Mark 6-9

 Can you think of similar traps in our cultural mindset?  How do the issues of today tend to draw us into a polarizing ‘I’m against you’ or ‘for you’ attitude?  Each issue is different, but many of the debates draw us away from Scripture and God’s love into suspicion, distrust, and a ‘protect myself’ mindset. I’ve experienced acquaintances bluntly ask at election time, “Who are you for?  If you’re a Christian, you cannot support that person!”  Taking sides becomes more important than listening, more important than re-fouting the conversation to Jesus. 

“When you’re betrayed, abandoned, lied about, and scandalized; when you are sick with a fatal disease; when your finances are going down the drain; when you see your loved one walk through the doorway of hell; that is the moment to trust. And in trusting you will know God. Your point of desperation will likely not involve being sawn in two or wandering about destitute in sheepskins, but it might. Regardless, when you have nowhere else to turn except to God, and you turn to him, your faith of desperation will meet the fullness of God, and you will taste the life without lack as you discover the depths of the faith of sufficiency.” - Excerpt, Life Without Lack by Dallas Willard

“Jesus’s response not only avoided the trap the Pharisees and Herodians had set, it also confronted them. They were living with the appearance of serving God, but in reality, they lived the hierarchal, power-over ways of the world. They were like the fig tree and the temple and the tenants of the parable of the vineyard. They were not producing the expected fruit.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 6-8

 The religious leaders knew exactly the meaning of Jesus’s story, but wanted to protect their authority and standing in their world. The rue King was talking about another kingdom where each person has the freedom to respond and live. Most cultures emphasize the need to get ahead, protect the power of authority, and repeat what has always worked to maintain that system. Thinking outside the box to think God has always been doing things different than we are used to never enters our mind. Our Triune God continued to reach out to us personally to get our attention, that we might surrender voluntarily to His authority and presence. 

“If someone spends their life saying “I want nothing to do with God,” what would it imply for God to drag them into His presence forever? That wouldn’t be love—it would be coercion. Hell is, in a tragic sense, the ultimate honoring of human freedom. God respects our dignity enough to let us choose—even when that choice defies Him.” - Scott Sauls

“The religious leaders did not miss the meaning of the parable. They realized the parable was about them. Jesus told the parable in an attempt to get the religious leaders to look at themselves, to think about what they were doing, and to think about the teaching of scripture. Instead, the parable stirred their anger even more. They pushed forward with their self-protecting goal of eliminating him. “They wanted to arrest him” (Mark 12:12). Jesus’s popularity with the crowd was the only thing that prevented them from acting on their desire to arrest him.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

“I’ve continued to wrestle with what it really means to believe in a God whose power is love, not control, not coercion, but patient, freeing, persistent love. It’s honestly been both liberating and unsettling. I used to think God’s power meant God could do anything. But I’m starting to believe that the most powerful thing God does… is love us without forcing us.

That kind of love undoes me. Because I still catch myself wanting to fix people, manage outcomes, or control situations, especially with the people I love most. But love that controls isn’t really love. And the older I get, the more I realize how much of my own healing has come not from someone forcing me to change, but from someone refusing to give up on me.” - Paul Dazet

Mark 6-7

One thought for me is that as an American, accepting the authority of Jesus is a struggle with my independent self sufficient mindset. Having been taught to ‘do it yourself’, relying on His presence and His authority takes a requiring of the brain. Transformation inside my whole being is being awakened to how I’ve conformed to the world, going along with group think. May He continue to change us!

“As sinners we are sinners in the hands of a loving God. God has a single disposition toward sinners, that of unconditional, unwavering love. From the heart of God there flows an eternal river of fire, the fire of unquenchable love. The question is not whether God loves us but how we respond to God’s love. To those who respond to God’s love with love—“We love because he first loved us”*30—the river of fire is a source of warmth and light. But to those who refuse to love, this same river of fire produces torment.”

