Did you see the Today Show last week? They aired a segment on Ave Maria, FL – a planned community centered around a large Roman Catholic parish called “The Oratory.” In addition, a New Roman Catholic university is planned as part of the core of the town. The developers, including Dominos Pizza founder, Tom Monaghan, dreamed of creating the first major Catholic university in the United States in more than 40 years built within a town with Christian values in-line with Roman Catholic values. And what they have built so far looks awesome. (Click here for their official website.) There were reports that they planned on banning the sale of pornography and contraception, but the developers refute that in press reports. The developers also say that Ave Maria will be open to homebuyers of all faiths and will not discriminate against business owners. (The ACLU is watching them closely!) But, let’s face facts. Who will be attracted to live here? Who will plan to attend a new Roman Catholic university? What kind of business owners will want to set up shop here? I foresee that the vast majority of people who will live and work in Ave Maria, FL will be practicing Roman Catholics.
But let’s also look at what is going on here theologically. One's first inclination might be to look at this as a two kingdoms issue. That risk is there, but Underneath it all, one of the main draws of the new development will be that all your neighbors will think and act like you – like a Roman Catholic. “We can all live together, safe from the rest of the world, live in peace and harmony, and practice our faith together.” But isn’t that a kind of monasticism? Isn’t that escaping from the world? But what did Jesus say?
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”. – Matthew 5:14-16.
How can others who do not know Jesus see your good works if you isolate yourselves from them? Our good works are not for us or for our salvation. Christ has already paid the price of our salvation. Our good works are for the benefit of our neighbor. We want to serve our neighbor, Christian and non-Christian alike, for their benefit. Granted, they could serve their neighbors in Ave Maria. But our good works for our neighbor give us opportunity to be a witness – to demonstrate and proclaim the love that Christ has for them. It looks to me like Ave Maria is a man-made attempt to create a utopia – something that has never really been done successfully, ever.
And if you want to live in Ave Maria, FL, you better have coin: home prices start at over $250,000.
So, should we plant an LCMS church in downtown Ave Maria?
