Radical Christianity

Radical Christianity

There is an estimated 2.2 billion Christians in the world and growing. Still when one looks at the western nations in Europe and in North America the Church seems to be failing to get its message out.
Where I live in North America I know most of the churches, pastors and evangelist are honest men and women doing their best to serve God. They make it their goal in life to live a life that would honour Jesus.
Still that being said, I see all the time very high profile pastors and evangelist, particularly in the media asking for money. Saying give to this ministry or that ministry and God will reward you ten or a hundred fold. The so called name it claim it crowd. They make it sound as if God is some Sugar daddy. This provokes  the response from non-Christians that they are nothing more than money grabbers, which sadly some are.
Others heap condemnation on people. They judge people, and point to groups with lifestyles different from their own as if they have special sins. Something any true Christian knows is not true. Sin is sin be it a lie or white lie from a pastor or a murderer all sin is the same according to the bible and the apostle Paul writing to the Romans makes it clear we all sin, stating,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
                                                      Romans 3:23
In Matthew five Jesus says Christians are the salt of the earth. Unfortunately many high profile pastors in the media are salty, not salt. They make Christianity out to be a religion of do’s and don’ts. In doing so they turn people off.
As Christians we should be living our lives daily for God. We should be doing it in such away as to reflect the love of Jesus.
Francis of Assisi wrote these two statements,
“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” 
                                                                                  Francis of Assisi.
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 
                                                                                       Francis of Assisi.
Sadly from where I sit on my perch here in Canada I see far to many Christians in the media pointing out the sins of people. Judging people. That is not our job!
The apostle Paul wrote,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 
                                              1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Put simply we are to keep our own house in order and leave the judging of others to God. Something the church is sadly very bad at doing.
The churches message to the world should be,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17.
Matthews Gospel records this,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                              Matthew 22:37-40
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”
                                             Matthew5: 43-45.
We as Christians need to be radical in showing God’s love to people not judging them.
Mahatma Gandhi said,
"Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him."
                                                                                                               Mahatma Gandhi
I believe Mahatma Gandhi had dealings with people who called themselves Christians but were not. These people may have gone to church. They may have performed the rituals many churches have. Still they were not Christian. They had not accepted Jesus into their hearts and lives.
I believe this because a true Christian will love even his worst enemy.
Christians have over the centuries changed the lives of billions of people. We have done this by presenting a positive lifestyle alternative to the world around us.
Today as I see these young people in particular going off to join terrorist groups I have to ask why can’t the church reach them?
Has the message of Christ here in the west been watered down. Has the church here in the west become a decrepit  institution filled with ritual and formality that turns people off. Are there more so called Christian evangelist and preachers preaching hell fire and brimstone heaping judgment on individuals than groups that are preaching the true message of Christ, that can change lives?
We as Christians know Christ can change lives. We should be reaching out to all people in a positive manner with the message of Christ.
The message of Christ offers hope and fills ones life with meaning. The message of Christ offers rest for ones soul. Jesus saying,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                    Matthew 11:28-30.
This is what we as Christians should be doing.
Think about it.