“Hell is the love of God refused.” - Excerpt, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God by Brian Zahnd

“He answered their question by asking a question. In doing so, he shifted the focus back onto them and, with it, the pressure of answering his question. His question pointed to a deeper issue. The central issue was how they had turned the temple from “a house of prayer for all nations” into a money-making business that exploited the people’s hunger for God. The question that needed to be answered was “What were they doing in the name of God?” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 6-6

 Struggling to pray boldly and fervently has been a life long battle for me. When in a crisis, my praying reflects the urgency of the moment. But my routine is NOT filled with confident praying. But as I read stories of others who experience prayer encounters with our Triune God, I’m compelled to dive in deeper. I’m learning that much of my praying has always been a laundry list of requests rather than listening for what He is saying. The mountains of my selfish view of living must be moved so that I have a clarity of who He is in my life. 

“Do we really think we can experience integration of heart and mind and spirit with an erratic prayer life? Do we really believe we can, like Moses, “speak face to face” with God as someone would a friend by our unpredictable prayers? No, we develop intimacy by regular association. We develop ease as well. Why ease? Because we are forming fixed habits of righteousness. In time these “holy habits” will do their work of integration so that praying becomes the easy thing, the natural thing, the spontaneous thing—the hard thing will be to refrain from prayer.” - Excerpt, ‘Parayer’ by Richard Foster

“We acknowledge to God the mountains—our struggle to forgive, the hurt we hold onto, the anger and bitterness we harbor, our desire for the other to hurt like they hurt us, the grudge we hold. Faith leads us to be honest with God about these things we cling to in our hearts. That honesty with God puts us in a position for God to work in us. God is the one who moves the mountains in our hearts, not us. Our role is to bring the mountains to God, asking God to remove them. Our prayer is the expression of our faith.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 6-5

 How can you and I avoid the fig tree problem?  Could we be good church attendees, read the Bible, pray that our agenda works out, and still be judged as having a pointless religion?  The fig tree lesson sounds like James, teaching in his letter that we need to pay attention to being and doing what we believe to be true. I can easily over think my actions and words, wondering if I’ve done the right thing. But I’m trying to remind myself to be present in and with His presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, letting Him take care of the results. 

“Only avid discipleship to Christ through the Spirit brings the inward transformation of thought, feeling and character that ​“cleans the inside of the cup” (Matt. 23:25) and ​“makes the tree good” (Matt. 12:33). As we study with Jesus we increasingly become on the inside — with ​“the Father who is in secret” (Matt 6:6) — exactly what we are on the outside, where actions and moods and attitudes visibly play over our body alive in its social context. An amazing simplicity will take over our lives — a simplicity that is really just transparency.” - Dallas Willard

“The first understanding is fruitlessness, the issue of the fig tree and the temple. Fruitlessness is the result of a life shaped by the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod, that is, the hierarchal, power-over thinking of the world. The attitudes and actions of the disciples in the previous section reflected this kind of thinking. Faith expressed in prayer is the way to move beyond such fruitlessness in our own lives. Such prayer opens us to God and the work of God in our lives. It allows the Spirit to work, transforming our thinking, teaching us the ways of God and of the kingdom, cultivating a servant spirit within us.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 6-4

 Jesus saw knew that the business transactions in the temple violated any idea of holiness and worship. Manipulating the process to worship for financial gain was corrupt and needed to be eliminated. Could the same concept be happening today?  Manipulating relationships within the church or between like minded believers for personal gain could destroy what is true and above reproach. Duplicity of behavior is easy to do but difficult to stop in a group think culture. May you and I carefully apply the wisdom of Jksmlresence as we make decisions. 

“To be formed in Christ is to be unformed by culture. This undoing is painful: it undoes our idols, our defenses, our loves, our ambitions, our pride, our myths. But in that undoing, the truth of God’s love is born.” - Graham Joseph Hill

“Jesus targeted these corrupt practices by driving out those who were buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and those selling doves (Mark 11:15). He took charge of the temple, forbidding people to carry anything through the temple court. The only activities he allowed were worship and prayer.

He explained his actions by quoting the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah. Isaiah wrote, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations” (Mark 11:17, Isaiah 56:7). The temple was a place to meet God, to commune with God, to pray. ” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 6-3

 The fog tree lesson is sobering to think about for a perennial application. Fruitfulness is far more than looking good. Playing the game of being a Christian is different than following Christ. I’ve grown up with legalism and a checklist of expectations. All of those practices can be okay but if there is no fruit born out of the practice, it’s pointless. Jesus’s comments to the tree and about the tree demonstrate the kingdom’s reality despite what looks good. 

