Susan, this is an excellent reminder that for wounded people (which includes most of us), “normal” is radical. I celebrate with you your healing, and thank you for posting this.
Philip

If we’re being honest, most of us consumer-driven Westerners lean radically towards ourselves most of the time and away from God. (We even invent theologies that allow us to do the former while actually doing the latter—the prosperity doctrine comes to mind.) So in that sense, we are more radical than we think. Into our self-centredness, Jesus comes—and keeps coming if we keep asking—to restore balance.

When we use the label ‘radical’ to describe anyone, we most often use it about others because it is a relative term and we are naturally self-centred; we arrive at it by comparing them with ourselves. By definition, a ‘radical’ is someone who is more extreme than I am.

As far as I’m aware, the word is used in two senses. One is complimentary: we use it to describe people whose obedience is more extreme than ours and who are really laying it all on the line; and the other is critical: we apply it to those whom we perceive as lopsided in their world-view and lifestyle. I suspect we sometimes use the word with both intentions operating simultaneously. In the latter case, we are usually trying to justify our extremeness towards Self; we have to find some way of making our own mindset and way of life seem reasonable. Not to say that it isn’t, but was Jesus reasonable?

I also get a little nervous about Christian radicals (of both political persuasions) as they try to tie political activities with following the will of God and then trying to get everyone else to follow their interpretation of what that will is.

As you observed, the OT prophets were pretty big on pronouncing judgments — and how does that square with the “Judge not lest ye be judged” tone of the NT?

Was Jesus a radical? I think yes and no, depending upon how you define radical. A political radical? Jesus didn’t even do civil disobedience of not paying taxes to an oppressive foreign power, let alone hold peace rallies in front of the Roman armory, so I rather doubt he would align Himself with ‘radicals’ who become human shields to prevent wartime bombings.

(An aside: I guess I would have more respect for modern anti-war radicals if they went to Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, etc., and protested against those countries’ human rights abuses, corruption, suppression of free speech, lack of freedom of religion, and lack of equal rights for women… but you know, I never see that. It’s always against the U.S., and so, for me, I tend to write them off.)

A radical for social good by word and deed? Yes, I think Jesus fits that description of countercultural behavior, though one could argue that it was the false interpretation of God’s true intent that actually made the Pharisees the radicals against God’s true meaning. Perhaps Jesus was the ultimate ‘radical reconciler’ – quite a juxtaposition of terms, eh?

As for the ‘radicals’ for social good that you cited… who combat sexual trafficking; bring healing and comfort to victims of disease, famine, and disaster; dig wells and set up water systems; invent bicycle ambulances for places where no roads exist; provide housing for outcasts with leprosy; run homes for AIDS orphans… those people I respect very much – though I would observe that not all in those efforts are motivated by Christianity – I suspect there are quite a few agnostics, atheists, and other religions involved.

I guess I would ask you: how do you define what a radical is… and is not?

P.S. You are my favorite Christian writer because you get all my little grey cells to engage with what you’ve written.

I recently got a promotion and pay rise I said I’d give more to charity (especially a foodbank and those working with people who are homeless) but I haven’t actually organised the automatic payments yet. I’ll do it this weekend. Tell me off if I don’t!