Comments on: Are there any French in Paris? http://missionalspace.com/?p=455 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:11:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: rastis http://missionalspace.com/?p=455&cpage=1#comment-1239 rastis Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:32:03 +0000 http://missionalspace.com/?p=455#comment-1239 A few weeks ago NewsWeek ran an article documenting the same phenomenon in Venice. big time out of time buyers are buying up choice real estate. This in turn drives the prices up so that the local Venicians are moving out. Whats worse is that the people who are buying the houses only use them in the summer and they stay "shuttered" the rest of the year. Tragic on a number of levels A few weeks ago NewsWeek ran an article documenting the same phenomenon in Venice. big time out of time buyers are buying up choice real estate. This in turn drives the prices up so that the local Venicians are moving out. Whats worse is that the people who are buying the houses only use them in the summer and they stay “shuttered” the rest of the year.

Tragic on a number of levels

]]> By: almost an M http://missionalspace.com/?p=455&cpage=1#comment-1203 almost an M Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:54:23 +0000 http://missionalspace.com/?p=455#comment-1203 This is happening in some urban centers in the U.S. as well (e.g. NYC). I would propose that one approach the church undertake would be to be a blessing to the immigrant communities. This could take lots of forms including language tutoring, skills development, etc. Through incarnational discipling, believers can encourage new believers to be a blessing to others including the host country. Instead of promoting assimilation, we can encourage being a blessing to those in our community. Did I mention incarnational as an important part of this? This is happening in some urban centers in the U.S. as well (e.g. NYC). I would propose that one approach the church undertake would be to be a blessing to the immigrant communities. This could take lots of forms including language tutoring, skills development, etc. Through incarnational discipling, believers can encourage new believers to be a blessing to others including the host country. Instead of promoting assimilation, we can encourage being a blessing to those in our community. Did I mention incarnational as an important part of this?

]]> By: Kevin http://missionalspace.com/?p=455&cpage=1#comment-1202 Kevin Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:40:45 +0000 http://missionalspace.com/?p=455#comment-1202 I saw this when we lived in Ireland, except in Ireland there was a greater degree of integration than what you're describing. I think the larger cities are where integration fails to happen. Places like London, New York, San Francisco, etc. don't integrate individuals into the host culture very well, they usually accommodate the entire community into the life of the city so you get "China Town", "Little Italy", the "Muslim Quarter". These places are a life unto themselves. Another question is, how far should churches help people assimilate into their host country without violating scripture. There are certain aspects of the cultures I've lived in where I'm glad the immigrants didn't pick them up. In fact, I'm not sure I see this talk of assimilation in the New Testament as much as commands of living lives that reflect Jesus so that the people around are surprised by the Christian's Christ-likeness. I saw this when we lived in Ireland, except in Ireland there was a greater degree of integration than what you’re describing. I think the larger cities are where integration fails to happen. Places like London, New York, San Francisco, etc. don’t integrate individuals into the host culture very well, they usually accommodate the entire community into the life of the city so you get “China Town”, “Little Italy”, the “Muslim Quarter”. These places are a life unto themselves.

Another question is, how far should churches help people assimilate into their host country without violating scripture. There are certain aspects of the cultures I’ve lived in where I’m glad the immigrants didn’t pick them up. In fact, I’m not sure I see this talk of assimilation in the New Testament as much as commands of living lives that reflect Jesus so that the people around are surprised by the Christian’s Christ-likeness.

]]> By: In Paris http://missionalspace.com/?p=455&cpage=1#comment-1200 In Paris Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:30:45 +0000 http://missionalspace.com/?p=455#comment-1200 Did you find any churches?? I mean churches who actually live out the gospel in Paris?? I have been here a little over a year and THAT is the hard part. True Christ-Followers are few and far between. I do see and agree with what you are talking about. I read somewhere that in 10 years Paris will be less than 50 percent French. (and will continue to decline!) Did you find any churches?? I mean churches who actually live out the gospel in Paris?? I have been here a little over a year and THAT is the hard part. True Christ-Followers are few and far between. I do see and agree with what you are talking about. I read somewhere that in 10 years Paris will be less than 50 percent French. (and will continue to decline!)

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