“The great news of God’s revelation is not simply that God exists, but also that God is actively present. Our God is a God who cares, heals, guides, directs, challenges, confronts, corrects, and forms us. God is a God who wants to lead us closer to the full realization of our lionhearted humanity, if you will. To be obedient means to be constantly attentive to this active presence and to allow God, who is only love, to be the source as well as the goal of all we think, say, and do.”

“Growing in faith requires a growing attentiveness to perceive where God is active and to where we are being led. ” - excerpt, Spiritual Direction by Henri Nouwen

“The story of the fig tree is told as a parable about the temple. The temple, symbolizing the nation as the people of God, gave the appearance of bearing fruit. Yet neither the temple nor the nation bore the fruit God desired. They failed to live the ways of God, i.e., the ways of the kingdom Jesus proclaimed. Instead, they followed the hierarchal, power-over ways of the world.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 6-2

 The temptation to participate in group think is strong, even today with our access to so much. The Jews had suffered under Roman rule. Their desperate need for independence, a passion for a leader who would rebel, was at fever pitch.  But everything turned in their group mentality as they realized Jesus was not the leader that would deliver instant freedom from the Romans. The same can be said for me as I look back at what I’ve prayed for, hoping God would provide. Our Shepherd will lead us through the valley and in the dark. His light is different than any worldly standard of successful completion, or measure of progress. 

“Suffering causes us to scan our lives and face the fact that we control very little. So we mourn not only our suffering but also what it has forced us to admit about ourselves. Our loss of the illusion of control also adds to the fear that accompanies suffering.” - Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

“Hosanna!” is a cry meaning “Save!” or “Deliver!” “The one who comes in the name of the Lord” is a messianic title. “The coming kingdom of our ancestor David” is a reference to the messianic kingdom. The song was a cry for the Messiah to save them by setting up the messianic kingdom. There was no doubt as to the meaning of the people’s actions. Everything the crowd and the disciples did was associated with the reception of a king. They ushered Jesus into the city, proclaiming him to be the long-awaited messianic king.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Sailing / rowing

By Harp, good trouble substack

"Your soul is a boat—with both oars and a sail." — Tim Keller

 I've been sailing once in my life. I pastored a church in Oklahoma City, and one of my parishioners fancied himself a sailboat captain. One afternoon, he invited me out on his boat. Lunch packed, we drove to the marina and set sail. Sort of.

After a quick nautical lesson and a new vocabulary [bow, stern, port, starboard, mast, boom, beam reach, broad reach, and running], we put out in the water. Except, there was no wind. Ever. We sat in the hot Oklahoma sun for hours. It may be the only windless day on record in the Sooner state.

It was miserable.

And yet, despite my sailing fail, the activity is incredibly symbolic. Tim Keller once used a sailboat to give a vivid pastoral metaphor—a diagnostic tool disguised as a parable for the soul. Keller's "Which Boat Describes You?" is deceptively simple, but like all Kellerisms, it opens a door into the heart. It blends biblical wisdom, soul-care, and practical theology with the precision of a seasoned pastor who wants you to make it home.

Let me offer a few reflections that may be helpful as you integrate or consider this framework in your own life and ministry…

The Four Boats: A Diagnostic for the Soul

Keller envisioned our souls as being boats, and we have both a sail and oars. And we are all in one of four positions:

You're Sailing – The Wind is at Your Back

This is a soul at rest and in rhythm with the Spirit. This rest and rhythm is not spiritual triumphalism, it is spiritual vitality. The Word is alive. Prayer is sweet. The wind of God's presence is real. In this state, obedience flows from delight, not duty.

The by-product of sailing:

So, where is your heart/soul? As I reflect on these four positions, I confess that I feel as if I have been rowing for the last two years, especially when it comes to leading my wife and children well. Disciplines and rhythms are in place, but they often feel dry and disheveled. 

Joy is hard fought, and the smallest irritation destroys what peace I fight for. 

In some ways, the church has lost its wonder. My mind wanders when it should be focused on worship.

Instead of running my race, at times, I am crawling.

But, I am crawling forward. And I am crawling with others. In fact, it is the others that keep me going.

Here is what I've noticed about drifters and sinkers: the vast majority of them drift and sink alone. And the vast majority of rowers and sailors row and sail with others.

