(Read Part 1)
I’ve received a lot of feedback from last week’s post that has been encouraging and thought-provoking. The level of interest tells me that many of us struggle to make sense of the desire to be more radical and the reality of day-to-day life. So, let’s continue the conversation by looking at two Christians leading very different lives: Missionary Max and Homemaker Heather.
Missionary Max was in business school and was engaged to be married when he first heard about the people in the 10/40 window who had never heard the Gospel. The eternal state of those people began to weigh on his heart more and more, and after much prayer, he committed himself to being a missionary overseas. He dropped out of business school and went to seminary. His fiance broke their engagement, not desiring that type of life. Within three years, Missionary Max was in the throes of 10/40 window missions.
Homemaker Heather went to seminary because she wanted to be a missionary in the 10/40 window. While in school, she met her husband. As their marriage began, they found themselves paying off their student loans by working odd jobs that weren’t in their plans. Soon, they had their first child, and then their second, and then their third. Within just a few years, Homemaker Heather’s life had become a daily routine of making breakfast for the family, kissing her husband goodbye as he went to work, homeschooling her children, driving them to extra-curricilar activities, and striving to be on time to church services and events.
Who is Living the More Radical Life?
The natural answer to this question is Missionary Max. He sacrificed everything he had and every ambition he had been working toward in order to bring the Gospel to those who would never hear it otherwise! Compared to him, Homemaker Heather is living easy, right? She has a nice house, and a nice family, and a nice church with nice seats! Right?
Though the natural answer to this question is Missionary Max, that’s also the wrong answer. And the answer isn’t Homemaker Heather either! The truth is this: Radical Christianity cannot be measured by comparing our lives with one another.
“What is that to you? You follow me!”
In John 21:18-21, we have a story that helps us to understand this truth. Jesus is reinstating Peter to his ministry, and he essentially tells him, “You are going to follow me to the point of death.” How does Peter respond? He looks at John, and then asks Jesus, “What about him? Will he die for you as well?” Peter feels the need to compare the life he will lead with the life John will lead, and Jesus’ response is telling: “What is that to you? You follow me!”
Jesus’ response is instructive for us. It indicates that radical devotion to Jesus is not measured horizontally, by comparing ourselves to one another. Radical devotion to Jesus is measured vertically, by answering the question, “Am I following Jesus in the specific life he has given to me?”
Three Principles for Radical Christianity
- All Christians have one radical calling: Follow Jesus.
- No Christian is exempt from being radically committed to “ordinary” things (see part 1).
- Each Christian has a unique path to follow Jesus on, and walking on that path is truly “radical”.
Kevin DeYoung writes, “We all have a cross to carry. But it’s a cross that kills our sins, smashes our idols, and teaches us the folly of self-reliance. It’s a cross that says I’ll do anything to follow Jesus, not a cross that says I have to do everything for Jesus.”
Missionary Max cannot begrudge Homemaker Heather for “having it easy” while he has “sacrificed everything”. And Homemaker Heather must not feel guilt for her inability to do “really important things” with her life. They are both following Jesus on the specific path he has marked out for them. Compared to the sinful lives of self-worship we are all inclined to lead, this is truly “radical”.