"For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they
were willing of themselves..."
- 2 Corinthians 8:3
Biblical radicalism has to do with our intense behavior to be like Jesus. It is something that involves being spiritually provoked or challenged to make extreme changes so that we carry out our life in such a way that people actually see Jesus rather than just hear of Jesus coming from our lips. By looking to find a pattern for biblical radicalism we merely have to look to David, the king of Israel, who generously leaped and danced before the Lord. His heart of worship appeared vile before men, but was honored as being a man after God's own heart.
Becoming radical in our faith means we have to step out of our comfort zones and confront areas where we have become stuck in a routine that is non-progressive. In other words, we have to learn to strive for more, not settle for less. We have to purposefully stretch ourselves to embrace things that demand of us to go beyond what is common or conventional.
The average Christian will live his or her life bound to a containment field where they seldom achieve more than what they can do in their own ability. And yet, everything we know about the Christian faith is coming to the realization that we are helplessly impaired to attain all that God has for us, if indeed, all we do is depend upon our own abilities. The very purpose in God sending us a helper, the Holy Spirit, was to break us out of our own containment. If everything within the Christian life was achievable through our own enablements, then what difference would there be in adhering to any other religion in the world? What causes Christianity to stand out above and beyond every other belief is that there is a power it holds that can take us beyond our ability and bring us into extraordinary living.
God has so much more in store for each of us, but it is not going to come without us being stretched to go beyond what we can achieve within our own person. This is the point that Paul made in addressing the church of Corinth. He wanted them to know how that the believers in Macedonia went beyond their power, being willing of themselves to do something far more radical than what appeared to be the ordinary.
There is a need within the Christian community for radical behavior, especially when it comes to expressing the passion of Jesus. One thing I have learned about giving myself over to God's love is that it creates opportunity for me to go beyond myself. Love can be very demanding, but it is one of the most absolute and unequivocal pleasures in stepping up into a better life.
There is nothing more satisfying than to reach out and love through extraordinary measures. If you have had any restraint at making love your aim then it is time to get radical. It is time to break out and do something wild and extravagant when it comes to expressing the love of God. Give God an opportunity to stretch you in ways that takes you beyond yourself. Decide that your life is going to touch people to where you truly make a difference.
The world does not need another religion. It needs a supernatural power and ability that induces radical change. There is a power within your grasp that can separate you from being retained or contained. The gospel of Jesus Christ holds a supernatural ability to take you beyond where you ever dreamed you could go. To make that step beyond you, begin today by doing something that is extreme! Be a blessing to someone where you impact their life in such a way that it changes the whole dynamics of their world! That is what being Christ-like is all about! It is in essence, becoming biblically radicalized.