My encouragement... If your boat is in trouble, don't wait for the wind or white-knuckle the oars. Instead, reorient—steer your soul into community. Cry out to the crowded waters where saints sail and row side by side.

It is in the presence of God and others that grace fills the sails again.

Rowing with you and towards you,

— Harp

https://open.substack.com/pub/charper/p/hows-your-heart?r=43vew&utm_medium=ios

Mark 6-1

 What would it have been like to watch Jesus enter Jerusalem on the colt?  Would we have been cheering Him, welcoming Him?  What would have been our reasoning?  But…how have I been following Jesus in my life?  Have I been admiring Him as the good moral teacher?  Have I been a church goer for my family’s benefit?  For my ticket to escape hell and someday enter heaven?  Or am I worshipping Him as the King of my life, without duplicity, as a participant in His kingdom right now?  

“(Transformation) requires a long and careful learning from Jesus to remove the duplicity that has become second nature to us — as is perhaps inevitable in a world where, to ​‘manage’ our relations to those about us, we must hide what we really think, feel and would like to do if only we could avoid observation. Thus, a part of Jesus’ teaching was to ​“avoid the leaven, or permeating spirit, of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1) - Dallas Willard

“Jesus went to Jerusalem knowing what would happen to him. He understood the dynamics that were at play and the implications of those dynamics. He had thought through the scenarios and prepared for them. He clearly planned and orchestrated three of the events: the royal entry, the “cleansing” of the temple (along with the teaching in the temple courtyard), and the reinterpretation of the Passover meal with his disciples. These events were acted-out sermons patterned after the ministries of Jeremiah and Ezekiel. They were attempts to help the people hear what they could not or would not hear. In these three events, he did things that would be remembered and later understood. In them, Jesus confronted the religious and social systems that embodied the yeast (thinking) of the Pharisees and Herod.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-22

 How could a person hear good teaching and be encouraged to do what is right, yet miss the whole point of meaning behind what was being taught?  I am certainly guilty of assuming that good moral teaching was for my benefit, to maintain a decent reputation. But, like Rick Warren has said, “life is not about you or me.”  Glancing through the Bible, accumulating information, is not seeing what the kingdom is all about. Bartimaeus learned first hand from the presence of Jesus. As the comments suggest, perhaps this was a lesson for the disciples that they would ‘see again’ what their purpose and mission was to be, after the resurrection, after enduring suffering. May you and I have our eyes opened to the unseen reality of what God is doing. 

“Personal trust and spiritual maturity were often in direct proportion to the amount of suffering that had been endured for the faith.” - Nik Ripkin

“In Jesus’s arrest and death, their “seeing” would be lost. Their expectations of Jesus as the Messiah would be crushed, their hopes dashed. Jesus’s death would leave them devastated, with no way to make sense of what had happened. Only in the resurrection would they see again. Then they would see clearly. They would understand what Jesus had taught them about the Messiah being the Suffering Servant. They would understand what it meant to follow him as his disciple, i.e., the nature of discipleship.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-21

 Many say that blindness will cause the other senses to compensate for the loss of sight. Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, knowing He was far different than anyone else. His faith in the Messiah brought healing and he knew that he had to get Jesus’s attention. What a lesson for the disciples before they began their journey without Jesus’s physical presence. The disciples would need to depend on our Triune God in ways they never thought possible. Could it be the same for us?  Depending on our Lord is far more than glancing through this story. It requires a desperate plea for His attention to the situation we are in.  Following Jesus sharpens our senses to be attuned to the Hoky Soirit’s promptings  

“How do we do even greater things? It starts with prayer! Prayer is the difference between the best we can do and the best God can do. And that’s an awfully big difference—a ninety-three billion light-year difference! Prayer is escape velocity. It’s how we get outside our spacetime limitations. Prayer is the way we write history before it happens. It’s like our prayers exit the dimension we call time, and we never know when or where or how God will answer.” - Excerpt, A Million Little Miracles by Mark Batterson

“The people viewed Bartimaeus as having little value or significance. He, like the children, occupied one of the lowest positions in their hierarchal world. Thus, the people believed he had no claim on the time or attention of Jesus. Their rebuke was an attempt to put him back in his place. It discounted his need and his desire. Rather than quieting him, their rebuke caused Bartimaeus to call out even more loudly. “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:48). He addressed Jesus as the Messiah—Son of David.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-20

