Shaped for the Kingdom

Michael Andres

Reading

Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments… Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
Psalm 119:73, 76-77

Reflection

My car has a funny habit (I’m sure there is an engineer somewhere who is cringing at my description here) of playing either music or a podcast as soon as it connects to my phone’s Bluetooth. Sometimes it’s whatever I was listening to before bed, and other times, it’s the remnants of playlists the kids have compiled (hello there, T-Swift and Katy Perry and…Kenny Loggins??). More often than not, it picks up mid-dialogue about an upcoming golf tournament, the Top 25 Movies of the Century, or some deep dive into economics, tech, or social sciences. Some days, whatever comes on is a great match for my mood, and I let it ride. Other days, I’d rather cower in a ball than endure one more second of auditory barrage (good grief, man).

What I take in—these inputs—have an outsized impact on what I put out into the world. Contemplative and hopeful, energized and determined, melancholy and worn. I’ve learned that curating these inputs—no different than the choices I make when it comes to my diet—is an important discipline. If I listen to a podcast about the bipartisan bureaucratic gridlock preventing affordable housing, I know I’m going to stew in frustration. And if that’s paired with the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” I might just convince myself I need to personally escort a few elected leaders to the train station. That’s not like Jesus. Not even close. On the other hand, if I listen to the sorrowful strings of Max Richter or the ethereal harmonies of Sigur Rós, I can just as easily sink into a deep solitude that verges on paralysis.

These emotions—the frustration, the longing, the anger, the hope—aren’t bad. They’re part of what it means to be human. But what we do with them, how we wield them with one another, and how we yield them to God is what shapes our participation in the kingdom of God.

The life of the church is one of the most important inputs we have. Coming to worship, sharing and growing in learning community, serving and giving, each of these things are Christ-laden inputs we do in order to give form and meaning to the Christ-like outputs which build the kingdom of God here and now.

Just as the things we take in through media and music shape our daily mood and mindset, the things we take in through worship, learning, and service shape our hearts and souls over time. We don’t just get together at 4848 W. Covell because the hospitality is good, people know our names, and it’s a fun time. If that were the only reason, there are thousands of places which do the same thing! We do it because through the body of Christ, we are formed into the image of Christ so that we may live more fully in the world and take part in its redemption.

Pastor Mark said in his sermon on Sunday, ‘An effective church is measured not by how many people come but by how many live differently having been there.’ If that’s true, then discipleship is not about attendance but transformation. If our discipleship is meant to shape how we live in the world, then the things that orient us toward abundance, justice, and love matter.

Jesus talked about the kingdom more than anything else—a kingdom where there is no scarcity or fear, where everyone has a place, and where there is more than enough. What we take in shapes how we show up in the world. And in a world that constantly tries to pull us into outrage, despair, or complacency, we have a choice: to be consumed by it, or to cultivate habits that point us back to the presence and power of God’s kingdom breaking through right now.

The kingdom moves when we move.

So what are you and I going to take in today that will shape what we put out? Not just for ourselves, but for the kingdom.

PRAYER:
God of all creation—
Shape and mold me, heal me and prepare me.
Guide my heart and my mind towards you.
Give my words and thoughts your purpose and grace.
Use my strength and presence to spread hope and peace.
You are good, God. So, so good.
AMEN