Yep. You got it – that ‘love everyone’, ‘turn the other cheek’, ‘Father, forgive them’ guy was a RADICAL. In a time when obedience to the law, and ONLY obedience to the law was the pathway to salvation for Jews (and only Jews and those ‘properly’ converted), when phylacteries were worn on the heads and arms of the ‘truly righteous’…He came along with the message that God loves EVERYONE. That you only need to have faith the size of a mustard seed in order to be saved. That the whole of the law can be summed up as “Love God more than anything else and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” That your neighbor is (horror of horrors) someone you loathe – someone who is on par with animals in your worldview. That’s it. Radical, indeed, at the time – when breaking even ONE of several hundred laws (minutely detailed and intricately spelled out) could mean exclusion from religious ceremonies, shunning, public humiliation, and even stoning. Radical, indeed.
So, it bothers me a bit to hear churches talking about adopting ‘centrist’ positions. I want that from my politicians – because it means something might actually get done. But when I hear churches talking about it, I hear “we are comfortable here, we don’t want to upset anyone, and we need to keep our membership stable.” Oh, those aren’t the words they use, they say things like “It’s Biblical – God doesn’t support X, it’s right here in Y-Book 4:81.”
A central position risks nothing. It maintains the status quo. We’re comfortable feeding the poor, clothing the hungry, visiting the housebound, etc…As long as it’s on ‘safe’ and ‘comfortable’ terms, through ‘appropriate’ channels; or, as the Presbyterians say: “Decently, and in order.” (my family will get that!) There is nothing wrong with the status quo – it provides a time of rest after growth, it gives a breathing space after change, and it reflects a temporarily static time that is natural in the lives of all churches. But maintaining the status quo isn’t our goal, and shouldn’t be where we lay down our tools, step back, and say ‘well, we did it.’
So, what IS the church’s goal? Well, simplistically, I suppose our goal is to bring the message of Christ to the world and bring the world into the Family of God while living as examples of Him to the best of our Christ-driven ability…relying, as always, on His grace and mercy to sustain us. (Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”)
So, what’s a radical to do? Well, a radical would emulate Christ – and go out and DO what Christ commissioned us to do.
1) Make disciples of all nations. What’s a disciple? A ‘learner’ to begin with. (John 8:31) A disciple studies the Word of God so he/she can use it appropriately as they live out that Word in their lives and so they can prepare to instruct others (after all, that’s part of what a disciple does!). Not too radical yet…we live in an educated society.
A disciple is also a ‘follower.’ Of Christ. Not of their pastor, their deacon, their spouse, or even the apostle Paul. Of Christ. Getting closer to radical.
A disciple is also willing to sacrifice….even to the extent of dying, both figuratively (Matthew 10:37-39) and literally (Revelation 2:10). Pretty radical.
A disciple also loves all other disciples. ALL. One more time. ALL other disciples. (John 13:34-35) Not just when we agree with them; not just when they are doing what WE think is right; not just when they are conforming to our standards of what an ‘acceptable’ Christian does/is like. Unconditionally. No matter what. (1 Corinthians 13:7) Once again – pretty radical.
A disciple bears fruit. It shows who we belong to; who our leader is; what values He has instilled in us. (John 15:8) Not really a radical idea, but for many, it seems, their fruit is ‘theoretical’: “in THEORY we love all Christians – just not enough to accept them unconditionally.” In THEORY, we are ‘reaching out’ – while establishing boundaries and limits for how ‘barely acceptable’ Christians can use the gifts/talents God gave them. In THEORY, we are inclusive and welcoming of those who are ‘different’ – while adopting policies and associations that are exclusionary and divisive.
A centrist position, while a necessity after times of growth, turmoil, and other events, keeps us where we’re at. A Christ-focused, radical position moves us closer to the Kingdom. Or does it move the Kingdom closer to us?
Christ was a radical: (Mark 9:38-40)
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us.“
A final thought, because I’m feeling a bit ‘Rodney King-ish’ and wanting to know if all Christians can ‘just get along’ – and because Eddie Izzard is my favorite comedian:
“I went down, told them to hang out, drink wine – they split into groups: Catholics, Protestants, Jesuits, Methodists, Evangelicals, Free Presbyterians, ‘Locked Up’ Presbyterians, the Quakers, the Bakers, the Candlestick Makers.” Radical, man.
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