Reviewing the cities’ role in Jeremiah 29 for missional theology and praxis in a glocal context

Abstract

This article reviews the cities’ role in Jeremiah 29 for missional theology and praxis within a glocal context. Glocalisation is a relatively recent term of the 21st century which prominence grew since the late 1980s through increased travel, trade, television, information, satellite technologies, and largely by the widespread use of the global lingua franca, including the English language. While local globalisation enables locally targeted brands, products, and services to enter the global arena, global localisation concurrently permits globally targeted brands, products, and services to penetrate local settings. These two principal processes render glocalisation a distinct phenomenon, whereby people, irrespective of geographical constraints, are gradually sharing a wide array of global products, services, values, practices, and tastes. Throughout this process, various academic disciplines and research fields have ascribed different meanings to the concept; nonetheless, it remains an elusive term to define. Within this context, this article examines the role of the city in Jeremiah 29 to address the main question: What insights can we glean from Jeremiah 29 that might provide impetus for a missional theology and praxis agenda regarding cities’ role in a glocal context? In addressing this question, this discussion focuses on three aspects: the conception; misconception; and reception of Jeremiah 29 by God’s people.

Contribution: This article contributes by uncovering biblical precepts and guidelines that are essential for offering missional incentives and impetus regarding cities’ role. These insights enable us to both acknowledge (conceive and reflect on) and appreciate (receive and apply) the role that God has ascribed to cities. In doing so, this article not only cautions against diverse misconceptions regarding cities’ role but also encourages a reshaping of the missional theology and praxis agenda of God’s people, both within and outside the church.