Theology as Big as a City bookreport

Theology as Big as a City
Ray Bakke
InterVarsity (1997)

Thesis and Argument of the Author:
Given all the challenges facing cities, Bakke argues that the greatest challenge is one of a theology. He suggests that the bible shows a God that is interested in not only the people, but also the structures that encompass our cities creating a wider view of Urban Ministry. As Bakke states (37) “The tension will always be there between the need to spiritually transform persons and the need to socially transform places.”

How the chapters present the argument of the Author:
Autobiographical sections of the book serve as a means of understanding the transformational changes that took place throughout Bakke’s life. He indicates how God used the book Charles Simeon to redirect his life with an urban view. His life experiences were used to formulate new questions relative to working in an urban setting. His theology was challenged causing him to ask questions and look for biblical answers. Bakke suggests that one way of doing bible study is to bring theological reflection to the text in light of our own unique traditions and social context (29). Each chapter of the book is rich with thoughts and concepts and new ways of approaching urban ministry through his reflective methodology. He walks through the bible and stops at various points to reflect and then teaches important lessons on how the scriptures shape his views of urban ministry.
In chapter five we see the story of Ruth played out as a four act drama that reveals history but also carries a divine purpose and goal. In chapter eight there are lessons from Isaiah continually reverting back to references on the whole city, not only local but global. Chapter ten presents the view from Ezekiel 16 of family and city as connected through the suburbs and surrounding towns. Church history is seen in chapter twenty five and Bakke shows us a model used to help of contextualizing his urban theology in chapter twenty six the final chapter. Based around a model adapted from Wesley, Bakke took the four poles; Bible, tradition, reason and experience and woven them into and through the fabric of his personal life experience which as the book sums up, must include his context, the city.

Transferable principles that can be applied to my context: This became very clear to me as I progressed through the book that a statement in chapter one clung in my mind and grew as the story unfolded. Understanding church history as it relates to where we care going created the setting and is foundational to where we are leading. Bakke states “the further one goes into the avant-garde frontier of creative ministry, the more important it becomes that we be deeply rooted in the biblical, theological and historical tradition. We need deep roots to survive in urban ministry.” This I will use and remember in all I do. Adding to this, Bakke’s adapted Wesley model using the four poles integrated through the context and his supporting comment “God has purposely put me in a community situation that cannot be ignored (202)” and I agree.