Consider:
None of Jesus’ influence matters if I am not radically changed, if a spiritual revolution does not explode in my own heart, if my ego is not overthrown.
First, Jesus became my Savior. Then he became my Lord. Because I am saved, I serve. He makes a radical difference in who/what controls me (other people, addictions), whom I love and how (dating, marriage, family), my morals (business and sexual ethics), the use of my time (giving priority to the spiritual disciplines), my self-view (peace of mind, forgiveness, joy in his Spirit) and my worldview (my transience, assurance of salvation). I am forever changed into a radical and a revolutionary. I can’t help it. I’m not in control.
From Bill Vemillion:
Dear Mike,
Bob’s comments about being radically changed are true for those who grew up without knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. For those who have believed in Jesus all of their conscious lives and have tried to live in obedience to his teaching ever since they first began to understand what obedience and disobedience is, the change may not be radical. (For me, I knew that I was supposed to follow Jesus before I entered the first grade and tried to do so to the best of my limited understanding.) Of course, even these people will show some change as their understanding of the “Jesus walk” matures. But it is overkill to say that everyone must have a radical transformation. Still, it is a good article and should help to wake up those people who think that they can serve both God and mammon and are comfortable living lives that are indistinguishable from the lives of those who are not followers of Jesus.
Bill Vermillion
Thanks, Bill, for your response. You are correct, and make a good point. I wrote it with two groups in mind, I suppose as I look back: those who are “counting the cost” and about to make a pledge to follow Jesus, and those who merely talk their faith. You describe the latter well: “those people who think that they can serve both God and mammon and are comfortable living lives that are indistinguishable from the lives of those who are not followers of Jesus.” The more I study discipleship the better I seem to understand just how personal and compelling it is to follow in the steps of Jesus. I have been way too involved in “group think” – both in my American culture and in my spiritual walk – rather than heeding the call of my Lord that is uniquely directed to my heart. Thanks for taking time to respond. I hope you know how much I love you and respect you, and have since I first knew you in 1983.
Whether we grew up in Christ or not, we all have room to grow. The “radical-ness” would be our decision whether we become what we’ve grown to know to be true. Sometimes it takes many radical moments to get us to be Holy as “He is Holy” but we always have room for more “radical-ness”… as long as it’s the radical in the right direction- a continuing to focus on Christ and not the other overtly charismatic that goes off on tangents confusing people or making judgmental calls on their lack of faith because they have health issues.
It’s all a matter of perspective with Christ being the MAIN perspective in our thinking (and “radical-ness”) 😉