January 8, 2021

January 8, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

... he asked Jesus, “and who is my neighbor?” —Luke 10:29

Which is bigger, Nashville or Atlanta?  Well, the population within the city limits of Nashville is about 694,000, and Atlanta is only about 507,000.  On the other hand Nashville’s urban area population, or “greater Nashville,” is around 1.9 million, whereas for “greater Atlanta” it’s around 6.7 million.  To answer the question it matters what constitutes Nashville or Atlanta.

To get closer to home, what constitutes Knoxville?  Most of us, I think, would include Farragut and Powell in “greater Knoxville.”  How about Oak Ridge and Maryville?  Lenoir City?  Oliver Springs?

Part of the answer is that it depends on the situation.  If you’re measuring, say, the increasing or decreasing crime rate, you’ll have to draw lines somewhere, such as the city limits or the boundaries of the county.  On the other hand, if you’re dong long-range urban planning, you’ve got to consider the geography, economies, growth patterns, etc. of nearby suburbs and even distant suburbs or “exurbs.”

I’d like to suggest that there are parallels to our church.  We might think of our 300 or so members as “Downtown St. Mark.”  Perhaps nonmembers who attend regularly, or even irregularly, are the near suburbs (as well as former members and close family of members).  Residents of Rocky Hill and beyond could be the distant suburbs/ exurbs.

What about denominational lines?  Are nearby Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, and even Jews and Muslims part of “greater St. Mark?”  Are we simultaneously part of their communities?  And as if that’s not complicated enough, consider the impact of the new technology and its virtual communities.

Again, part of the answer is that it depends.  We may need to draw some temporary lines If we’re going to look at church growth, finances, etc.; but when we finish doing that we may need to erase those lines.

Having asked these questions, I ought to have some decent answers, but I don’t.  I do feel that it is not in the church’s best interests to think in terms of us vs. them.  “Us” is all of us.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty