What’s with the name “Redeemer City Church”, anyway?
Good question! Exactly what does “Redeemer City Church” mean? Why did I decide to go with RCC as opposed to another name? I’ll briefly elaborate and look to you to provide some feedback. Disclosure: I hope to include some of this material in a brochure and include it in the FAQ’s on this website. So…I’m looking for some good dialogue! Also feel free to pass this on to at least one person you think might be interested in RCC (or consider two people: one who already knows Jesus, and one who doesn’t)–if not to be a part of it directly, perhaps to keep it in prayer as we move forward. Now on with the name:
- First, Redeemer City Church (RCC) is, as you may have guessed, quite deliberate. I was looking for a name that communicates the essence of the church, yet also directly ties into the core values of what makes us tick. (On a more pragmatic level, we need a name of a church that no one else in Charlotte or the world wide web has yet claimed, yet is also fairly simple to remember).
- Redeemer: Right off the bat, this lets people know we are referring to a Person. Some will infer it is Jesus, while others might not be so certain (and yes, Redeemer is most certainly referring to Jesus!). Moreover, I hope the name Redeemer implies the perhaps not-so-obvious: we need redeeming!
- City: This next noun has a multi-faceted meaning. First, as stated in the core values, we want to be a church in the city of Charlotte–loving, serving, living among the people. We are deliberately aiming to get as close to Uptown Charlotte as strategically possible. (Question: Does this imply that everyone who wants to be involved with RCC must move to the Uptown area, or that we thumb our noses as those who live in the suburbs or rural areas? Rest your fears! We will tease out the importance of the city and why God has a particular affinity for it at a later time.) The second meaning of City is unashamedly lifted from St. Augustine, who wrote a seminal book hundreds of years ago entitled The City of God. In sum, he lays out two cities: the city of man and the city of God (i.e. heaven). Every Christian’s goal should be to work and pray to the end that, increasingly , the earthly cities (insert Charlotte!) reflect the city of God (i.e. heaven), yet the two cities are at odds. [And no, we're not proposing a return to the Crusades!] Still confused? Buy the book (or check it out from the local library).
The third and final meaning of City refers to the Church. In many ways, the Church is a bit schizophrenic. Think about it. Don’t you ever want heaven now (for the theologically adept, this refers to the eschatological reality that awaits us). On the other hand, how often we succumb to the world, living like it as opposed to living in it! Heaven seems so unreal, and we are quite at home in this world, thank you very much! This tension is good, and I hope we at RCC always acutely live in this conflict, realizing that, ultimately, we are people of the heavenly city while at the same time called to live where God has placed us, praying and laboring that Charlotte increasingly reflects the city of God. - Church: I’ve hemmed and hawed about this one. The trend for new churches (especially the ultra-hip ones!) is to not include “church” in their name. I think their motives are good (e.g. a desire to reach out to those who don’t know Jesus). However, I simply think that it does the seeker a disservice. Don’t try to hide the obvious: we’re a church, not a coffeehouse (although at RCC we’ll brew more than our share!) It is disingenuous to the seeker not to disclose up front you are a church, then that “ah-ha!!” moment comes (and no, I’m not referring to that 80’s music group…) and they feel had. So, at RCC, people will know we are (quite unashamedly, yet most humbly and hopefully winsomely), by the sheer unfathomable grace of God, a church.
- Finally, although Redeemer City Church is comprised of three nouns, one of these takes supremacy over the others. To put it another way: of these three words, which one do we aim to be most made known? Is it City? Or a Church? Although these words are important definers of RCC, let there be no mistake: we are, from beginnning to end, fundamentally about making known the Redeemer, who is Christ the Lord.
I finally have had a few moments to put a few thoughts down. In light of your most recent post (Core values REDUX), I hope your focus on the city doesn’t change. In Jeremiah 29:5-7, Jeremiah exhorts the Israelites who are in captivity in Babylon to build houses, plant gardens, have families, and pray for the city. God placed them there and was using them as witnesses of His Grace. We also should be involved in the city and in the lives of our neighbors. “Pray to the LORD for it (city), because if it prospers, you too will prosper.’
Jonathan,
Indeed, the focus on the city will remain a core value. More later on that development. I’m glad you “get” it!