Resisting Empire and Seeking Shalom

Introduction

We are in awe of how God filled the space at the first Shift discussion group. Each guest got thoroughly stuck in, authentically sharing, listening, and adding their own unique perspectives, plus there was some great pizza!

If you are new here, this is a write up from an ‘in person’ discussion. The aim of the discussion group was to explore how, practically, we can be more Kingdom-led in our workplaces.
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The theme for the evening was Empire and Shalom, inspired by Marty Solomon's teachings. We were exploring what it means to resist the Empire and seek Shalom in our workplaces. When referring to Empire or Shalom, we defined these with the following comparison:

When you picture a Kingdom-led workplace, what comes to mind?

Are values everything?

Is it possible for an organisation to adopt values mirroring those found in the Bible and is this what it would take to create a truly Kingdom-led workplace? There was a clear consensus amongst the group that values are powerful, so much so, they can create a company's 'heartbeat'.

However, simply having the right words on a poster isn't enough. The group stressed the concept of ‘fruit’- the tangible outcome of those values. Leaders should therefore strive for a work environment that produces results, not in the worldly sense, but rather results that are aligned with God's will.
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The book, ‘Dare to Lead’, by Brené Brown, was mentioned as a great read to help leaders build solid values that keep you aligned to your purpose.

One member discussed the struggles of leading a company with non-Christian partners. They highlighted the importance of establishing ground rules that reflect Christian morals and beliefs, without needing to give explicitly faith-based reasoning.

Leadership

Sturdy leadership is often at the root of any company’s success. If we want to know how to lead, we should look to Jesus as our role model. Leadership should be about looking after those who you are responsible for, serving them. How many leaders would be prepared to wash their employees feet!

This model was then contrasted against a 'command and control' approach to leadership, where there is a rigid hierarchy. Staff working under this type of leadership are more likely to become disgruntled or demotivated.

A great practical book to share on this subject is, ‘Turn the Ship Around!’, by David Marquet, which offers a new look at leadership that stands against the command and control approach.

Has anyone ever seen a move towards Kingdom in the workplace?

A guest described witnessing a shift in behaviour within a company, with employees acting with greater integrity and compassion. When Kingdom infiltrates a workplace, it looks and feels different; people should be asking, "This is different, why is this different?" This feels like a form of evangelism we are less familiar with, the move of acting so radically different—that people are genuinely intrigued to know what makes the workplace so different.
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There was a strong conviction in the room that God might call some believers into explicitly Christian workplaces, but that others are called to be a light in more secular settings. For those Christians who are leaders in our workplaces, there is a particular responsibility to be a beacon  of a different way of living.

What Kingdom-led actions look like

The metaphor of a‘river, not a reservoir’, was captured beautifully by one member. They shared the following, "When it’s flowing through, it's kingdom. Out giving, out working, you're not holding it and you're not stagnating with it. But I battle with it. It's a difficult one when there's fear around income and contracts and all of that. So I have to repeat the narrative. River, not a reservoir, just keep flowing it out, keep giving it out."

Where do you see Empire in the world around you?

Global injustice

We see literal empires, across the world, who forge ahead with dictatorships, slavery, and war. Countries like the UK, who are less directly engaging in this, are still built on the backs of our countries' past injustices. Given this, empire is so deeply rooted into our culture, and furthermore human history, there is no wonder this way of acting also penetrates our daily lives.

Large companies

The group agreed that from their experience, large companies are breeding grounds for empire characteristics. Why is this? Is this because change-makers are too many layers removed from the people they are affecting? Is this because, as companies grow larger, job roles become more specialised, which may result in a lack of accountability for anything other than your specific role.

One answer to this could be targets, setting numerical values on progress. Once a company grows to a certain size, there is a need to measure progress, sometimes in the form of sales, calls made, emails sent, and much more. This pulls people away from the company's wider mission, giving them one goal to measure their success by. Numerical values can dehumanise a company's impact on the world, turning people into pound signs, making people much easier to exploit.

