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Radical Christians
[audio:RadicalChristians.mp3|titles=Radical Christians|artists=Christian St John]
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A few weeks ago I was talking with a friend and he revealed that he thought I was a “pretty radical” Christian, his words not mine. This got me to thinking about just what it means to be radical… especially a radical Christian.
Around that time I watched a video on YouTube in which a popular speaker and pastor gave what was described as a “shocking” message at a youth convention. In this message this speaker spoke about what it means to be radical for Christ. During his message he got extremely worked up and told some graphic stories of people who died for their faith, people he called radical Christians. I strongly agree. What it must take for someone to stand up for their faith even though it will cost them their lives can never and must never be downplayed or trivialized.
However, during his message he all but turns on the youth present at this conference and mocks them saying that they think because they wear “Christian” T-shirts and attend a few conferences that they are radical. And he all but said that they weren’t, and why? Because they weren’t missionaries and hadn’t been persecuted for their faith – To be fair he does mention something about holiness and the movement of the Spirit of God, but this is what I got from the message.
Now maybe I’m hearing this guy all wrong and if I am I ask his forgiveness, but I would personally say that the key to being radical is standing up for what they believe in is radical. And like faith I would say that being radical comes in differing amounts.
Let’s look at this for a second. A teenager who goes to school wearing a T-shirt that proclaims that Jesus Is Lord is not radical just because they wear a T-shirt; they are radical if they stand for Jesus. A work from home mother is not radical because they host an afternoon Bible study every week; they are radical if they stand for Christ. A minister who preaches Christ every week is only radical if they stand for Christ. And a missionary is only radical if they take a stand for Christ.
If you want to be radical you must take a stand for Christ, period! As I see it there is no other way to be radical.
One of the most radical statements in The Bible is “Choose this day whom you will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 I think that a radical Christian is one who takes a stand for Christ whether it be around a water cooler at work, in a high school locker room, having coffee with friends or even under the threat of death.
Going back to my conversation with my friend; the next time we had coffee I asked him why he thought I was radical. He said that although I wore pro-Jesus T-shirts, read more Christian books than the average believer, and could hold a conversation about Jesus practically anywhere and at any time it wasn’t these things that made me radical. He said I was radical because there was no doubt that I had chosen to make Jesus my sure foundation and wasn’t afraid to let the world know. He said it was obvious to him where I had taken a stand.
I don’t write this to say “See how great I am.” I write this because I what to share with you my experience and to tell you that all it takes to be radical for Jesus is to take a stand on Him and for Him. It may be that you’re challenged by work colleagues or mocked by classmates or threatened by anti-Christian extremists.
I don’t know how I would react if my life or the life of my family was threatened and I hope and pray if I were ever in that situation I would chose to do the right thing. The question we all must ask ourselves is, “will I shy away when challenged or will I take that stand and repeat those radical words, “…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
September, 2009
I want to take a stand for God, but more importantly, I want to fall madly in love with Him. I’ve prayed *the prayer* probably hundreds of times, I’ve had those mountaintop experiences that leave me on fire for God and I feel like I could take on Hell with a water gun…but that fire quickly diminishes to a small spark, i even give good godly advice, but I feel like it’s too much head knowledge and not enough heart knowledge… I absolutely crave to have that fire everyday, but I don’t know how. I am actively involved in my church and everyone around me says that it’s obvious that I am a Christian, but if it is so obvious to them, shouldn’t it be obvious to me as well?? what should I do?
Many people think that their faith should make them into some kind of superhero, impervious to all the crap of life. Christians, like everyone, gets highs and lows… this is called life. Being a Christian doesn't mean that we won't have good and bad days, it simply means we are now living for something… someone else; someone who is bigger than all of our problems and issues put together. I have learned over the years that although I have faith in Jesus I am still me, warts and all, but God loves me in spite of who I am a lot of the time. All I can say is that from my own experience I too felt this way… like I was trying to find water in a dry land. What I did was to really read and study the Bible… pray… fast… speak to God on a regular basis… become a regular churchgoer… give more with regards to time, money, love, help, etc… Find a good pastor who you can talk to. Find a good Bible study group that you can be part of. Find a good church family that you can belong to. As I said being a Christian does not take all the issues and hassles of life away, but it does give a way out from underneath them!
Bless you in your journey… Let me know how you get on!
Chris