Urban Shalom and the People of God

This essay takes a look at two essential practices of urban shalom, namely the practices of kindness and leadership and analyzes these two practices from a biblical, sociological and missiological standpoint.

Running Head: URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Urban Shalom and the People of God
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Shalom is a word in Hebrew that means peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness,
tranquility, welfare and prosperity. The word Shalom can be used in idiomatic fashion to
imply both goodbye and hello. What Shalom essentially refers to is the establishment of
peace between two or more entities. It particularly refers to the peace that man arrives at in
his relationship with God. Shalom can also allude to the peaceful coexistence between two
countries, and to the safety or welfare of an individual or society.1 The practice of shalom
forms an integral aspect of rural and urban social life. In an era that is characterized by rapid
globalization, the implementation of shalom becomes crucial for harmonious urban living.
The United Nations states that the global urban population is likely to witness a massive
growth, by as much as fifty to seventy percent in the next twenty years.2 This shift in
demography makes clear the fact that Christianity, a religion which has in-depth involvement
in, longstanding theological concern for as well as a comprehensive understanding of the
urban context, has to deepen or broaden its perspective on all modern urban trends. It also has
to increase its engagement with the process of urban development, in order to play a
contributing role in meeting challenges associated with the global urban future, as bearers if
none other than the Holy Gospel and as instruments of God’s grace.3 This essay takes a look
at two essential practices of urban shalom, namely the practices of kindness and leadership
and analyzes these two practices from a biblical, sociological and missiological standpoint.
Kindness is undoubtedly an underrated practice of shalom in the urban setup.
Kindness is often equated with pleasantness or niceness and people regard the act of kindness
to be something that involves smiling, trying to get along with one another and avoiding
arguments of any sort. The Bible however presents a compelling and very different portrait of
1 Grillo, Jennie. "Ancient Judaism: New Visions and Views by Michael E. Stone." Hebrew Studies 54, no. 1
(2013): 411-413
2 Hugo, Graeme. New forms of urbanization: beyond the urban-rural dichotomy. Routledge, 2017.
3 Cox, Harvey. The secular city: Secularization and urbanization in theological perspective. Princeton
University Press, 2013

2URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
kindness.4 When St Paul argued in the Church of Corinth about being a true apostle of Christ
he stated all the trials that he had endured for gospel’s sake, the spiritual life that God had
granted him in spite of such suffering and the spiritual fruits that God produced for him.
Kindness was one of the many spiritual fruits mentioned by Paul. The act of being truly kind
is something that is produced by the human spirit. It entails the supernatural and generous
orientation of the human heart towards other people, at times even when such people are not
deserving of love and kindness.5 The purpose of God’s kindness is to guide people to their
repentance. This essentially implies that people have not turned to God as yet and are
therefore his enemies still. God’s kindness is imitated by people in the urban setup by
attempting to at least, if not fully succeeding in, loving one’s foes. Jesus had stated that his
followers should love their enemies, expect nothing in return and the rewards for this would
be great. Human kindness for Jesus was something that reflected the heart of his father, God.
For him therefore people need to be kind and forgiving with one another in just the same way
that God in Christ always forgave human beings for their sins.6 The practice of kindness is
not always a pleasant or easy task and at times, it can end up feeling like a bane. When Jesus
refereed to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers, it was not a pleasant thing to do at all, however
it was kind in the sense that Jesus exposed the sins of the Pharisees by referring to them as
such. A kind doctor often has to cut quite deep in order to remove a tumor. In the urban
context, people can practice Shalom by being kind to their rivals and competitors. They
should learn to acknowledge and point out the sins of those who hurt them and thus make it
known to those hurting them that what they are doing is wrong. Kindness and compassion
should be especially be shown to the oppressed, the vulnerable and the needy. By showing
compassion and kindness in urban life, people can be sure of finding a place for themselves
4 Leith, John H. Christian Doctrine from the Bible to the Present. Routledge, 2017
5 MacArthur, John F., ed. NASB, The MacArthur Study Bible, eBook. Thomas Nelson, 2013
6 Corey, Barry. Love kindness: Discover the power of a forgotten Christian virtue. Tyndale House Publishers,
Inc., 2016

3URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
in God’s heart. People need to take time out of their busy schedules and pay attention to
whether individuals around them are suffering or not, and in the event that they are, extend
their kindness and support to such individuals.
While kindness as a form of human behavior has been ignored by sociologists to quite
a considerable degree, in urban life people tend to know what kindness is when they see it
and feel it. According to prominent social researchers, there are four important attributes of
ordinary day to day kindness in the city that make it an act that is sociologically relevant.
These are its atmospheric potential, its infrastructural quality, its inter-personal or micro
focus and its unobligated character. The atmospheric quality of kindness is not really a
maelstrom effect as it is often referred to, a concept that is associated with any and every type
of urban living. However, it can subtly alter the way people feel and what they do. In urban
life, the atmospheric quality of kindness is something that can be witnessed through everyday
activities like help and support. Small but genuine acts of kindness thus play a crucial role in
understanding what city living is all about.7 By showing empathy, sympathy and kindness for
one another, people can thus ensure the genuine practice of urban shalom. They need to be
there for their fellow human beings in times of crisis, provide support in financial terms or in
kind, depending on their individual capacity, and speak out on behalf of those who are
undermined or treated with indignity in everyday urban living.8 Also, in spite of cultural
tropes like randomness, any sociologically adequate and detailed account of kindness must
recognize the manner in which this behavior is socially embedded as well as differentiated in
the urban framework. 9
7 Brownlie, Julie, and Simon Anderson. "Thinking sociologically about kindness: Puncturing the blasé in the
ordinary city." Sociology 51, no. 6 (2017): 1222-1238.
8 Hall, Tom, and Robin James Smith. "Care and repair and the politics of urban kindness." Sociology 49, no. 1
(2015): 3-18
9 Hitlin, Steven, and Stephen Vaisey. "The new sociology of morality." Annual Review of Sociology 39 (2013):
51-68

4URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
The practice of kindness as an aspect of urban shalom is something that has
missiological origins as well. Missionaries in the course of their work in developing and
underdeveloped countries of the world, particularly in the countries of Africa and Asia, have
shown kindness to the oppressed and the needy by supporting healthcare initiatives for those
who are not able to afford it, by raising funds to feed thousands of people going hungry and
by treating marginalized sections of people with the dignity they deserve.10 Urban shalom can
therefore be ensured especially through the practice of kindness when people engage in social
or charity work, when they donate funds for educating orphans or for building hospitals for
the poor, and when they contribute in a small or large way towards making sure that even
homeless people get to have two square meals in a day. In order to achieve shalom as a part
of everyday urban living people need to consider making time for those who need them rather
than remaining selfishly pre-occupied with their own goals and aims. Performing community
service constitutes a vital component of urban shalom. Doing community service requires
people to show kindness to those who really need their help and support. Working in an old
age home or in an orphanage will entail the demonstration of kindness when taking part in
activities like serving people their meals or tending to those who are sick. 11
The demonstration of leadership in social life comprises an important and valuable
aspect of urban shalom. Leadership is a human act that has biblical origins. Luke’s writings
in the Book of Acts for instance helps in understanding how local congregations during the
period of Christ were developed and spread and how new leaders readily stepped up to
challenges that were put forth by the Great Commission.12 Lucas shows very clearly through
his writings how the work of god and the work of the gospel require the demonstration of
10 Lansdown, Lynn M. "The Gospel of Kindness: Animal Welfare and the Making of Modern America." The
Journal of American Culture 40, no. 4 (2017): 431-432
11 Baron, Beth. The orphan scandal: Christian missionaries and the rise of the Muslim brotherhood. Stanford
University Press, 2014.
12 Laniak, Timothy. Shepherds after my own heart: Pastoral traditions and leadership in the Bible. Vol. 20.
InterVarsity Press, 2015

5URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
faithful leadership.13 While leadership development did not really constitute the essence of his
work, Luke addressed varied angles of leadership by providing ample illustrations of God’s
choice to flawed and weak vessels for accomplishing all his work. For Lucas leadership is
something that can be understood through a theological and well-integrated vision of God
and all the work that he does here on earth. The Book of Acts authored by Lucas chronicles
the gradual emergence of various different churches as well as church leaders who played an
important role in planting and shaping these churches.14 Contours of leadership are thus well
presented by the Book of Acts through the presumption of leadership development instead of
an explanation of such leadership development. While not stated in the precept, the
development of leadership does show up in practice. Jesus had declared that those leading his
church would end up facing opposition along the lines of the opposition that he himself had
faced as a consequence of his preaching and activities. Post Pentecost experiences of the
early church leaders very amply proved this through the virulent opposition civil and
religious leaders in Jerusalem. In the practice of urban shalom therefore, people can take on a
leadership role by organizing fund raising campaigns for orphanages, old age homes and for
shelters meant for the homeless.15 A leadership role can also be undertaken when practicing
urban shalom, during the organization of blood donation camps and when carrying out
campaigns for spreading awareness about HIV Aids.
Leadership, as played out in the practice of urban shalom has a sociological basis too.
Leadership is recognized more often than not, as something that modifies organizational
behavior. It is personal in character and it is founded upon individual accomplishment or pre-
eminence in particular fields of behavior. Superior intelligence, superior tact, superior will
power, superior strength and superior knowledge all have a vital role to play as far as the
13 Barna, George. The power of team leadership: Achieving success through shared responsibility. WaterBrook,
2013.
14 O'Toole, Robert F. The unity of Luke's theology: an analysis of Luke-Acts. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2016
15 Northouse, Peter G. Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice. Sage Publications, 2017

6URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
attainment of leadership is concerned.16 What is needed in addition to all these wonderful
qualities is the ability to set fresh goals, to have lofty new goals when placed in charge of a
group of people and to make this group of people understand what its potentialities are. In the
urban framework and in the practice of shalom in particular, people can demonstrate
leadership when imparting education or training people about social ills and problems and
how to suitably get these resolved. Leadership can clearly be shown when implementing
important social campaigns like a campaign to end drug and alcohol addiction. Those in
leadership positions should first make the campaigners understand the dangers of drug and
alcohol addiction, draw up a plan of action and follow up to make sure that this plan of action
is being implemented to perfection.17
That leadership forms an integral part of missionary work is something that is most
definitely quite well known. Christian missions are organized missions whose efforts are
directed towards the spread of Christianity. Since missionary work does entail sending out
individuals as well as groups to different countries of the world for proselytism, it is
imperative for those who are involved in missionary endeavors to take on a leadership role
and preach the word of god in the various geographical destinations where they carry out
their work in.18 More often than not missionaries engage in heavy duty charity work in the
different locations that they are lodged in. They have to take a leading role in organizing
blood donation campaigns, vaccination campaigns and campaigns that are aimed at informing
people about the dangers of sexual diseases. This is especially true for missions that are
undertaken in developing parts of the globe, such as in the remote corners of Africa and Latin
America. Even the simple act of preaching the word of God requires leadership skills.
Missionaries need to be convincing enough with those they talk to about the greatness and
16 Weber, Max. From Max Weber: essays in sociology. Routledge, 2013
17Bolman, Lee G., and Terrence E. Deal. Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership. John Wiley
& Sons, 2017.
18 Lange, Raeburn T. Island ministers: indigenous leadership in nineteenth century Pacific Islands Christianity.
Canberra, ACT: Pandanus Books, 2017

7URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
goodness of God and why following their chosen path is the right thing for people to do. The
practice of urban shalom entails show-casing the kind of leadership that missionaries often
show when they are carrying out their humanitarian activities, spreading the word of the
Gospel etc. Urban shalom is also something that requires those who get involved in it to
organize and direct campaigns for social welfare. For instance, leadership is definitely going
to be needed if people engage in giving talks and lectures about the importance of following
God’s word, about being on the path of God in general and by staying away from the type of
sins that can only alienate people from God rather than take them closer to the path of
salvation.19 Such people have to convince those who are listening to them that being righteous
and virtuous is the way to be and that by abstaining from sinful acts one can successfully take
oneself closer to understanding and following the divine path.20 People organizing lectures
and talks regarding the will and love of God, people organizing fund raising campaigns for
AIDS and other sexual diseases, people taking charge of programs that are aimed at social
welfare in general must lead from the front.21 They must make sure that all activities
pertaining to their various campaigns and programs are implemented in the desired fashion
and that those taking part in such programs are convinced of the word of God. Only then can
the true essence of urban shalom be realized successfully.22
Thus, both leadership and kindness are indeed two very important urban shalom
practices that have strong biblical, sociological and missiological origins and which need to
be implemented with care and consideration, if such practices are to have an impact at all on
those towards whom these practices are being directed.
19 Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual leadership: Principles of excellence for every believer. Moody Publishers, 2017
20 Wren, J. Thomas. The leader's companion: Insights on leadership through the ages. Simon and Schuster,
2013.
21 Mendenhall, Mark E., Joyce Osland, Allan Bird, Gary R. Oddou, Michael J. Stevens, Martha Maznevski, and
Günter K. Stahl, eds. Global leadership: Research, practice, and development. Routledge, 2017
22 Lee, Joohee. Toward effective cross-cultural leadership practices for Korean missionaries in international
missions. Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Intercultural Studies, 2017

8URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD

9URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
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Baron, Beth. The orphan scandal: Christian missionaries and the rise of the Muslim
brotherhood. Stanford University Press, 2014
Bolman, Lee G., and Terrence E. Deal. Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and
leadership. John Wiley & Sons, 2017.
Brownlie, Julie, and Simon Anderson. "Thinking sociologically about kindness: Puncturing
the blasé in the ordinary city." Sociology 51, no. 6 (2017): 1222-1238.
Corey, Barry. Love kindness: Discover the power of a forgotten Christian virtue. Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc., 2016
Cox, Harvey. The secular city: Secularization and urbanization in theological perspective.
Princeton University Press, 2013
Grillo, Jennie. "Ancient Judaism: New Visions and Views by Michael E. Stone." Hebrew
Studies 54, no. 1 (2013): 411-413
Hall, Tom, and Robin James Smith. "Care and repair and the politics of urban
kindness." Sociology 49, no. 1 (2015): 3-18
Hitlin, Steven, and Stephen Vaisey. "The new sociology of morality." Annual Review of
Sociology 39 (2013): 51-68
Hugo, Graeme. New forms of urbanization: beyond the urban-rural dichotomy. Routledge,
2017.
Lange, Raeburn T. Island ministers: indigenous leadership in nineteenth century Pacific
Islands Christianity. Canberra, ACT: Pandanus Books, 2017
Lansdown, Lynn M. "The Gospel of Kindness: Animal Welfare and the Making of Modern
America." The Journal of American Culture 40, no. 4 (2017): 431-432
Lee, Joohee. Toward effective cross-cultural leadership practices for Korean missionaries in
international missions. Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Intercultural Studies, 2017
Leith, John H. Christian Doctrine from the Bible to the Present. Routledge, 2017
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Mendenhall, Mark E., Joyce Osland, Allan Bird, Gary R. Oddou, Michael J. Stevens, Martha
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development. Routledge, 2017
Northouse, Peter G. Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice. Sage Publications,
2017

10URBAN SHALOM AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD
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