New York and Christianity

When Tim Tebow was traded from the Denver Broncos to the New York Jets, media reports focused on two issues: first, how would the trade affect starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez? And second, how would the unapologetically evangelical Tebow do in New York City? More than one Christian writer has even referred to my hometown as "Babylon."

Now, if all you have to go on are television and movies, then I can see why you might think that New York is particularly hostile to Christians and Christianity. Apart from weddings, I can't recall any fictional New Yorkers attending church services.

The key is "fictional." The reality is increasingly different.

New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin's faith did not prove to be an obstacle to "Linsanity." In fact, the New York Times ran two articles on urban Asian-American Evangelicals. New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey has just published an autobiography titled, "Wherever I May Wind Up," in which he describes how his Christian faith helped him to overcome a very troubled past. So Tim Tebow is only the latest in a series of high-profile Christian athletes in New York.

Of course it goes far beyond athletes. An unintended consequence of globalization and migration to New York from other parts of the country is that the newcomers have brought their faith with them. The past few decades have seen the establishment of vibrant churches such as Times Square Church, Redeemer Presbyterian, Trinity Grace, and many others.

On any given Sunday, countless New Yorkers gather across the city mostly in auditoriums - this is New York, after all - to worship together. People meet in Bible studies and prayer groups throughout the city during the week

It's all part of a mission to what I call the "next unreached people group": cultural elites and those who aspire to be cultural elites. I know "cultural elite" is a pejorative term in many Christian circles - justifiably so at times. But this group exists and reaching out to them is an important part of shaping culture. And reaching them requires going to the places they live: cities like New York.

In doing so, today's Christians are emulating the early church. Christianity began life as an urban religion. From Jerusalem it spread to the great cities of the Roman world: Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, Athens and, of course, Rome itself.

Then, as now, the great cities set the example that the rest of the empire followed. In fact, our word "civilization" comes from the Latin word for "city dweller." Maps of Christianity's spread in the first three centuries shows it going from city to city throughout the Mediterranean.

What's more, the Roman Empire was urbanized to a degree that Europe wouldn't see again until the nineteenth century. If you wanted to turn the world upside down, great cities were the place to be.

Today, more than half of the world's population lives in cities. Outside of the United States, the explosion of Christianity is an overwhelmingly urban phenomenon. What's happening in New York is just part of a larger global trend.

But there's more going on New York than just people attending church on Sundays: Christian ideas are getting a hearing, too. That's the subject of tomorrow's broadcast.

It is what is not included that is present in the article. Notice all the churches mentioned not one catholic church. Which are everywhere in Manhattan.

Which are overflowing too if you have been there lately. It is a city of several million so there is alot going on to get lost in the shuffle of Daily life.

I moved out of the NY area about a year and a half ago. When I did go into manhattan I would go to Father George Rutler ( Christ in the City EWTN show) then also go at times to David Wilkerson's Time Square Church. I was truly blessed going to both.

But this main article is about Tim Tebow. I am very concerned about this bounty for a woman to give an account of his first time with a woman. A million dollars. This is of the devil. We have to pray for this decent devout soul of Christ.

Eternal Father we pay for your son Tim Tebow to be protected from the snares of the devil. We thank you our Jesus! Amen!!

I understand how you see the article and I see it it the same way now. He didn’t slam the Catholic church but then he just didn’t say anything at all. But the article is about Tebow so let’s ask this: Would anyone care about Tebow’s publicly carrying on about his religion if he were Catholic? I am trying to think of any recent media sensation personality that was criticized for being a zealously devout and out spoken Catholic.

It seems that either because of what they believe or because of the way their share their beliefs that Evangelical Christians are loathed and ridiculed.

I think that is on the verge of changing as religious and devout Catholics reclaim their faith and voice.

Remember he profusely Praises and puts all Glory to Jesus.

The Gnashing of teeth of the secular sports media is awaking up lukewarm Christians as they treat Tim Tebow poorly at times.

Persecution will make us all warm bedfellows for real believers in all denominations or Indy churchs.

I pray all Christians in Name Only will become the Real in Action through Jesus's name!

Let's pray this together in Jesus!

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit,

that my thoughts may all be holy;

Act in me O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy;

Draw my heart O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy;

Strengthen me O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy;

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,

that I always may be holy.

Amen.

PRAYER OF ST. AUGUSTINE [+]

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