In a time marked by division, consumerism, and the pursuit of power, churches in the United States face the challenge of faithfully reflecting Jesus within a culture that prioritizes individualism, material success, and scarcity rooted in fear. This context — sometimes referred to as “empire” — is characterized by systems and ideologies that pull us toward self-centeredness, accumulation, and competition, rather than love, generosity, and compassion. Empire has always existed in various forms throughout history. Today it reaches us through media, economic pressures, and social norms, shaping our values, relationships, and even our sense of purpose. For followers of Jesus, this influence can subtly deform our faith, shaping it to fit cultural expectations or encouraging us to give in to our own wants and desires and allow those to shape our faith rather than the radical, self-giving way of Christ. It causes us to ask the question: What or who is shaping me?
As Christians, we are called to embody a different reality — one rooted in the Beloved Community of God rather than the empires of this world. Yet, resisting the sometimes subtle and sometimes in-your-face shaping of empire requires intentional practices that reorient us to the love, humility, and justice that Jesus acted on and taught. Just as early Christians formed communities with practices that reminded them of who they were and whom they served, we, too, must root ourselves in practices that help us to remember who shapes us. You may have come across the acronym, “WWJD” or “What Would Jesus Do?” In a way, that phrase has guided Christians when thinking about being shaped and taking action, but the phrase also removes us from our own context and places us into Jesus’ context. It heightens the expectation in ways that are removed from our own daily reality, with our struggles and challenges, distractions, sense of self, and God-given gifts and identity.
Recently in a study at the church I attend, we heard the question posed from Practicing The Way, by John Mark Comer, as “What would Jesus do if He were me?” This question isn’t just about personal morality. It’s also about how we, shaped by our faith, can engage and love our communities well, seeing, listening to, and serving others as Jesus would in our own unique contexts. Wherever we are in our life journey, we are shaped by Jesus’ love in order to live more fully in relationship with God and neighbor.
This series, designed to unfold over the next several months, explores how turning to intentional spiritual practices can reshape our hearts, minds, and actions for genuine community engagement. Each month, we will focus on a different element of Christian formation and community work — from listening as a theological practice to building partnerships and recognizing gifts within our congregations and communities. These elements form the foundation for a robust, mission-oriented life that seeks not only to “do good,” but also to live as a tangible expression of God’s love and justice.
Throughout this series, we will look at how to practice spiritual disciplines that help us resist the empire’s pull and draw us back into alignment with God’s kingdom values. We’ll explore how practices like Sabbath, hospitality, and gratitude recalibrate us, reminding us that our lives are not our own and that we are called to love our neighbors deeply and authentically. Spiritual disciplines are not about earning God’s love or checking tasks off a list; rather, they are about creating space for God to reshape us, creating space for a deeper sense of God’s love for you, for me, and for every one of our neighbors. In a world that encourages us to pursue power and control, spiritual practices invite us to release our grip, slow down, and become more attentive to God’s presence in us and around us.
It is my hope that, by engaging with these practices and themes, we will be re-formed — not just as individuals, but alsoas communities — into people who love, serve, and bear witness to Jesus in our neighborhoods. We are being invited to imagine what it means to be faithful to Christ amid the cultural pressures of today. Through intentional practices and a commitment to mutual relationships, we can embody a more life-giving, community-oriented faith that resists the empire’s distortions and instead, reflects the hope, peace, and love of God’s kingdom.
In January, we will begin by laying out a theological foundation for community engagement, reflecting on incarnation, baptism and vocation, and the role of the church. This will also include our first practice, prayer, which will guide us as we reflect on listening to our neighbors in the community. I hope that you will journey with me as we seek to be shaped and reshaped to look less like empire and more like that of God and God’s life-giving love that transforms the world. If you have questions or comments to share, please reach out to me at btener@umcdiscipleship.org.
Bryan Tener Director Contextual Evangelism & Church Planting for Discipleship Ministries. Originally published by Discipleship Ministries. Republished with permission by ResourceUMC.