Radical or Average?

3 John 11

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Though our works are not what brings about salvation in our lives, works are a huge indication of a life. They can be manipulated to portray a false reality by posing to play a role, however, genuine actions are a key indicator of the status of a personal standing with God. The outlook on sin that one has, the love that flows from them, the desire to share His word, all of these and so many more are indicators of where one stands. A person that is sold out for God views sin as disgusting and wants nothing to do with partaking in sin, they seek to avoid compromise to the best of their ability, they have a love like God would have for everyone, friends and enemies alike, and they would have a burning passion to share His word with everyone, not just people that are similar to them. Now, many people’s response to this is “well, that’s great and all, but that’s for a RADICAL CHRISTIAN, what about if I just want to be an ORDINARY CHRISTIAN?” My response to that is, is there such thing as an ordinary Christian? This is a question that I can answer with no certainty. Personally I believe that a true follower of God, wants to be a radical Christian, and is never content with not following Him with everything. The concept of an “ordinary” Christian strikes me as one of a desire for less than is required, a lack of desire to excel, a misplaced passion, a desire to live one’s own life, a desire to make God the passenger rather than the driver. This to me sounds more like a good person than a godly one. It sounds to me like a person that is in love with the world and its offers and isn’t willing to give it all up for God. Family, as people that are called to imitate good, and since good is defined by God, we are to imitate Him. We are to be holy as He is holy (I Peter 1:16). We are to be imitators of Christ. Christ lived nothing short of a radical life, He challenged the status quo because He knew that it was short of what God desired! If our King came and lived a radical life to the point that He died for it, what makes us think that we don’t have to? 

Even if being an “ordinary Christian” was good enough for salvation (though I am not sure it is because only God can decide), I would not be looking forward to the day that I would stand before my King, and look Him in the eye and say, “God, I was an ordinary Christian for you.” Only to hear His reply, “Why? I gave you so much potential and had so much that I desired to do through you to reach my people. Why were you happy with throwing away what I hoped for you?” That response would devastate me and make me wish that I could do it all over again to be a radical Christian.

May we be RADICAL CHRISTIANS FOR GOD.