How does a Holistic Gospel bring peace to a violent city?

Sometimes it's easy to forget that Chicago is a violent city. At least, it's easy to forget when I'm sat in a trendy coffee shop typing on my Macbook and listening to the latest pseudo-folk band sing about love and faith and lion men. Yes, it can be easy to forget.

However, for many people, families and communities over the last couple of days in Chicago, it's not so easy to forget:

Regina

Boy, 17

Two Men

Man, 19

Quentin

Man, 21

Two Women

Whilst these recent stories offer a mere snapshot of the violence in our city, they do serve to raise an important question:

How does a Holistic Gospel bring peace to a violent city?

Week 2 Review

Comments and Quotes:

“Perhaps, at the core of these issues (meeting the needs of the poor/maintaining a 'gospel' ministry) is a need to redefine the gospel more biblically and understand its true depth?”

“Maybe meeting the needs are a segue to the Gospel, or maybe meeting the needs serves as part of the Gospel? At end of the day…must come with sacrificial love for others, the same sacrificial love that drove God's Suffering Servant to such lengths as the cross.”

"Simply stated, wholistoc ministry is applying the whole gospel into the context of need. In this modern age, given the context of need in our inner cities, given the seperation by culture that exists, given our history - what would Jesus have us do?" (Glen Kehrein, A Heart for the City, 1999)

The Quest:

If you need a reminder of this week's journal reflections or a catch-up, the follow this link and click of the relevant days.


Question:

Is meeting the needs of the poor a bridge to the gospel or the gospel itself?