Scarcity mentality

From an employee's point of view, it was mentioned that in certain workplaces, there is a clear ‘scarcity mentality’. Everyone's racing for the positions, fighting for gain over one another. There is no desire to help others, as helping others might mean that you miss out on opportunities yourself. Big egos dominate this kind of workplace, and as a result, there is a culture of dodging blame at all costs. Whereas, in contrast, a Kingdom-led workplace could look like everyone dropping their insecurities and embracing each other's strengths, acknowledging that everyone is unique, and ultimately created in God's image.

A suggested remedy to this was an intentional effort to promote ‘anti-individualism’. Establishing a culture where leaders encourage collective success. This comes with a rejection of common behaviour in the workplace, where individuals strive to be the heroes who rise above others. This can be transformed into someone who empowers others- in order to help the team thrive. There should be an avoidance of creating scapegoats; instead, a mistake is the team's mistake which everyone in the workplace can learn from.

Gripped by fear

It was openly acknowledged that fear can grip us in the business world. One striking example was an entrepreneur fearing not making payroll, and how this can be a constant fear, even when times are stable and secure. Is living in fear something that will promote us to be the best kind of leaders? What can we learn from the kind of trust God calls us to have? A Kingdom-led workplace looks like trusting in God's will, even during challenging times.

Acknowledging good

The discussion then transitioned to the world of media. A journalist shared the heavy weight of being in a workplace that focuses on the darker aspects of culture. They acknowledged that the industry is built around sensationalism, and for people in their industry, a good day at work often involves highlighting the worst aspects of humanity. Therefore, for people in this kind of workplace, and consumers of media, it is important to take time to remember how much good (or Shalom) there is in the world.

Do you have any empire desires in your workplace?

Desire to make something look great to outsiders vs. serve people's needs

We all want to do good work, stuff we're proud of. It's natural to get caught up in that desire to make things look amazing on the outside, to impress others or score points in meetings. Yet that can be a recipe for disaster if it overshadows the actual needs of the people we are serving. We often have to wrestle to find the right balance. We can still strive for quality, something people might naturally appreciate from the outside, nevertheless, the true feeling of accomplishment should stream from the knowledge that we are acting with integrity at work as we support and serve those around us. That's where the true win lies, not just in creating a shiny object to hang on the shelf.

Chasing ‘sparkly lights’

Entrepreneurs and employees voiced the temptation to chase ‘sparkly lights’,  like prestigious locations for expansion, impressive job titles, and working with big names. They highlighted the importance of discerning God's calling over personal ambition to build our own 'empires'.

There were some amazing questions suggested to help us discern between healthy and unhealthy desires for change:

- Who does this serve?
- Would you be prepared to lose it?
- Are the doors opening naturally?

Personal ambition can also lead you to places where other Christians may not be; as Christians we can often be called to be a light in a dark place.

"If we shy away from spot-lit places we allow other people to fill those gaps."

Using doubt as a crutch for Christian inaction

As Christians, we can often question whether something is God's will or our own. Just like this conversation, we can, ‘um and ah’, about our ambitions. We can wait days, months and years, seeking a beaming green flashing sign from God saying, 'Yes, do it'. However, God does not always communicate this directly. One member mentioned seeing this internal debate become an excuse for inaction, a crutch to fall back on when action seems uncomfortable. Could we be more action-led as Christians?

Subtle shift of platforming God vs platforming yourself

In a world of the internet, social media, and celebrity culture, we are all being increasingly geared up to self-promotion, seeking favour from the masses, and showing off all our achievements- especially in business, where sales and marketing are required to make money and pay employees.

The podcast, ‘The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill’ documents a real life example of how we can move from platforming God, to platforming ourselves, and how ultimately that can lead to personal and systematic downfall.

The idea of this downfall being subtle resonated with the room. This subtlety can often mean we only realise we are following empire desires, when it’s already too late.

