Transparent Spirituality: Being Found By Kingdom Hunger
Engaging Urban Affinities - Part 8
By S. Crawley
Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash
Cities are complex ecosystems of relationships and needs.
In previous articles, we've explored how to engage urban affinity groups by starting where we are, observing social networks, and actively listening for hunger. We've discussed how to find kingdom hunger – both hunger for wholeness and spiritual hunger.
Today we're going to dig a little deeper into a powerful concept - being found BY spiritual hunger.
This dynamic can transform how we engage with our urban villages.
The Power of Being Found
When we think about mission and outreach, we often focus on finding – finding the right people, finding the right approach, finding the right words.
But what if it's more about being found? What if our primary role isn't to perfect our methods but to live with such transparent relationship with God that spiritually hungry people naturally gravitate toward us?
This is exactly what Jesus modeled throughout His ministry. The Gospels reveal Jesus' transparent and authentic relationship with His Father through His prayers (Matthew 11:25-26), teaching (Matthew 5-7), and moments of vulnerability (John 12:27-28). In interactions with individuals like the Samaritan woman (John 4:7-26) and enemies (Luke 23:34), He openly expresses His human needs, emotional struggles and spiritual desires.
Transparent Spirituality vs. Transparent Christianity
There's an important distinction to make here between transparent Christianity and transparent spirituality.
Transparent Christianity is when we openly identify with Christian culture and practices. "I went to church this weekend" or "I'm a Christian" – statements that position us within a religious framework. While there's nothing wrong with this, it usually opens a window into our religious community rather than our relationship with God.
Jesus did not do transparent Christianity.
Transparent spirituality, in contrast, brings visibility to our living relationship with the Father. Jesus DID do transparent spirituality.
It's the difference between representing a religion and revealing a relationship. One says, "I belong to this team." The other shows, "This is Who sustains me and shapes my life." When people see us talking with our Father, bringing our needs to Him, seeking His guidance, or expressing gratitude – they glimpse something profoundly different to religious behaviour.
This kind of authentic spirituality is deeply attractive to people who are spiritually hungry and seeking.
Living With Glass Walls
Think of transparent spirituality as living with glass walls around our relationship with God.
People can see in. They observe not just a religious label but the engine that drives the journey. They don't just see external behaviour or appearance but our process and our struggles. They see not just our strengths but our weaknesses and how God meets us in them.
When we live this way, we become "findable" to those with spiritual hunger.
My friend "David" embodies this kind of lifestyle. In any conversation with him, you'll hear very early and very frequently about his relationship with God. He's not pushy about it - it just flows out of him naturally.
If he becomes aware of a need he will offer prayer, and probably assistance as well. His passion and conviction radiate from him. He doesn't hide his weaknesses or shortcomings. And as a result, he is often praying with and for people for different needs they have, he has a LOT of spiritual conversations with people, and he regularly finds himself helping people grow in relationship with Jesus.
How To Practice Transparent Spirituality
Living with transparent spirituality means allowing our authentic relationship with God to be visible in everyday contexts. Here are some practical ways it can look:
1. Praying freely in public when appropriate, as an organice outworking of our relationship with our Father.
2. Sharing stories that feature God's work in our lives when it comes up naturally in conversation.
3. Being real about our struggles (present as well as past!) and the trust that we have in God's character and promises.
4. Speaking about spiritual disciplines that are life-giving to us - not as religious obligations but as connection points with God.
5. Offering to pray for people's needs in the moment - this not only expresses our care for them, but also brings their needs to the One who can meet them, showing them what conversation with God looks like.
The beauty of transparent spirituality is that it doesn't require special training or techniques. It is simply being intentional about allowing others to see our walk with God.
When we live this way, spiritually hungry people notice, and become interested to find out more.
Freedom From Performance
Transparent spirituality is powerful because it can't happen alongside religious performance.
In religious contexts, we often feel pressure to present our best selves – to appear more together, more holy, more consistent than we actually are. This creates a double burden: it forces us to both navigate our own challenges AND pretend to be something we're not.
This is NOT a burden that God wants us to carry.
Laying hold of this truth means embracing the fact that our relationship with God isn't based on our performance but on His faithfulness. This allows us to be real about our weaknesses and struggles while recognising God's power and presence in our lives.
When people observe this reality – someone who clearly doesn't have it all together yet experiences peace, security, and purpose through their relationship with God – it presents a radically different picture than religious performance.
Spiritually hungry people are familiar with religious performance, and they aren't interested. But authenticity resonates with their heart.
An Invitation to Freedom
As followers of Jesus engaging with our urban villages, how do we grow in transparently living out our spirituality in public spaces? What if our primary "strategy" for outreach was living in such an authentic relationship with our Father that the spiritually hungry could find us?
For one thing, we need to drop the idea that this is a solo pursuit - there is power in journeying with other brothers and sisters in Christ who share our vision and values. We need each other to live in and live out that kind of relationship with God.
This approach aligns perfectly with how Jesus said the kingdom would spread – like yeast through dough, like light from a lamp on a stand, and like salt that flavours everything it touches.
Let's live with glass walls around our spiritual lives, confident that the Father is drawing hungry hearts and will draw others to His Kingdom as they are exposed to our walk with Him.
Getting Practical
As you think about God's vision for your city and/or affinity group:
Take time to pray for your affinity groups and listen to the Holy Spirit as He reveals their spiritual hunger, questions, struggles, and desires. Consider how being open about your own relationship with God might create opportunities to connect with them.
Reflect on the example of "David," who embodies transparent spirituality as mentioned in this article. Who else in your community models this kind of transparency, and what can you learn from them?
Look over the practical steps for "How to Practice Transparent Spirituality." Which one stands out to you and your community, and how can you put it into action this week?
Discipling the Urban Harvest provides practical insights and encouragement to walk with God in multiplying discipleship in an increasingly urban world - growing as children of the Father, serving the communities He has called us to, and discipling those hungry to know Him.