Crosstown Church exists for the glory of God and for the good of all people, so our fifth core value is the CITY. We believe that society benefits from a healthy Christian community living out the implications of their faith. In other words, communities in which there is a vibrant, healthy Christian witness will derive much good as that Christian witness lives out their faith. The reason why this is true is because Christian communities that are moved by the gospel will produced good deeds that are profitable for all. This is what the Bible clearly teaches. “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.” (Titus 3:8)

One reason why the church is often not known for its good works in society is because our understanding of the gospel is too small. Our gospel is too small when we seem to only care about getting to heaven or when we have nothing to offer people now. Somehow we have communicated that the gospel message is other-worldly and that the only thing we care to know about this present life is how to escape its corruption.

Now it is true that the kingdom of God is distinct from the kingdom of man. Our goal is not to “take America for Christ” as if God’s kingdom could be had through political victories (see John 18:36). God is extending his kingdom today through the gospel whereby God’s reign over the hearts of people is extended through grace. But this does not mean we are to forfeit our citizenship in the kingdom of this age. Christians are in fact citizens of two kingdoms, and our primary role as citizens of the kingdom of man is to serve side by side with our neighbors—Christian and non-Christian alike—to seek the peace and prosperity of our city. This is exactly what God told his people to do while they were in captivity in Babylon for 70 years.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:4-7)

Of course we will differ on matters of public policy. Yes, we are Democrats and Republicans and Independents. What unites us is not political affiliation but Christ and our allegiance to the Kingdom of God. So we worship together on the Lord’s Day and then seek the peace of our city together the rest of the week. We do good deeds not because we believe this life is all we’ve got but because we are citizens and plan on being here for a while and because this creation will one day share in the liberty of God’s children. In other words, because we have been shown mercy, we show mercy to others. Because we have been shown goodness, we show goodness to others. Because we have been forgiven, we forgive others.

Doing good deeds is not the gospel but it is a clear implication of the gospel. As such, we aim to bless our city by being good citizens, doctors, teachers, contractors, bankers, and mothers. We pray for our leaders and hope they prosper, even if we voted against them. And we recognize that we Christians are not inherently better at doing good deeds than those who do not share our faith. So we will look for opportunities to join with others in making this city a better place not because we believe we can create a utopia but because we believe selfless acts of service reflect the gospel we love so dearly.