Seek the Shalom of the City

Does your heart ache when you see people exiled from their home because of violence, disasters, ethnic cleansing, and political reasons? Sometimes people are forced from their homeland by an invading army or a civil war. Think about Syria, Myanmar, Sudan, Crimea, and other places today.

In the 5th century B.C., the best and brightest Israelites were exiled to Babylon where they camped together on the outskirts of the city. They were told by false prophets that an army would come to rescue them, and they planned accordingly.

One day a letter from the prophet Jeremiah dramatically changed their mindset. It advised them to “build houses and settle down…multiply in number…seek the peace and prosperity of the city into which I have carried you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:4-7).

They didn’t know what to do.

Can you identify with this experience? Do you feel like an exile in today’s world, living in hostile territory? Professor Carl R. Trueman writes, “the strident rhetoric of scientism has made belief in the supernatural look ridiculous.”

Do you know what to do—let alone what Christian leaders should do—in order to follow Jeremiah’s guidance?

At the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics (IFWE), we focus on the phrase “peace and prosperity of the city,” which comes from the word shalom in Hebrew.

The true meaning of shalom has the power to transform your world and the world around you. To guide you in doing that, our next project is a booklet entitled Shalom of the City: How to Foster Peace and Prosperity in Today’s World—and you can help.

Please click here to get a jump start by reading the introduction. As a regular IFWE reader, your feedback is important as we finalize the text.

Also, will you consider a gift to help foster peace and prosperity in the world? Your support will help publish this booklet and broaden its distribution to readers like you, along with influential pastors, theologians, professors, and Christian leaders.

If you prefer to send your gift via mail, please visit our donation homepage for more information.

Thank you for all you do to support IFWE and share a biblical outlook on faith and work. Together, we can offer a specific solution to Christians who feel like exiles in a foreign land.

Please contact me with any questions or feedback about the introduction. I look forward to hearing from you.

Hugh Whelchel
Executive Director
8400 Westpark Dr., #100
McLean, VA 22102