I found this on my computer today in a walk down memory lane. I wrote this back in 2009…
The city of San Francisco is a unique place. A place unlike anything I’ve ever before experienced: a place filled with limitless hopes and dreams, ideas bursting with creativity and a people with just enough reckless gumption to make it happen. Never before have I been surrounded by such an educated, spirited, “go for broke” community as what I’ve experienced here. I love this city.
As I sit in coffee shops and benches in the park I see a city full of people united under a common ethos: an ethos driven in large part by success and a hope that their success will lead to making this world a better place for all people. You don’t have to be in the city long to overhear a conversation about someone’s newest idea for making people’s lives easier, or to experience your first protest of the system of injustice that continues to clamp down on “the least of these.” It doesn’t take long to recognize that both of California’s Senators and the Speaker of the House come from San Francisco with aspirations of transforming this country into a nation that takes care of all people at all times. This fight against injustice is fought on the doorsteps of City Hall, in the 9th Circuit of Appeals, the State Supreme Court and the United Nations Consulate, all located within a block of each other in the heart of the city. Politics is the religion of San Francisco.
As we, in San Francisco, stand up to the political leaders of our day to fight against injustice, so too did Jesus. As wealth and greed work to oppress the minority, the widow, the orphan, (the “least of these”), so too was the environment surrounding Jesus in his day. Good News from the lips of Jesus was simply this:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4.18-19)
The city of San Francisco has lost its faith in the justice of God. For too long the Church has sat idly by and allowed injustice after injustice to pile on the shoulders of the people, and the church is to be held responsible for cheating this city of its faith (a faith in the tradition of St. Francis). It is time for the church to awaken from its slumber, to once again fight for the objectified and oppressed, to come together and allow God to prove his justice here once again in and through the name of Jesus and his Holy Spirit. It is time for the Church to once again prove that there is real hope in the name of Jesus, and the hope found in Him is far greater than that found in the religion of politics.
The Good News is simply this: Jesus has come and all are welcome to join in His Kingdom movement to turn the tide of injustice and reveal the new reality that awaits. It is through this endeavor that together the Church can make Jesus famous once again.
This past week IKON got a little bit of press. There was an article in the New York Times about our little start-up ‘hipster’ community, as well as a follow-up post by the columnist with his own personal observations about our community. I have to admit, I was pretty proud of our community and really humbled that we were portrayed so well, displayed so prominently through someone else’s eyes. It really is a unique experience.
However, there is something that we as the IKON Community have to remember: Good Press doesn’t make a good church. You do.
This is something I shared with our community on Sunday morning. It’s certainly nice to receive accolades and attaboys, it’s nice to see something that you’re a part of get such a prominent stage, it can certainly swell our heads and make us think that we have somehow arrived… but we have to remember, good press doesn’t make a good church. You do.
We will only ever be as good as our commitment: Our commitment to following and practicing the way of Jesus; our commitment to each other by gathering weekly on Sundays and in in our groups; our commitment to love, to justice, to generosity. We will only be as good as our commitment.
Good press is nice. It certainly feels good, it feels validating, but it doesn’t make us a good church–we already were. The good press we received was because of what the columnist observed and witnessed of us who were there. He witnessed, participated in, and observed what we have been about for a long time. He witnessed you in action, loving, caring, doing… not just talking about it.
Good press doesn’t make a good church. You do. And you have.
“The 21st century will not be dominated by America, China, Brazil, or India but by the city. In an age that appears increasingly unmanageable, cities rather than states are becoming the islands of governance on which the future world order will be built. Time, technology, and population growth have massively accelerated the advent of this new urbanized era. Already more than half the world lives in cities and that percentage is growing rapidly. Just 100 cities account for 30% of the worlds economy and almost all of its innovation.” Foreign Policy – Beyond City Limits
Gospel Eco-Systems (Tim Keller)
This was my hope in moving to San Francisco, in starting a church–a community of people on the same page, on mission together striving to change the world. This is why we chose the city, one of the most influential cities in the world, one of the most influential cities in the United States. I believe the only way we can actually see the restoration of the world take place is by going into the cities and creating renewal.
I continually work for, hope for and pray that IKON will be this type of community. That as we venture together into this mission of helping people find their way back to God, of seeking after justice for the poor and marginalized, of living intentionally in the ways of Jesus, we will see the change we so desperately hope for and a world restored.
I know these things are possible with our community. I know that IKON has a bright future ahead, and I am excited to be journeying with this band of brothers and sisters in creating the impossible–changing the world through the renewal of all things.
“Baptism is more than a way to spiritual freedom. It also is the way to community. Baptising a person is receiving that person into the community of faith. Those who are reborn from above through baptism, and are called to live the life of sons and daughters of God, belong together as members of one spiritual family, the living body of Christ. When we baptise people, we welcome them into this family of God and offer them guidance, support, and formation, as they grow to the full maturity of the Christ-like life.” Henri Nouwen
This morning I had the privilege of participating in the baptisms for these four men. My friend Michael Browne, who is a part of our IKON Community, created an intense discipleship program to reach into and change the lives of the homeless here in San Francisco. Only six weeks into his first group, this happened… baptisms. I’m amazed and excited for the work Michael is doing in this city!
It was a tremendous joy to be there as 30 people surrounded these men, listened to their stories of pain and rejection that led to redemption and hope. It’s exciting to see these men, who have connected with our IKON Community, being surrounded by people who love and support them, are cheering them on, and watching their lives change on a daily basis. I’m looking forward to seeing more of these stories played out in our community, of seeing people’s lives renewed as together we push forward towards the renewal of all things!
It may sound a little counter-intuitive for a fire department to use wooden ladders to battle a blazing inferno, but here in San Francisco we like to look beyond the common logic to find the brilliance beneath.
This short video piece unveils the little known fact that the San Francisco Fire Department has been using wooden ladders built by a ladder shop located in Hunters Point since 1917 to serve this city. In a city known for technological development, start-ups, and cutting edge technology, it’s interesting to see some of the tried and true standards still being employed to do what needs to be done. San Francisco is the only city in the country to still use wooden ladders, it’s just one more piece of the charm this city has that makes me happy to call it home. I love this city!
