin
   Confession is an act of alignment -- to put our life right again.
   
3. Meditation (Jn 16; Rm 12:2; Col 3)
   The intentional response to the Holy Spirit's teaching ministry.
   The focus of meditation is not on the scripture but on Jesus. The Scripture helps us to love Jesus more.
   The truth (i.e. the Scripture) has the power to set us free and transform us. Meditation shall lead to action.
   Rediscover the joy of Bible reading and meditating. The Words can meet the deep need n our soul. Read the Bible with heart & mind.
   The Bible will transform our lives if we receive God's Word with joy and meekness.
   Slow down, in quietness and stillness we'll see God.
   ** Exercise: In the morning, (1) give thanks for the gifts we have received; (2) convict our sins; (3) read the Bible; (4) ask for wisdom & direction for the day, strength & patience to face difficulties.
   
4. Care casting (Lk 12:22-31; 1 Peter 5):
   Worrying is functionally useless, it has no value -- nothing to be gained.
   Rest in the fact that our heavenly Father, the creator of all thing, knows what we need and our lives, He cares for us.
   "Culture of anxiety" in the City. Allow joy to dominate our heart.
   ** Exercise: (1) List out the worries that trouble us. Take each care and cast to God -- "Father, would you take this one from me?" (2) Spend some time in gardening and bird-watching.
   
5. Sabbath rest
   Sabbath was the mark for the Jews to be identified with their believe in the true God. We tend to take this commandment lightly.
   Respect God as our provider that the other 6 days are God's work -- not self accomplishment.
   Live on the Sabbath as the Kingdom has come, the Messiah has come.
   Sabbath is a day for intentional living -- to obey God, stop worrying, stop hurrying accumulating things, enjoy God's creation and His gifts for us, it is not a burden but a gift from God.
   Do whatever thing that will draw us into the company of God.
   Observing sabbath will empower us to work better in the other 6 days.
   ** Exercise: Spare a "sabbath moment" everyday -- to focus on God, trusting Him with our life and work.