Radical Christianity
When Jesus assembled the twelve along with an audience of several thousand individuals, He delivered His manifesto. We call it “The Sermon of the Mount,” but actually, it wasn’t a sermon. IT WAS A STATEMENT.
He began by challenging logic and popular wisdom. Repeatedly he said, “You have heard it said…” but then challenged the status quo with, “But I say unto you…” YES, THAT’S RADICAL- pretty radical. “I say unto you,” said Jesus, challenging their views on murder, adultery, divorce, taking oaths, doing the same thing to the other person that he has done to them, and loving their enemies. Yes, the whole thinking was radical.
This season of lent, we face the challenges of being radical. Are authentic Christians just as radical as Jesus was? YES, UNQUESTIONABLY! They are out of sync with their culture that says, “More is better; if it works, do it; as long as you don’t get caught, it’s OK-everybody else is doing it” and so forth.
Radical Christianity causes people to take to their heart the teachings of Jesus to forgive their enemies as a sign that they are children of the merciful Father.
27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you….
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27, 28, 36).
Radical Christianity causes people to faithfully fulfill their promise of presence, prayer, gift, service and witness as a way of showing their loyalty to the body of Christ and its works. Radical Christianity causes people to grow in faith as disciples of Christ. It causes men and women to walk away from their jobs and serve overseas or within their areas in hospitals, orphanages, schools, outstations, and hundred other locations. Radical Christianity causes people to actually put Christ on their lips and never hesitate to witness about Christ by telling their faith-stories. Radical Christianity touches the untouchables and chooses to believe the impossible.
HOW RADICAL IS YOUR CHRISTIANITY?
Pastor Gideon Gallo