I live in the country, pretty much always have. One of my current projects is writing a family history, and for the last 13 generations (at least), my family has lived in wide open spaces, surrounded by trees and fields, streams and forests.
Not cement, brick and exhaust.
Last week at my blog I wrote a post about the advantages of living in the city (as seen by this country bumpkin). I asked for my city-readers to share their experience – what did they love about the city?
It quickly became my most commented-on post for months, with one thing in common: a love of community.
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I would not consider myself a people person. I enjoy spending an evening with friends, but when they have to cancel plans at the last minute my primary emotion is relief. I spend the bulk of my time alone, in front of a computer, trying to think up the right word, the right theme, the right metaphor.
I just started three four consecutive sentences with the word “I”.
And when Chris, right here at The House Studio, wrote a post that espoused an “anti-individualistic” approach (“Reminders For Small Group Leaders”), I sensed my hackles going up.
What’s wrong with having an individual faith? I wondered. Does community actually have a monopoly on spirituality?
I am learning that there is something about community with which I am subconsciously uncomfortable. This brought a very specific question to mind:
Would I be a better Christian if I lived in the city?
Is it possible that someone can be called to live in the country, or does living in relative isolation go completely against being “in the world but not of the world”?
Photo credit: rebeca 
Like you Shawn, there is no place I'd rather be than home with my family. Everything else just feels like obligation. But I have to admit that like going to a therapist, I might initially hate the idea of going, but generally I love having gone. I have to admit that I am a more complete person when I put myself in a place to allow others to speak into my life.
I live in a city of 5 million people, and I certainly don't think community is inherent in the city. I barely know my neighbors and I don't ever communicate with anyone while I drive 10 miles to work on the ever-expanding maze of streets.
I suppose in a downtown setting, where you walk places and find your basic needs met by others within a few blocks radius, community might be naturally fostered because you rely upon others in your daily life.
But I think that can also be the case in the rural areas. Community seems to be more about experiencing life with others, no matter where you are. In other words, I don't think proximity of people always equates to community. Where I'm at, all proximity of people, goods, and entertainment does is insulate and distract me from truly needing authentic community.
Really interesting thoughts Chad – just had a discussion with three of my city-dweller friends who mentioned the same thing. The community aspect in Lancaster City (around 50,000 people), the city closest to me, seems very strong. But two of the guys I spoke with also have friends, like you, who live in truly massive cities yet struggle to find community.
I agree – I don't think cities necessarily have a monopoly on, or automatically foster, community.
Sounds like community has less to do with location and more to do with an indivuals decision or ability to engage those around them… whether it be 5 or 5 million.
I think living in the city is important if only because that is where life and culture emanates from. The word "pagan" literally meant "from the farm" in the days of Jesus. Christianity is an urban religion. It started in the cities and moved out into the field. Today, Christianity tends to be associated with backwards thinking and "country bumpkins" who don't have access to cable news. Whether this polarized viewpoint is accurate on any level isn't the point. Beyond the idea of living in close quarters with people, the simple fact is, you are around more people and can therefore affect more people if you're willing. You can also live in perfect isolation in a city if that is your desire, where as you could live in the country and have a blog read by millions of readers. But, if you want to affect culture on a grand scale, the city is where I believe Christians are called to be. This is where the media resides. This is where the art galleries and museums are housed. This is where the concert halls and coffeeshops are. If Christians have any hope of infusing the culture with the person of Christ, then the city is the place to do it from.
Just my two cents.