Empire vs. Kingdom: Would Jesus Be Building a Platform?

We live in a world obsessed with platform—followers, reach, metrics, influence. But what if the way of Jesus runs in the exact opposite direction? In this solo episode, I dig into the tension between the world's way of empire and the countercultural way of God's kingdom. From the Tower of Babel to the temptation of Christ to the upside-down leadership of the cross, we'll trace what Scripture actually shows us about building something that lasts—and what it looks like for believers to navigate social media with humility, purpose, and integrity. If you've ever felt the pull to build your own name online, this one's a gut check and an invitation.

In this episode:

• The temptation to build a platform—and why Satan's offer to Jesus still echoes today
• How social media metrics shape our hearts and our idea of influence
• The Tower of Babel as a picture of empire: making a name for ourselves
• Building for self vs. building for the kingdom
• Jesus' upside-down kingdom, where the way up is down
• The cross as the ultimate act of sacrificial leadership—"the King of kings on the cross"
• How the early church influenced the world through humility and even persecution
• Jesus' surprising approach to crowds, platforms, rest, and relationship
• Practical ways to live out kingdom values in a digital world

Timestamps:

• 00:00 — Introduction: the temptation of platform building
• 02:15 — The influence of social media and its temptations
• 11:26 — The Tower of Babel and the heart of empire
• 16:14 — The contrast: building for self vs. building for the kingdom
• 20:38 — Jesus' upside-down kingdom and humility
• 26:28 — Jesus' sacrificial leadership and the cross
• 30:23 — The early church's model of influence and persecution
• 36:06 — Jesus' approach to platforms and crowds
• 39:06 — The importance of rest and relationship in influence
• 43:30 — Living out kingdom values in a digital world