Oh my goodness, preach!! When I told everyone in my very rural state (I won't name names) that I wanted to go to New York City (love the Tim Keller shoutouts!!) for college, I got told, "don't you know it's full of liberals??" and asked, "are there any good churches there?" (yes, I got asked that!). But honestly I have seen the beauty of God and his church more clearly there than in many rural, "natural" places I have lived.

I don't think you can look at the incarnation of God in Jesus and argue for withdrawal from the people he came to save and has commissioned us to disciple. Of course not everyone is called to live in a major metropolis but I wish Christians took more seriously the idea that some—even many—of us should do so. After six years in NYC (the greatest city in the world ... I can't resist!), I feel keenly how hard it is to resist the quite damaging, inhumane forces that do find their center of gravity in cities, as Kingsnorth rightly identifies. But that just seems like a non-reason to leave. When were we ever supposed to choose what's easy or flee sites of need?

And, beyond that, I love that you started this post with love—it's not just that we go to the cities out of begrudging obedience, but I think we image God when we really love cities, especially the particular cities where we find ourselves. We echo his love for his creation when we delight in their cultures (of course with discernment) and learn their histories and pay attention to their quirks and share in their common lives.

I guess I'm just preaching to the choir now haha so I'll stop but thank you for this thoughtful, charitable piece that I am saving to send to anyone I meet who questions the value of cities.