I remember a year or two ago we did a series in youth group called radical. During it, we learned that radical means both 'returning to the root or original of something' and 'very unusual or extreme.' The Gospel, especially as expressed now, is radical in both senses... but here I refer primarily to the second definition.
Christ does not ask for some. He requires all.
We are to have no trace of sin. "Abstain from even the appearance of evil"
We are to be in constant communion with God. "Pray without ceasing." "Praying always"
We are to be joyful in everything. "In everything give thanks."
We are to remain completely pure. "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints."
We are to completely consider all results of our actions. "See then that you walk circumspectly."
We are to die to sin, kill sin, put off sin, flee sin, 'reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin'
We are to die. "Take up your cross and follow me"
And
We are to do so until we become perfect. "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
That is only the beginning...
1 comment:
Radical indeed. You picked up on the extremes that are in the gospel quite well...but one also realizes that it is also unusual. God died; we are unable to do anything good ourselves but are responsible for doing good; God is holy but saves sinners; God is triune--three but one; ...if these things were in a man-made religion, they would have been dismissed as insane early on and Christianity would never have grown. But despite the gospel being both extreme and unusual, God has preserved it throughout history.
Personally, I find that amazing. ^_^
--Josiah C.
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