Citizens of a better city
The writer of the book of Hebrews had intimate knowledge of the tensions experienced by urban immigrants. It has been argued that the book of Hebrews was written for a Christian community suffering the complexity and the indignities of urban life, persecuted for their faith in Jesus. (Koester 2005) Certainly an immigrant in any city in any époque can relate personally to the experience of “seeking a homeland” or of having “no lasting city.” The writer of Hebrews injects everyday-life immigrant experiences with rich theological meaning that is instructive to all Jesus-followers.
I would like to reflect on three eschatological tensions grounded in the immigrant experience as they are found in Hebrews 11:13-16 and 13:12-16: 1) the tension of living between two cities; 2) the tension of living as a resident-alien; and 3) the tension of loving the city that will never love you back.
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