Definition of a RADICAL Christ follower

OK, I knew you would say something about the length of my last blog. Sorry, but in all fairness I have read a few lengthy articles from you (so were even?). I will try to keep it shorter.

Here is the definition of RADICAL-- "Marked by a considerable departure from the usual or traditional:EXTREME".

When I talk about being a Radical Christian I am not talking about being radical for religion (as a set of man made attitudes, beliefs and practices); I'm talking about being Radical in our love for Christ/GOD and that is NEVER a bad thing. How can you love God too much. Don't we crave our spouses to be radically in love with us; so much so that they would lay down their lives for us if need be.

Unfortunately the norm for most Christians in the U.S. is mediocrity or go with the flow. We have let everything and anything take the place that God should have in our hearts, thus when we do see someone on fire for God, by definition, they are "RADICAL".

Let me give a few examples of Radical Christians that we should ALL thank for departing from the usual and being EXTREME--

1)Joan of Arc: led one of the greatest campaigns for freedom the world has ever seen. She bravely departed from the religion of the day and radically followed God.

2)Richard Wurmbrand: a Romanian Jewish atheist who later discovered the love of Christ and spent his life bravely spreading the gospel. When his country was confronted with communism and many were forsaking their faith out of fear, he bravely stood and declared his loyalty to Christ. He spent 14 years in prison and wrote the classic "Tortured for Christ". He continued to spread the gospel of Christ right up to his death. He is a voice for the persecuted church throughout the world and his work is established in over 80 restricted nations and 30 countries. He never lifted a finger against anyone.

3)Saint Nick, Saint Patrick, Saint Valentine: all of these saints whom the world has
transformed into something else in order to nullify their testimonies were Radically in love with Christ and out of that love did great things (I would love to share more about them but won't because of length).

4)Paul (or formerly known as Saul before he was Radically reformed for Christ): Paul is a perfect example of the difference of being Radical for a religion verses being Radically in love with Christ. Paul was so radical about his Jewish belief that he was frantically killing Christ followers right and left. Love was not his motivation; He was motivated by fear. Those who kill others for what they believe are motivated out of fear not love. After meeting Christ on the road to Damascus he RADICALLY changed and spent his life being persecuted for Christ. He went from being the persecutor to the persecuted. He was Radical in both positions but the second he was a true revolutionary.

Let me just end by saying RADICAL Christians are unwilling to set aside TRUTH for the convenience of being accepted or the privilege of living only by their own desires. They are unwilling to force their ways upon others, and they are unwilling to fight back when fighting back would deny the LOVE they are trying to show those hurting them. They fight for the spiritual freedom that is only found in Jesus and are unwilling to let that freedom go for anything.

believer in the Truth