"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”—1 John 2:6

We live in a selfie world. Social media is flooded with carefully curated self-portraits and value measured by the number of “clicks” and “likes,” sometimes purchased to encourage digital algorithms to increase the likelihood of gaining an even greater “following.”

We live in a fast-paced, reckless and easily angered world. How many times have you been driving along, minding your own business, only to be cut off by someone clearly unimpressed by the speed limit and your desire to abide by it? But before fingers are pointed too quickly, let’s consider the speed with which we react toward our fellow roadster.

Our culture worships at a modern spiritual buffet. Personal preference often determines the church we attend, the extent of our service and the sacrifices we are willing to make, as faith and culture are mixed in a way that is perceived to be culturally acceptable.

It’s easy to see and point out shortcomings in others, while missing (or justifying) how we, too, are being conformed to the pattern of our world. Egotistic: It’s all about me. Narcissistic: Look at me. Individualistic: Leave me alone.

Self-centred. Me-focused. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to something higher.

In his book God’s Personal Strategy, Major Dale Pilgrim, divisional secretary for personnel, Ontario Division, writes: “Discipleship is an issue of transformation. If we can get the church on the same page, we can turn the world upside-down.”

Scripture tells us that we “must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:5 NLT). Holistic discipleship replaces a self-centred, me-focused attitude with CHRIST-centred, OTHERS-focused living. Altruistic. Sacrificial. Fully dependent on the Father, and interdependent with those who share in his mission.

As Christian scholar and philosopher Dallas Willard says, discipleship is “the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.”

Everyday discipleship—following in the footsteps of Jesus and seeking to walk as he would today—is essential to the development of our spiritual life. It “cannot be an add-on to the church. It can’t be a little subset of it. It can’t be a part of our life as the church. It’s the mission of the church because it’s the eternal plan of God to fill the world with Jesus, to fill the world with his glory,” writes author and discipleship coach Caesar Kalinowski.

Everything we do as the church should have the call to “make disciples” at its core. Our spiritual life development is shown by the lived-out expression of our discipleship. Strengthening spiritual health, the first strategic pillar of Mobilize 2.0, can be understood as three concentric circles that ripple outward: nurturing individual growth, facilitating healthy disciple-making environments and seeing the transforming impact of flourishing communities of faith.

“Come and see” was a common invitation of Jesus’ ministry with his disciples, and ought to be one we can give as well. What will those in our neighbourhoods come to see, to hear, to experience? Will they see CHRIST-centred, OTHERS-focused faith in action—through our ministry programs and through the witness of transformed lives, seeking to walk as Jesus did wherever we daily find ourselves?

The story in which we find ourselves as followers of Jesus, as Salvationists, is CHRIST-centred. And how we live in, and live out, that story is OTHERS-focused. Over the next couple of years, we will be seeking to establish a common language and understanding around spiritual life development and holistic discipleship. This will help us work together toward the aim of strengthening spiritual health across our territory. This article marks the beginning of a series that will continue in the coming months to help further unpack what we mean by a “CHRIST-centred, OTHERS-focused” faith, and to tell stories of where this kind of discipleship is being lived out in real ways.

We will take a further look at what we mean by “strengthening spiritual health,” “spiritual life development” and “discipleship.” We’ll explore how this is expressed inside our ministry units and through our programs. We’ll also see what it looks like beyond them, as we seek to live as “salvationists,” in the truest sense of the word.

The journey may be uncomfortable at times, but will certainly be exhilarating, as we follow where the Spirit leads, guiding us to walk as Jesus would in our world.

We will find ourselves changed in the process. But true spiritual life development is never just about us. As we’re reminded by our co-Founder, Catherine Booth: “You are not here in the world for yourself. You have been sent here for others. The world is waiting for you!”

Come and see.

Kevin Slous is the territorial secretary for spiritual life development.

Photo: Neely Wang/Lightstock.com 

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