Our text gives us a summary view of empire spirituality. In expanding on this subject I take some excerpts from Ryan Kuja’s book Inside Out: Reimagining Mission.

Empire spirituality is promoted by empire gods and thrives on the small self’s narrow, self-interested visions and life goals. There is need for the believer to be rid of empire spirituality and its temptation to live according to force, power, and control. If you are still struggling over what empire spirituality means, think what the word empire suggests? In the narrow sense of the individual, do you own your life or the things surrounding you? Are you in absolute control of the elements that determine outcomes of issues of your life? Therein lies the empire mentality and self-deception or lies positive thinking experts foist on us. This is what the Lord God confronted Job with in Job 38:2! Bible based positive thinking is fully defined by Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13 (AMPC)—I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Similarly by the Psalmist in Psalm 121.

Breaking empire spirituality is facing the falsity of ego and empire and is the be-ginning of commissioning for mission of bringing fruit of souls to the Lord! It is also to:

1. behold the way empire has shaped our imagination,
2. wrestle with its colonial ghosts, duel with those gods we once bowed our knees to,
3. expiate mission’s original sins that have lived on secretly inside our tradition, and
4. face the times we planted seeds of American culture when our desire was to till the soil for the growth of the gospel of Christ!

It is ultimately obeying Matthew 9:38, you also submitting and being available to Him for the same. We must not lose sight of our call to fruitfulness and be side-tracked by the ongoing political brouhaha. John 15:16,17 remains the mantra while we continue to pray for peace of the land and that our God expedite his plans to move the nation to the established purpose. Shalom

Pastor Afolabi Oladele