Create the Atmosphere, Part 2: Seven Marks of a Jesus Community

Last week, I began writing about terraforming, the process of taking an environment hostile to human life and reshaping it so it that life can thrive there. Spiritually speaking, churches engage in the work of terraforming too.

• Terraforming congregations intentionally design their life together to be places where the atmosphere leads them to join God’s mission for the good of the world, the good of the congregation, and God’s glory. Michael Rhodes, in his insightful book Reimagining Biblical Politics, writes that God’s people are called to arrange their life together in ways that “make our king’s reign and way visible and attractive to the watching world.” The way we make decisions, steward power, interact with outsiders, and share resources ought to exert a “gravitational pull” on those around us, drawing them toward God’s kingdom.

In our last article, we explored the marks of a Torah community. Now let’s look at the marks of a Jesus community. Bringing together the ways of these two communities will help us terraform our churches well.

Seven Marks of a Jesus Community

1. Encounter Jesus

• A Jesus community is a place where people encounter the teaching, miracle-working, crucified, risen, and ascended Jesus. They encounter Jesus as the Messiah and rightful King of the world.
• Is your congregation creating opportunities for people to encounter Jesus, not simply learn about him, but come to know, trust, and follow him?

2. Become a People of Wisdom, Compassion, and Justice

• The Jesus community is marked by wisdom (see James and the Sermon on the Mount) and by compassion and justice (Matthew 23:23; Matthew 25; Luke 18). Its prayers are marked by cries for wisdom (James 1:5) and justice. Martin Luther reminds us that when we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we are also praying for a just society where people can earn their bread without exploitation.
• How can your congregation pursue wisdom, compassion, and justice in both its prayers and practices?

3. Draw the nations in

• The Jesus community goes out into the world, proclaiming and showing the ways of God, and so draws in the nations (Matthew 28; Acts). It does not exist simply for the benefit of its members, but for the good of the world God loves.
• How can your congregation become more intentional about going into the community, demonstrating God’s ways, and inviting others into his kingdom?

4. Create an atmosphere of forgiveness and love

• A hallmark of the Jesus community is an atmosphere of forgiveness. The community knows God’s forgiveness and extends it to one another, to those outside the community, and even to enemies. Above all, the community understands that its primary way in the world is love (1 John 3; Colossians 3; Galatians 5; Luke 6).
• How can your church become a place where forgiveness is freely extended, enemies are loved, and people experience the love of Jesus through his followers?

5. Cultivate Joy and gratitude

• Jesus tells his community that they have received freely, so they should give freely (Matthew 10). The celebration of the Eucharist, the Samaritan who returns to thank Jesus for his healing, and the blind beggar who praises God all reflect a joyful, grateful community.
• How can your congregation make gratitude, generosity, and celebration defining characteristics of its life together?

6. become an upside-down and generous community

• Throughout the New Testament, the community of Jesus is upside-down. The last will be first, the poor are filled while the rich are sent away empty, and Jesus lifts up women, children, and the marginalized. This community does not store up treasures on earth but willingly shares what it has, living in solidarity with the least. Knowing the generosity of Jesus, its members give generously to others, even in poverty (2 Corinthians 8–9).
• How can your congregation demonstrate these upside-down values through the ways you share resources, welcome people, and care for those in need?

7. live as a sent community

• The Jesus community is a city on a hill, sent into the world to radiate mercy, love, peace, justice, generosity, and deliverance. This is a community that loves enemies and even labors alongside enemies for their shalom (see Jeremiah 29).
• How can your congregation move beyond its walls to seek the peace and flourishing of its neighbors, demonstrating the good news of God’s kingdom through both words and actions?

Terraforming congregations take up the marks of the Jesus community and strive to create a life together as God’s ambassadors, telling and embodying God’s story to the world. Which of these marks most needs attention in your congregation? What could you begin doing now to create an atmosphere that honors Jesus as King and demonstrates his compassion, peacemaking, healing, justice, and, above all, love?