Much is said on occasions about being “Radical” as a Christian.

Some see it as being “out there” or sharing their faith with great abandon.

But this is not what the word means. I refer to Webster’s Dictionary:

Radical – adjective  (rad·​i·​cal   ˈra-di-kəl )

1:  of, relating to, or proceeding from a root: such as

A (1) : of or growing from the root of a plant (radical tubers)

   (2) : growing from the base of a stem, from a rootlike stem, or from a stem that does not rise above the ground (radical leaves)

B: of, relating to, or constituting a linguistic root

C: of or relating to a mathematical root

D: designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased and potentially diseased tissue (radical surgery)

2:   of, or relating to, the origin : Fundamental

To truly be considered a Radical Christian, one would be displaying the attributes typically seen in the believers of the early Church (Acts Chapters 2 to 7)and showing the outworkings of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5 to 7).

These passages are often disregarded as being applicable to the Believer in this time and more importantly this culture.

In my early Christian life I was influenced (for the better) by the writings of Arthur Wallis (The Radical Christian and God’s Chosen Fast) and AW Tozer (The pursuit of God and Knowledge of the Holy).

But more recently I was challenged by a little orange book called “Radical”.

I read Radical in 2011 and it struck a chord with me. Author, David Platt, challenges readers to “take back their faith from the American (or Australian) dream”, and to live a counter-cultural lifestyle.

 I challenge you to read it with a heart and mind open to the Lord’s intervention.

For almost forty years I have continually been challenged by a couple of verses from the Book of Acts:

“None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:13-14)

Would you consider if Jesus expects anything less than being truly “radical” from those who profess to belong to Him?