 The unseen upside down reality of the kingdom measures success and advancement without any of the calculations in our cultural way of life. Instead of adding our good works and accomplishments to our resume for future career options, we depend on the the Holy Spirit’s prompting to live out what we believe. Instead of storing up Bible knowledge to prove that I’m right on specific issues, I’m learning to listen to what Scripture is saying about His loving presence. The fulcrum of power, independence, accumulation of possessions, and pursuit of status are overthrown with His gentle voice saying “Follow me.”  

“I have found it very important in my own life to try to let go of my wishes and instead to live in hope. I am finding that when I choose to let go of my sometimes petty and superficial wishes and trust that my life is precious and meaningful in the eyes of God something really new, something beyond my own expectations begins to happen for me.  (“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” - Psalm 20: 7)

• Henri Nouwen

“A servant uses power on behalf of another, walking alongside the other. A servant seeks the other’s benefit, often at great personal cost.The contrast is clear: over versus alongside, down against versus on behalf of, for personal gain versus for the benefit of the other, at the expense of the other versus at personal cost.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-19

 Have you ever asked “Who put them in charge?”  My anxiety goes up in a meeting when the power shifts to the person who seems to want the most leverage, even though each person should have an equal investment in decisions. On the flip side, I’ve said too much and created a push back that didn’t need to happen. Jesus modeled and taught a kingdom style leadership that serves out of His love. Practicing servant style leadership is not of an empire mindset. As we practice His love, we discover that God is in close grip of all outcomes and we become grateful to be participating, watching what He will do. 

 “Forgive me Lord for twisting your words into a formula that depends on what I attempt to do, rather than what you have already done for me. This robs me of the joy I find in fully knowing, yielding and trusting your works over mine. As I read your instruction to “Be not wise in my own eyes, to fear the Lord and to turn away from evil”, I am reminded that I cannot find wisdom in myself, but only in you. Help me to wait on you, to trust and acknowledge your perfect, holy and righteous ways. Thank you Lord for these beautiful promises. I desire to love you with all of my heart, and trust that you to direct my paths. May I seek you in the morning and learn to walk in your ways. I thank you for your abundant wisdom, understanding and blessings to me.” - Excerpt, The Narrow Way by Rich Villodas

“Living as a servant is nonnegotiable because of who Jesus, the Messiah, is. “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The nature of discipleship is determined by the nature of the Messiah. Jesus was the Suffering Servant. His followers also live as servants, using their power on behalf of others. They walk alongside others, seeking the other’s good, often at great cost to themselves. They, like him, live out of a servant spirit.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-18

I can easily read this interaction and judge ‘what a dumb question!’  To think that these two disciples would ask to have a high positions of honor in the kingdom. But I have made similar comments, thinking I deserve better than I’m getting. I have often thought like a Pharisee, I’m not like so and so. Many of us have been trained to elbow our way in, thinking we have earned our status with God or others. But none of us know what is around the corner that may cost us more than we have ever given up. I pray that our anchor is in Jesus alone, and we are all in to be with Him as He is in us. Let’s depart from what we are doing for Him and just be with Him. 

“God is not shocked or surprised that you are discouraged. He doesn’t wring his hands, wondering what to do next. He knows every struggle of discouragement in your heart. He knows your cries before you cry. He knew that you and I would be weak; that’s why he promised to be our strength. He has promised never to give up the battle for our hearts until that battle is finally won forever. This means he fights for us even when we have given up the fight. Our desire to follow him may weaken, but he will never give up or turn his back on us. He knows us because he made us, which is why he sent his Son to be for us what we could not be for ourselves and to do for us what we could not do on our own.” - Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

“Naively, they said they were ready for what was involved. “We are able” (Mark 10:39). They did not know what was involved nor did they know their own hearts. As his followers, they would indeed experience what he did. They too would know the wrath of an ego-centric, constructed-self world whose hierarchal, merit-based ways were threatened by the kingdom Jesus proclaimed. “But to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared” (Mark 10:40). Those positions are for those whose servant hearts made them the “servant of all” (Mark 9:35).” - Excerpt , Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-17

 Jesus knew what was ahead for the disciples. He wanted them to be prepared for what they would experience. To me, it seems like the time in Jesus voice might have been live and concern, pleading with them to be ready for what was about to happen. The disciples may have been naive and ill prepared to understand, just as I am much if the time.  You and I are in a relationship with the God of the universe who is trying to prepare us for His kingdom. If you’re like me, I minimize what He is doing and saying directly in my here and now moments. 

