Develop a Discipleship System
Discipleship in Divided Times: The Practice of Presence Today
By Bryan Tener
In a time when our nation’s fractures feel more visible than our shared humanity, and the noise of public discourse has grown louder than our ability to listen, the church is invited to its ancient calling: to be a nonanxious, compassionate, and faithful presence. As divisions intensify (much of which is a tactic of empire—to divide people), many of us wonder how to speak into the noise without being consumed by it. I often find myself overconsuming information and upon so feeling paralyzed, then I recognize that to move forward and take faithful action I must turn the news off, remove distractions, and utilize the tools of contemplation so that I can be more aware and more faithful to God’s nudgings.
This is not the first time Christians have navigated cultural upheaval. However, we may be among the first to do so, given our immediate access to digital headlines, the seemingly ideological entrenchment of everyone, and the fragmented nature of our relationships along political lines. In this moment, community engagement and evangelism are not about programming; they are about presence. What does it mean to show up in our neighborhoods, not as combatants in culture wars, but as agents of reconciliation and hope?
The Challenge of Polarization
The U.S. is marked by deep and growing divides—political, racial, generational, and theological. Pew Research and other studies confirm what we already suspect: Americans trust institutions less, engage in conversations with one another across differences less frequently, and struggle to coexist in proximity to those with opposing views. Social media algorithms send us news and stories, not the most important ones or the ones we should see immediately, but stories that fit the narratives being built through what we’ve been consuming. In our divides, we often find ourselves living in an information bubble without even realizing it.
Polarization seeps into congregations, pulpit expectations, school board meetings, and even prayer requests. For pastors and lay leaders alike, this climate can create fear: fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of losing members, fear of being labeled or misunderstood. But fear is not our guide. Love is.
Jesus and the Politics of Presence
Jesus was born into an empire just as polarized as our own. His time was characterized by Roman occupation, religious infighting, and social stratification. But he refused to be co-opted by any one faction. He chose, instead, the slow, relational, embodied work of proximity. He ate with sinners and Pharisees, touched lepers and listened to Gentiles, rebuked injustice and extended mercy—all without compromising his integrity.
Jesus modeled a politics of presence. He did not avoid conflict, but he refused to reduce people to their positions. He walked among the people. He looked them in the eyes. He told stories that didn’t always end with answers, but with invitations to reimagine the world.
That is our model today: not shouting matches or theological withdrawal, but faithful engagement through listening, storytelling, shared meals, and courageous conversations. The church must resist the pull to mirror the world’s divisiveness. Instead, it must embody the radical center of the gospel, where truth and grace meet.
Jesus modeled a politics of presence. He did not avoid conflict, but he refused to reduce people to their positions. He walked among the people. He looked them in the eyes. He told stories that didn’t always end with answers, but with invitations to reimagine the world.
Spiritual Practices for Grounded Engagement
To resist the pull of partisanship and fear, leaders must cultivate practices that keep them rooted in Christ’s peace. As John Mark Comer reminds us in Practicing the Way, we need a rhythm of life that makes space for silence, prayer, and listening to God. Without it, we’re more likely to react out of fear instead of faithfulness, or worse, we may find ourselves untethered in our relationship with God and floundering about, trying to gain control over the information that comes across our screen but wind up in paralysis.
Joan Chittister, in The Monastic Heart, reminds us that hospitality is a deeply spiritual act that makes space within ourselves for the other to exist without threat. She writes, “Hospitality is the way we turn a place into a home, a stranger into a friend, and a moment into grace.”
What if our churches—and our lives—could become homes like that?
Here are a few practices to consider:
- The Daily Examen with a Civic Lens – Reflect on where you encountered division or peace, where you judged quickly, and where you loved well.
- Community Prayer Walks – Walk your neighborhood weekly, praying not for your church to grow, but for your community to heal.
- Listening Circles – Gather diverse voices for intentional story-sharing without debate or rebuttal. Practice the sacred act of listening.
- A Rule of Life for Community Witness – Create shared rhythms with your leadership team that include rest, service, listening, and hospitality.
A Hopeful Witness in Divided Times
The witness of the church has always shone brightest in fractured places, not because we fix the world, but because we refuse to give up on it. Every week at the church I attend, we close our service with a benediction that includes these lines from Matthew 5:15-16 (NRSV):
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
We’re sent out to offer light and hope through our presence in the places we go, to build relationships, to be present, and to offer love and life amid an empire that works through fear, scarcity, and division. The work ahead of us is not about choosing sides but about choosing to remain faithful to God and the people and things that God loves.
As United Methodists, we are uniquely positioned for this moment. Our theology of grace, our tradition of social holiness, and our connectional nature give us a sturdy framework for both inner formation and outward engagement.
So, let us lean into this calling, not with fear, but with courage; not with cynicism, but with hope. Let us offer a different witness than what the world offers; let us witness to what it looks like to live as citizens of God’s kin-dom so that others may know the love of God, and this world will be transformed.
Discussion Prompts: Discipleship in Divided Times
1. Reflecting on the Present Moment
- How are you experiencing the effects of polarization in your community, workplace, or congregation?
- What do you notice in yourself when those divisions appear? (Fear? Fatigue? Frustration? Compassion?)
2. Presence Over Persuasion
- The article suggests a shift from persuading to being present. What does “the politics of presence” look like in your context?
- Can you name a time when someone’s faithful presence—not their argument—helped you grow or heal?
3. Reimagining Evangelism
- How does this vision of evangelism, rooted in relationship and hospitality, challenge or encourage you?
- How could your church share faith through listening, storytelling, or trust-building rather than programming or events?
4. Practicing Hospitality in Divided Times
- Joan Chittister writes that hospitality “makes space within ourselves for the other to exist without threat.” Who in your community might need that kind of space?
- How might your church become a place where people across divides feel seen, heard, and safe?
5. Rootedness Through Spiritual Practice
- What practices currently help you stay grounded in Christ amid cultural tension?
- Would creating a shared rule of life for your leadership team or household be a helpful next step?
Optional Action Step for the Group
Close your session by identifying one shared practice you could adopt together for the next month—a prayer walk, hosting a listening circle, or even a commitment to slow down and listen more attentively to those with whom you disagree.
Contact Us for Help
Contact Discipleship Ministries staff for additional guidance.