The Problem with Building Insular Communities

Tom Monaghan is spending several hundred million dollars to create Ave Maria, an entirely Catholic community near Naples, Florida. A cathedral will be at the center of the city, and you won't be able to buy pornography or birth control there.

It's a human tendency to surround ourselves with people "just like us," to keep out the bad people, and to create gated communities. Christians like to create Christian ghettos. You can look at the Christian ad books and pretty much shop for every item and service you need, only at businesses run by Christians.

Jesus didn't promote insular community building. He said "Go" not huddle. He tells us that we are salt and light in the midst of the world, in the world but not of it. Ave Maria and Christian ghettos may be comfortable, but they're not our calling, men.