“I want the God who initiates life and relationship with me even when I’m not asking. I want the God who loved me even when I was his enemy. I want the God who says to David, “Hey, let me teach you how to fight in a new way, because one day, about ten years from now, you’re going to really need it. You don’t know it yet, you’re not going to trust me yet, but you will. Trust me now in the small, seemingly unimportant things. Learn to do what I say. Throw a rock at that lion. Do it. Trust me, because one day it’s going to make you king. You can do this, trust me.” - Jamie Winship, Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God

“Jesus took the twelve aside and spoke to them in private. He again described what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem. “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again” (Mark 10:33–34).” - Excerpt , Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-16

 Most investment advisors say it is good to diversify into a variety of places, balancing the ips and downs of the market. Could it be the same in God’s kingdom. Investing in specific prayers for individuals, family, church, nations and leaders are reminders that Gos is working in all locations and all people. Investing our time and resources in the same manner allows us to have a window into what God is doing, not just in my own little world. Surrendering to Jesus involves a cost, sacrificing our time, resources and our control over the outcome.  We can be certain that opposition, criticism and rejection can happen in our face or behind us. Yet the gains of adopted brothers and sisters in the kingdom bring a rich reward, both now and in eternity. 

“Perhaps the question should not be: "Why are others persecuted?" Perhaps the better question is: "Why are we not?” - Nik Ripkin

“The kingdom brings us a whole new family of kindred spirits whose bonds are stronger and deeper than those of our biological family. In addition, we enjoy the abundance of the kingdom, abundance far beyond what we could amass on our own. Those gains are what we experience here and now. Then in the age to come, our life in the kingdom becomes eternal life—the quality of life that is the life of God. Jesus assured them they could not out give God.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Empire vs Kingdom

 Paul Dazet

We Were Formed for Love, Not Loyalty to Empire

On letting go of what never healed us

TL;DR: Empire doesn’t just oppress, it disciples. It shapes our desires, directs our fears, and teaches us to defend what harms us. But Jesus offers another way: a community grounded in love, not control. This post is an invitation to unlearn what was never the Gospel in the first place.

The Real Shock of Collapse

If the empire we’re living in eventually crumbles, and history suggests it will, 

The scandal won’t be how greedy the powerful were.

That’s always been part of the story.

The shock will be how deeply the oppressed believed in it.

How many of us internalized its logic.

How fiercely we defended it, 

Even as it was hurting us.

We didn’t just suffer under empire.

We were formed by it.

Empire Doesn’t Just Rule—It Shapes

Empire survives not just by enforcing control, but by winning hearts.

It tells us who belongs.

It teaches us who to fear.

It defines success as dominance.

And it makes competition feel like common sense.

Eventually, we don’t need to be coerced.

We’ve already been discipled.

We defend systems that harm our neighbors.

We confuse suffering with sanctification.

We think we’re protecting values,

But we’re really protecting power.

Scarcity Is Empire’s Language

Empire always whispers the same story:

There isn’t enough.

You don’t matter unless you earn it.

If someone else gains, you must be losing.

And so we fight to protect crumbs,

While others feast unseen.

We grow suspicious of compassion.

We see justice as threat.

We begin to believe that punishment is love.

That’s not just economic.

It’s spiritual.

It’s formative.

When Faith Gets Colonized

Empire doesn’t mind religion, as long as it reinforces control.

So it reshapes the Gospel:

Wealth becomes proof of blessing

Poverty becomes a moral failure

Power becomes God-ordained

Injustice becomes unobserved / invisible

We begin to see the cross not as a critique of empire, 

But as permission to endure it silently.

But Jesus doesn’t endorse the system.

He exposes it.

Jesus Doesn’t Lead Us Up—He Leads Us Out

Jesus didn’t rise through the ranks.

He walked into the pain.

