Five Distinctives, pt 1 & 2
As we have discussed, the leadership at Watermark is exploring the possibility of joining the Jesus Collective—a relational network of churches and individuals dedicated to living, sharing, and inviting others into the Jesus way. For the month of January we are discussing the five distinctive of The Jesus Collective as we consider partnering with other like-minded churches searching for a new way forward in our new post-Christendom world.
So far we have covered the first two, which are summarized for housechurch discussion here:
1) God always looks like Jesus, and all scripture should be read through Him.
Last week, the focus was on exploring a transformative approach to understanding scripture and God by centering Jesus Christ as the ultimate revelation of God’s character. This is a shift away from historical distortions that have often intertwined Christianity with cultural and political agendas, creating an image of God that reflects human ambition rather than the teachings of Jesus.
Historically, Christianity has sometimes promoted a vision of God that supports violence, nationalism, and domination, using scripture to justify actions such as colonialism, conquest, and oppression. For example, passages like Deuteronomy 28, which promise blessings for obedience and dominance over enemies, have been invoked to legitimize actions like the Crusades, colonial expansion, and even manifest destiny. These interpretations reflect the values of “old gods” rooted in power and control rather than Christ’s example.
In contrast, Jesus models a radically different vision of God—one of co-suffering love, peace, humility, and inclusion. His teachings, such as the Beatitudes, emphasize blessings for the meek, merciful, and peacemakers, rejecting the pursuit of power and division. This understanding challenges Christians to reconsider how scripture is read and applied, prioritizing passages that reflect Jesus’ character over those that seem to contradict it.
We also looked at some consequences of failing to center Jesus in theology; a Christianity that prioritizes power and self-interest often mirrors the gods of this world, fostering corruption, division, and secular skepticism. But centering Jesus in our faith encourages a reexamination of scripture and practices to align with Christ’s example, offering hope for a faith that stands apart from the patterns of the world. Through this, Christians can embody a different kind of community—one marked by love, peace, and selfless service.
2) To be saved includes belonging to a community under Jesus called to live the life
Christianity was born in a communal context where decisions, identity, and responsibilities centered on the community rather than the individual. In contrast, modern individualism shapes how faith is often practiced today, placing personal goals and success above communal flourishing. This shift impacts how scripture is read and applied, often distorting its original intent.
In a communal reading, scriptures like 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, which references the body as a temple, emphasize the collective body of believers as a visible representation of God’s presence. Similarly, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 confronts the church’s failures to embody love rather than serving as a romantic ideal. Even John 3:16 shifts from individual salvation to God’s love for the world through Christ.
This perspective reframes the gospel as one of participation rather than privilege. It invites believers to partner with Jesus and His church to demonstrate His kingdom on earth. This is rooted in the concept of Imago Dei—humans as God’s image-bearers. Like ancient idols symbolizing a god’s presence, humans are created to represent God to creation visibly, collectively tasked with showing the world what God is like through justice, generosity, inclusion, and peace. This mission, fulfilled in Jesus, is continued by the church, a community gathered around the table to share life, retell His story, and embody His teachings. Jesus left no manual or writings but instead a community—the church—to represent Him.
The church’s role as the body of Christ is to teach the message of God by being the message of God.
This means prioritizing peace and reconciliation over violence and division, reflecting God’s character through collective witness. Faith, therefore, is not primarily about individual conversion or holding the right beliefs but about submitting to Jesus as the model for humanity and embodying His love together. In Christ, believers are called to live less for themselves and more for the community, empowered by the Holy Spirit to make God visible to the world.
Discussion Questions
The questions that we want to ask as we contemplate these two distinctives individually are:
1. How does Watermark or your house church practice this theological distinctive well?
2. What aspects of this distinctive could we work toward aligning more with a Jesus centered personal and communal life?
3. What questions do you have for the pastors or the Jesus Collective about this distinctive?