I have been thinking a lot in the past few months (perhaps even the past few years?) about social justice in the suburbs.

It has seemed in our times that the people that are most passionate about social justice (the justice that God requires in the scriptures - taking care of the poor, the homeless, the outcast, the orphan and the widow) are the ones that are moving to the inner cities and living in community with addicts, prostitutes and the homeless. Kudos to them - really - it takes a lot of boldness to move into that part of town, especially for those with young families. The decision to do this reflects a passion of conviction and a trust in God's protection that is an example for all of us.

But what of the number of God's people who live in the suburbs? Obviously there are more of us - geography and the demographics attest to that. Why is it that living in the suburbs and being in ministry and mission here makes me feel less than adequate in the eyes of those who now live downtown? Something in myself? Well, that's entirely possible, I suppose. But the more I read the literature of my brothers and sisters in the inner cities of our country and the more I hear the comments about "true community" and "incarnational living" and "social justice," the more I feel that fingers are pointing at those of us living in the "cushy suburbs" - that we might not really be engaged in the warfare of the Spirit and the mission that God has ordained for His church to fulfill.

I want to break that myth here tonight.

The suburbs contain homeless. The suburbs have addicts. The suburbs have the broken. The suburbs have prostitutes. The suburbs have the poor and the marginalized. The suburbs have widows and divorcees and orphans and the abused. The suburbs have it all. More importantly, the suburbs have thousands upon thousands of unsaved creations of the living God who are marching straight to hell even as I write.

The suburbs also have passionate believers - believers who are willing to go to any lengths to see the name of God glorified and His justice executed. The suburbs - and more specifially suburban Christians - have been given a bad rap since this latest movement for social justice has abounded in the church. Are we not one body? Are the only people needing the saving love of Jesus in the inner city? Lots of them are there, and praise the Lord, so are lots of passionate, convicted followers of Christ. But lots of these people are here, in the suburbs, quietly sitting in their houses, needing the love and redemptive power of God. Praise the Lord there are many convicted followers of Christ here, too.

We need to be ONE BODY. We need to band together, regardless of where we minister, to remember that whatever geographical location in which we are called to be, that's exactly where we need to be showering people with the love of God and the passion for His justice in our world.

The suburbs are not a cop-out. The suburbs are a calling. If there are Christians anywhere that are not living up to the fullness of our mission as believers, that is actually the issue. It is not about where we live or don't live. It is about obedience. Where we live does not indicate the level of our heart's cry for justice and mercy upon all of our cities in this day and age.

As I often do when posting a blog like this one, I pray for God's mercy to be on us, and our hearts, minds and even our mouths to be filled with His undeniable wisdom and love.