He refused the throne.

He washed feet.

He fed people without paperwork.

He welcomed the unwanted.

He showed us what love looks like when it puts down its sword.

When it loses the argument and finds the neighbor.

When it tears down dividing walls instead of fortifying them.

And he invites us to do the same.

So What Are We Holding On To?

This is the hard question:

What are we clinging to that never healed us?

What parts of empire have we baptized as “truth”?

Where have we mistaken fear for faithfulness?

Because sometimes the deepest work of discipleship

Is unlearning what empire taught us to believe.

A Different Way of Being

The kingdom of God is not a meritocracy.

It is not a pyramid.

It is not a punishment.

It is a table.

Set in the presence of our enemies.

With room for the ones we were taught to fear.

And food for the ones we forgot to feed.

This is where healing begins, 

Not by climbing higher,

But by coming home to each other.

A prayer of letting go

Christ of the margins,

Unteach us what empire taught.

Heal the wounds we’ve mistaken for wisdom.

Pull us out of the systems that praise strength and punish tenderness.

Teach us how to see again,

With eyes shaped by grace,

With hearts formed for love,

With hands open to the work of healing.

Amen.

Mark 5-15

 I used to think I’d never measure up to the standards of what a ‘good Christian’ should be. My expectations were based on what I perceived the Bible to be saying, but also on who I thought were ‘successful’ church goers. But God’s love throughout the Bible is an invitation to join Him without knowing the outcomes of following Him here and now. Following Jesus is not joining a cruise ship after meeting with a travel agent. It’s may involve being on a battle ship at times, but it’s more of being a trip with His GPS planted in my heart, surrendering all my assumptions to Him, trusting He knows what He is doing in and around me. 

“I don’t know much, but what I do know is that the way forward is not by matching power with power, comparing possessions or status, but by following the crucified One. That is the path of tears, the path of solidarity with the lowly, the path of humility. 

Blessed are those who come to the end of themselves. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the hungry and thirsty for justice. This is the way. Stay hungry and thirsty, my friends.” - Excerpt,

Life Is Hard. God Is Good. Let’s Dance by Brant Hansen

“Jesus once again attempted to teach them to think differently. “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). We humans inherently operate out of merit-based thinking. We think from the perspective of earning and deserving. This kind of thinking will not gain us access to the kingdom. Nothing we do—keeping the law, being righteous—will make us worthy enough to enter the kingdom. Being a part of the kingdom is a gift given to us by God. We have to be like little children, eager and delighted to receive a gift (Mark 10:15).” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-14

 Wealth can and is influencing our world for good. Hospitals, clinics, recovery groups, and help for the disadvantaged are all operating by donations and generosity. On the flip side, hording and protecting an appetite for more limits the influence for good. The wealthy man in the story realized that he had a long way to go as Jesus spoke to his heart. Handling anything in our lives requires an intimacy with our Triune God who gives wisdom to make wise decisions. Wealth and our possessions can easily become more important than they should. Our quest for power, status or pleasure can easily crowd out God’s voice. May we have open eyes and ears to His kingdom. 

“I think our society is hitting the limits. I mean, we've got access to more than ever, and yet the day doesn't go by when you hear about the loneliness, when you talk, hear about sort of the lack of satisfaction.

And you know what? I think all of this is just a cry for the goodness of God, the presence of God, and the, you know, the presence of things that we can't just get from the secular material world.” - From Heaven Meets Earth: Doing Business God’s Way with John Kim, Jul 6, 2025

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heaven-meets-earth/id1806665471?i=1000716048844&r=2309

“Jesus knows that the single greatest obstacle for people entering the kingdom of God is economic self-interest.”- Excerpt, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God

Brian Zahnd

“As the man walked away, Jesus remarked to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23). Jesus understood that this man was not the only one who would turn their back on the kingdom because of their material wealth.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-13

 Jesus has His way of cutting to the core of who we are. The man’s identity was wrapped up in his wealth, and he felt that his riches were ‘good enough’ to be okay. I used to think that being a good kid, nit being in trouble with the law, getting decent grades were ‘good enough’ to being a good Christian. It’s very easy to allow our identity to be infused with most any topic, whether a career or hobby. How is Jesus calling you and me out to examine our true identity?  