God-given talents

One member shared their view on God-given talents. If we do have a God-given talent, we should feel a sense of responsibility to be the best we can be, hone in on that craft, rather than letting that talent go to waste. This concept was emphasised by Jesus when he shared, ‘The Parable of the Bags of Gold (or Talents)’, which highlights the importance of using our talents and resources, and furthermore not being afraid to get stuck in and create more from what we have been given.

How would Jesus do your role differently?

Often we can have a tendency to mentally wall off our work life from home life. We all experience this, by having somewhat of a work persona versus how you act when you get home. This question aims to encourage guests to think about how to act differently in the workplace.

Guests were divided into pairs to answer the question. Below are the headlines that came from these smaller discussions.

- He would be an amazing listener.
- He would focus on the people around him.
- He would be less stressed.
- He would use his supernatural abilities to solve problems others can't.
- He would be someone who has time to be interrupted.
- He would be the ultimate mentor.
- He wouldn't be afraid of ruffling a few feathers.
- He would be intentional, in his work and his rest.
- He would see the souls of everyone.
- He would be in touch with his emotions, knowing the rare times to express healthy anger or frustration.
- He would be the perfect people-person.

A theme resonated with the room, being less stressed and more calm. Deep work, deep rest, devotion, silence. There was a desire for more intimate and quiet time with God. A podcast from the series, ‘Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools Podcast’, by Tyler Staton was recommended as an amazing guide to being still.

What does Kingdom-led growth look like?

Spending time with God is priority

There were a great mix of ideas to navigate this tension. Some voiced the need for simple spiritual practices in order to have intimacy with God, such as reading scripture and praying, and how everything else flows from there. It is important to keep God close through prayer and scripture reading, allowing His guidance to permeate our actions almost by osmosis. After all, not everyone thrives on constantly analysing every decision.

Practical ideas to keep your ambition in check

On the other hand, ambition is a powerful force. The room shared a general sense that it is hard to discern what is a God given ambition that should be nurtured versus a self driven ambition. There were a number of practical suggestions to help strike that balance:

- Yearly or half yearly reviews on how your work-self is aligning with your spiritual journey, can help us reflect on our actions and ensure we're staying on track and chasing God’s plan.

- Finding a mentor who shares your spiritual values and can provide invaluable guidance.

- Creating a daily rhythm of connecting with God, perhaps through a quiet walk before work, or reading the Bible on the coffee table before starting your commute.

Kingdom KPIs

Here, the concept of, ‘Kingdom KPIs’ (Key Performance Indicators), was introduced a bit tongue-in-cheek, acknowledging the tendency to quantify success. But the question arose: can Kingdom-led success be measured solely by numbers? Don't numbers risk dehumanising what it means to succeed, pushing us to focus only on the bottom line and neglecting the human element at the ‘heart’ of the business?

On the other hand, if a company operates with Kingdom-centred values, then regularly reflecting on how well we're living up to those values becomes a powerful practice. This discussion highlighted the tension that can exist between focusing on numbers and the impact we create, versus overlooking negative behaviours, simply because the numbers are good. It's a real balancing act, but one that can lead to a truly fulfilling and impactful business journey.

Moving at a natural speed

In our eagerness for progress, we often push ourselves to grow at an accelerated pace, disregarding the natural speed by which God intends us to develop. We fall into the trap of living a ‘microwave meal’ life, seeking instant gratification and rapid results. However, Jesus' approach to growth is characterised by a steady, measured pace, akin to a leisurely walk.

Never mind Dragons Den, we've got something better

Next, we tried a fun activity, with a lot of meaning behind it. Each group was asked to pick from a bowl full of paper slips with types of businesses on them (eg. Cafe, Bank, Architects, etc).

Each group was given 5 minutes to create a pitch for a radically Kingdom-led version of the type of business they had picked out. We asked that these be radical ideas, ones that would challenge norms and may look counterintuitive from the outside.

