How should we then live?

In Chapter 2 we are told of the hunger for God’s Word in places where it is limited. But it is also eagerly sought out when provided at a deeper level to those in the Western world.

What has Jesus done for us in His death? We have been freed from the punishment we rightly deserved for our disobedience and sin. The resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week confirms His power over sin and death.

Jesus, in His great love for us, willingly gave up His life and His close relationship with God, so that we who trust in Him may have life, and a close relationship with God, our heavenly Father. We cannot imagine what Jesus suffered in taking the punishment for our sins, and being forsaken by God, because we have never been in that close relationship which Jesus had in the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (see Genesis 1:1-3 and Mark 1:9-11).

This grace, this free gift from God, is totally radical. How should we then live?

Ch 2

It was exciting to hear of a church's leaders who were willing to study the bible day and night for days on end in Asia. It certainly is a contrast to our comfortable way of life here.

The approach of, "My life is not going right but God has a plan to fix my life." can fit nicely with a culture of self sufficiency, self esteem and self confidence. However it does not have to if it is made clear that faith in Jesus means faith in a complete Jesus Christ who is both Saviour and King - you can't take one part of him without the other. God will make big changes in your life for the better but he does this as your King and God's idea of improvements don't necessarily fit with Western materialist views on self improvement.

I liked the illustration of the Buddhist and Moslem discussing that different religions are all paths leading to God (although I find it very hard to believe a Moslem would be having this conversation - a Hindu or Bahai would be more likely) but Christianity is about God coming down the mountain to us in the person of Jesus.

Ch3

'The American dream is that we can do anything we set out minds to accomplish. However God delights in out inability. Its not our performance but the Holy Spirit's power. God's power is available to those who make much of God and his purposes. '

I think this is primarily about humility, trust and obediance. If this is taken out of context we stop acting and expect God to do everything. The Biblical idea fits better with William Carey's motto of 'Expect great things from God.Attempt great things from God.' He had to battle a board which told him that if God wanted the heathen converted, he would do it himself. Nehemiah is also a good example. He carried his sword and organised a systematic defence while praying fervently for God's protection.

Ch 4

The story of the church with the staggering lack of concern and even prejudice against people of other nations was rather concerning. Hopefully it is not typical of the USA, and certainly can't be when you look at the amount of mission activity which comes from that country.

He struck a very Presbyterian note when he said our purpose is to enjoy God in a relationship with him and to extend his glory to the ends of the world. The idea of multiplying his image (with having kids) and filling and subduing the world is an encouragement for big Christian families.

He also spelt out our focus nicely when he said that God loves me and saves me to show forth his glory to the nations.

We are called to make disciples of all nations. No one can say "I am not called" it was Jesus' Great Commission. The issue should be rephrased. We are all called to go to the nations and this should be our first preference. We are only absolved of this obligation if there is a good reason why we can't - and such reasons are frequently only for a season. As David Platt points out, every Christian's heart should be consumed with how we can make God's glory known to all the world.

Chapter 1
The illustration I liked best in this chapter was the one about buying the field containing the pearl of great price. It looks like you're waisting your life's savings but actually you are gaining far more.
The chapter made some good points. We're surrounded by a rich, comfortable, self obsessed culture and it is easy to be caught up in its values. Actually this is really a problem which has confronted every Christian of every age and culture. Of course each culture has its own set of temptations to be drawn into. We all want acceptance and comfort and these are gifts which our Father may or may not give. The important thing is to see these as secondary priorities and Jesus and his priorities as primary. I suspect that is the reason Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything, but did not tell Zacheas to do the same, was because the rich man's central idol in his heart was his wealth and it was the central issue blocking him from coming to Jesus.
Stephen

March 14, 2011 3:39 AM

Chapter 3

Have just read chapter 4 and feel very challenged, especially as included example of one couple older than us who only started serving in challenging situations overseas in retirement. I am trying also to remember my comment yesterday on chapter 3, which I thought I had posted but hadn't. I had been praying for guidance in big and little decisions and for obedience to follow that guidance. I was helped by reference to God giving us the Holy Spirit when we ask for guidance. Was also reminded of comment by Chris's mentor that the blessings are ours but the glory must be God. Have forgotten what else I wrote!

Two questions.

Two questions.
1. “Was I going to believe Jesus?”
2. “Was I going to obey Jesus?”

These were the questions asked by the young pastor of a wealthy 4,000-member church in Alabama.

“Someone worth losing everything for. What radical abandonment to Jesus really means” is the heading of Chapter One in this book. It is an easy read, with challenging comments throuoghout. The pastor and his wife are on a journey, as are many members in the church he leads. We are invited to join in.

Contrasts are made between Christians in the developing world and Christians in the West. In the developing world Christians in many countries must meet in secret, and they live in poverty. They suffer persecution on a regular basis. Compare this with how we live and act. Being a Christian is so easy for us. Oh, we may be ridiculed or laughed at for our faith, and may even be despised. But called in by the local police for a difficult interrogation, perhaps with a beating thrown in? No, not us! We live in a “civilised” country where we are free to practice our faith.

Why then did Jesus warn people that there would be difficulties in following Him? Why did He make it difficult? (see Lke 9:23-25, 57-62 and Mark 10:17-22 for examples).

Why do we make becoming a Christian so easy? Why do we make living as a Christian so easy? The early Christians were told it was their privilege to suffer for Christ (eg. Phil !:29-30). Jesus Himself said to His disciples that they would be persecuted because of Him (eg. John 15:18 to 16:4). Perhaps because we are seeking to be “of the world” as we live in it there is minimal opposition, and minimal impact on the world as well?

What will we make of those two questions? Will they change the way we live?

Why Radical?

Our attention was drawn to this book when it was promoted in the Nov-Dec 2010 issue of Mission Frontiers (http://www.missionfrontiers.org/issue/archive/going-radical). Millions of people are dying and going to hell without the opportunity to hear of God's love for them shown through His Son Jesus dying in their place. The church is very slow to respond to the command given by Jesus to His disciples, and to us, in each of the Gospels and in Acts 1:8 to go and make disciples in every ethnic group in the world. Something radical must happen if there is to be a change.

To help enthuse you, watch the brief video at http://www.radicalthebook.com/home.html. After logging on, choose Radical the Book and move cursor down to video on the left.  You can also read the first chapter of the book for free! If you want, you can listen to the series of 8 sermons given on this topic in the church where the author is the lead pastor (http://www.brookhills.org/media/series/radical/).

Better yet, read and pray through this book. The members of the faith family at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, have been challenged through this teaching, and many are responding so they can make an impact on the world. May each of us reading this book also be challenged and encouraged to make radical changes in our lives. May our church also be changed so that the world may be blessed.

Some may wish to make comments on what they have read, or on what others have written. This Blog is available for our good, and for the glory of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Wishing you radical blessings,
Noel