“How should you and I measure success? Our culture emphasizes upward mobility and sufficient preparation for the future. We calculate success in terms of status, possessions and power. But when we contemplate ‘success’ in eternal values, according to the Beatitudes.  how would we explain that achievement?  I’m thinking that the sermon in the Mount is a foolish way to live, going against culture.  His kingdom is inverse of what we normally think of as an effective Christian lifestyle. Hunger, thirst, mourning, poverty, and a pure mindset without duplicity are anything but successful American ideals. How can we avoid the narcissistic dream of being all self sufficient and independent?  How can we demonstrate the compassion and empathy of a beloved child of the King?” - Excerpt, The Narrow Way by Rich Villodas

“Sadly, the man’s thinking was reinforced by a common belief of that time. Scholars refer to the belief as the law of divine retribution. The belief was that God rewards the righteous with health, wealth, long life, and a large family. The opposite holds true. God punishes the wicked with sickness, poverty, early death, and the loss of family. This popular belief taught the man that his wealth was the validation of his righteousness and goodness. His wealth was an essential part of his identity. He clung to that identity in spite of his inner sense that something was missing.” - Excerpt, Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-12

 How often do you and I compare ourselves to others?  This man’s question to Jesus seems to come from a cultural view that titles and status are earned. But kingdom thinking is far different. For me, I am still clearing my head of comparison metrics, measuring if I fit my expectations or the standards of others. Jesus calls us beloved, fully accepted and adopted. He is the same yesterday and today and tomorrow. I want to do and be the person who is fully devoted in His love, resting in His love, restless for more of Him. 

“When you pay attention to God, it means you’re living and speaking the truth. This leads organically into a deeper awareness of God, yourself, and others—the three mysteries. Do you see how these concepts flow together? If you’re aware, then you know what’s happening around you. If you’re aware of God, God makes annunciations to you. He communicates with you personally. If you are paying attention to what’s going on, you will hear him speak. Pay attention, be aware, listen for the annunciations. When God starts to talk to you, you will know how to act. You will know what to do, uniquely, in your life.” - Jamie Winship, Living Fearless: Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God

“Jesus pointed the man to God, not the law, as the standard of goodness. He called him to compare himself to God, not others. Of course, no one can measure up to God’s goodness. Recognizing and acknowledging that reality moves us beyond merit-based thinking with its performance and appearance orientation. It makes us dependent upon grace. In doing so, it opens us to the kingdom.” - Excerpt , Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Mark 5-11

 Have you noticed how a child can lose their sense of wonder, imagination, creativity, and curiosity as they grow older?  Many older adults seem like they have completely lost these four characteristics!  How does this process happen?  Jesus welcomed children and emphasized the importance of having the child like spirit as we follow Him. What would happen if young adults and older Christian’s followers modeled absence of wonder, imagination, creativity and curiosity in our hope, faith and love in Jesus?  Maybe the next generation would be on target to also model His kingdom and His will being done. 

“Therefore, even more than at the times fairy tales were invented, it is important to provide the modern child with images of heroes who have to go out into the world all by themselves and who, although originally ignorant of the ultimate things, find secure places in the world by following their right way with deep inner confidence.” - Bruno Bettelheim, The Uses of Enchantment

“Jesus rebuked the disciples’ behavior, challenging the thinking behind it. He then went a step further to teach them two truths about children and the kingdom. “For it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14). The kingdom belongs to people who have nothing to offer in exchange for it. They do not seek admission based on status, standing, power, affluence, connection, or merit. They receive the kingdom as a gift of God’s grace. Grace is the only way anyone enters the kingdom.” - Excerpt , Following Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark by Steve Langford

Lies 1

 I like how John Mark Comer emphasizes the three obstacles to our faith, the world, the flesh and the devil. Each day is a new battle to experience Faith, Hope and love because it s a war within ourselves. The world, our cultural, and each person has a unique struggle between choosing what is good or what is negative and harmful. It’s an inner battle each day.  “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but . . . against the spiritual forces of evil” and that “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world,” but like, Ephesians 6 says, we have “divine power to demolish strongholds.”  But I’m learning that as we grow deeper in our faith, realizing that our Triune God will NEVER leave us or abandon us, we can experience that power to overcome the darkness of the moment with His light, each step in our journey.