The purpose of this activity was to stimulate our imaginations for Kingdom-led change, showing that following God's will can involve creativity and enjoyment.

Bakery

Unlike a typical bakery that utilises every square inch, this bakery would go to great lengths to create space. This space would be intentionally designed to foster local community. Avoiding the usual over-the-counter principle and instead encouraging customers to linger. The business would order and bake extra stock which would be purposefully distributed to those in need.

When it comes to payment, things will appear differently. With a ‘pay it forward scheme’, customers could receive assistance in paying for their items if they are experiencing financial difficulties. Alternatively, customers can choose to pay it forward, so that someone else can benefit from the assistance. That would be encouraged, buy one for the next person who needs help financially.

Doctor's Surgery

This surgery would aim to go the extra mile, and show a sense of love and care in the local community. It would take a holistic and proactive approach to health. Regular checkups would be standard, aiming to catch problems before they turn into larger issues. Each checkup wouldn’t just be centred around physical health, but would also encapsulate a mental and a spiritual health check.

The staff and company structure would prioritise giving time for patients to be listened to, to truly help them unpack what is happening with their health.

Social Media Company

Named, ‘One Sheep’, this social media company aims to be radically different. With a company motto to, ‘Go after the one’. Unlike Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, who aim to capture users attention for as long as possible, this platform would encourage intentional use. Users would be encouraged to think about the outcome of what they are posting, posting responsibly, safely, and in a way that considers others. Methods of giving would be built into the platform, with profiles having a giving section that promotes good causes.

Fast Food Company

Finally, ‘The Kingdom Fast Food Company’. This restaurant chain aims to prioritise an honest business model that serves Kingdom values. Living wage would be a baseline for all employees. The chain would seek hiring from the local area, boldly aiming to not keep staff for a long time, but rather empowering them to grow and move on to something better.

Donating to food banks would be built into the businesses core process. The restaurant interior would promote human contact- over sitting on your phone alone.

We all know fast food isn't good for us, and usually, businesses are searching for tricks to sell this to us as healthy. In stark contrast to this, this company would be trying its best to be healthier, whilst also being clear about unhealthy options. Marketing would be intentional about not selling to kids, and would rather be sold to families as a ‘one off treat’. Produce would be sustainably sourced. The kitchens would also be opened up for a homeless charity to use in the evenings.

Summary

It was a unique privilege to be sat in a room with people who were truly chasing the heart of God. It was clear that we saw God filling the space we had created for Him.

Healthy tension

Having reflected on this discussion, I think that we were riding within some healthy tension. On the one hand, we were using our God-given brains to contemplate, reflect, and practically get to grips with what being Kingdom-led could look like in our lives. This involved being creative and solving problems together. On the other hand, lot's of the discussion turned back to the fact that being Kingdom-led can only truly be achieved when we have intimacy with God, immersing ourselves in prayer and the word, and listening carefully for God’s will.
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Shift aims to sit within this tension, acting as a connecting point between these two states—a place to come together, listen for God’s will, and talk about how we can put it into action.

Impact

We were deeply excited by how much impact this could have on our city. The change-makers in the room touch so many people’s lives in their workplaces, regardless of whether they are entrepreneurs, employees or creatives- the spread could be huge! Having a place to come together and talk about how we can be more Kingdom-led, feels so simple, but also revolutionary!

There was a general sentiment within the room that it would be good to meet with a similar group again, building up tightly knit relationships with one another and ultimately a Kingdom-led community. As we build a vision for what these groups will look like we will be prioritising community aspects, encouraging check-ins with one another and a sense of accountability between group members.

Final note

Thank you to all who came to session 01. If you are reading this and would like to attend the next discussion group, please get in touch. If you can, please do pray for the outworking of this Shift Kingdom-led initiative. We would love prayer for each member for wisdom on how to apply these principles in the workplace.