Book Summary
This book explores the biblical concept of the “City of Refuge” as God’s gracious provision for the failures and shortcomings of humanity. We are fallen people living in a fallen world and we need some means of grace to survive. God’s mission to redeem and restore fallen humanity through his Son Jesus continues through the church. Various governmental agencies and community outreach organizations have been engaged in helping those who have failed and need special help to recover. The church’s mission involves bringing hope to fallen humanity through the proclamation of God’s message of redemption and restoration, and by serving as a “City of Refuge”.
What are people saying...
The church as a safe space for frail people living in an imperfect world is an ongoing concern and debate among both church and non-church people. Are humans, by nature, truly broken and frail? Is this world broken and sinful? Is there a safe space where human frailty or imperfections can be effectively addressed? If so, is the church such a space and what role can the church play in this process? In The City of Refuge: God's Gracious Provision for Humanity's Failures and Shortcomings, author Dr. Hixford N. Allen focuses his philosophical and theological mind on the gracious practice of "the City of Refuge" among the Hebrew people as recorded in the Old Testament scripture. Citing this practice, Allen argues it's God's provision for failing individuals to confront, acknowledge, and tap into available resources to deal with such failures. This concept reflects God's own nature expressed by the experience and words of Psalmist David. Allen contends that the concept of the City of Refuge, which provides grace to those who have failed along the way, is taken to its highest level in Christ Jesus, who functions as the head and authority of the church. In The City of Refuge, he says the church must find ways to reduce and remove the stigma from those who have repented of wrong doings and demonstrated evidence of transformation.
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Dr. Barrington Brown
Senior Pastor
Margate Church of God
Florida
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Scriptures reveal God as Holy and Just, yet Loving, Compassionate and Merciful God who is interested in every detail and welfare of His creation. Even when His Children are unfaithful, yet He remains faithful. In His Omniscience, God is perfectly aware of mankind's inability to live perfectly in this imperfect and polluted sinful world. My colleague Rev. Dr. Hixtord Allen has expounded how God tempered justice with mercy. His Book, "The City of Refuge: God's Gracious Provision for Humanity's Failures and Shortcomings" will help you to understand and appreciate how the Sovereign LORD has provided a refuge for all who will run to Him for safety. He has shown that in God's judgement there is always mercy. Thank you, Dr. Allen.
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Bishop Dr. Isaac Arku
Presiding Bishop
Light of the World Christian Ministries International
New York
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Christianity is at a crossroads; do we reign in our own kingdom, or do we confess that we have forgotten how to live the Christ-life as is expressed in the scriptures. Do we lead by love or do we thirst for power and dominion. If so, then those who infringe on our rights, those whose neediness drain our pockets, who demand that they be equal with us, and whose dire physical desperations reflect our inner depravations easily become our enemy. If we love our neighbor, loud, not easily understood, whose needs overwhelm us, we may be forced to admit our weaknesses. Creating cities of refuge is a messy, often immediately unrewarding, and tiresome prospect. Creating a safe place for those on society's fringes often draws the providers to the fringes also, creating messy and smelly situations. Allen's timely beaconing to set aside pride, position, notoriety, political allegiance, and economic status to once again become that safe, sacred place, a City of Refuge for all who fail, even for our own selves. Christians who desire to step up our game will join me to say, 'Thank you.'
Rev. Di. Sonia Trew-Wisdom, D. Min, BCC, BCC-PCHAC
Director, Spiritual Services
South Shore University Hospital
Bay Shore, NY
