Who would believe that there is actually a place called the City of Garbage. People actually live there and make it their home. In Cairo, Egypt they do not have a garbage collection system. Poor people gather garbage from Cairo and then bring it to the City of Garbage. They get paid a little for the garbage and then the people in the city separate the garbage, sell the plastic to different people, gather the food and feed it to the pigs and other animals. The people of the City of Garbage live in abandoned buildings for free and think they are getting a great deal. It is all they know.
Many American Cities are spiritual cities of garbage
As an outsider, it seems strange to be living in a city of garbage. But could this be how God views the spiritual condition of our American cities? Cities of garbage? We have the garbage of pornography, the garbage of shoving poor people aside, the garbage of gossip, and are entertained by garbage in the media.
As Christians, we can become comfortable living in garbage
As Christians we can become comfortable living with this kind of garbage. The people in Egypt, who live in the City of Garbage, are comfortable in that environment. They are fine with this lifestyle because it is all they know. As Americans, we are also becoming so accustomed to the garbage around us. We were born into it and it is all we know. We have even come to accept some things that are an abomination to God. An example from the Bible is Lot. He was living in Sodom and Gomorrah and felt comfortable with it. That is what we are doing in America today.
Isaiah 5:20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter,
The people in this time could not discern good from evil. This is such a commentary on America today. Jesus said we need to be “in the world but not of the world.” Garbage will always be around us but let’s not become comfortable with it.
Identify the garbage in your own city, family, or personal life
Instead of becoming comfortable and not noticing the garbage around us, we should expose the garbage in our personal lives and in our families. For example, recently a teacher asked his students what they did during their Christmas break. One student reported that he had downloaded porn on his break so that he could spend time watching it. Incredibly, this seemed to be an acceptable activity by the other students. God views this as garbage and so should we.
2 Timothy 3:2-4 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. The will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
We are in cities of garbage and always will be, but let’s not become comfortable in this. Ask God to reveal the garbage in our lives and help us to get rid of it for his glory.
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Why do you think that the people living in the City of Garbage are not bothered by what is around them?
- Read Isaiah 5:20. Even though this was written thousands of years ago, do you think it describes our society today? Explain. Why would this lead to sorrow?
- Read 2 Timothy 3:2-4 Give some specific examples of how you have seen some of these attitudes and actions around you.
- In what ways do you think you have become comfortable with garbage around you?
- Is there anything specific that you think that God would have you rid from your life? If so, how can you go about doing that?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
