Radical

There's an older couple I cherish and love to visit. They live literally in the middle of nowhere - at the end of a windy dirt road, a 25 minute slog from any main road, and almost 2 hours from any decent sized settlement in a remote part of the country. They had to clear the bush and build the road to their property when they bought the land. Their house was built from scratch, a work of love using found lumber and river stones. They have no electricity, no phone. It's one of my favourite places in the world and my dream house, mainly because I see how something of such beauty came at such cost.

My parents visited them last week. It was the first time my mother met this couple. On her return, I asked, "Isn't it amazing?! Aren't they great?!"
She agreed, but said, "There's no way I could live there."

That's where we're different. Nothing against my mum, but she prefers the comfort of electricity and the security of being close to a doctor. I relish the thought of pioneering, getting my hands dirty, roughing it. Every time I stay there, I feel refreshed, and realise how much I love being away from all the mod-cons that we take so for granted. I don't even miss them. In fact, I hunger for more simplicity.

I think we have turned comforts into needs in our minds. Tell a Western person that they can live quite happily and safely without electricity and they'll look at you funny. But it's not only possible - people did so for millenia, and many still do out of necessity or choice.
Take a TV or computer away from someone and they'll cry blue murder. But life continues, and for many who make the lifestyle change, they realise how incredible it is to get outside or read a book... or whatever.
Remove the car - people walk. And get stronger.
Unplug the internet and people slowly start doing things that they used to before 1999! It CAN be done!

People who DO these things are seen as radicals, extreme, idealistic. Because how could we expect 'normal' people to do such things?

OK, I may sound like a hippie now... in many ways I guess I am one - (I love their flowy shirts!!), but this is all a picture to me of the life Christ calls us to.

No, there is no place in the Bible where Jesus says, "Turn off the TV and follow me", but He does ask us to follow Him no matter what and be prepared to sacrifice all our other perceived 'needs'.

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:25-33 "(NIV)

I get so frustrated by the thinking that following Christ should fit into our daily routines, should be comfortable and not shake too many feathers.

People thought my friends were mad when they set off to start building their house in the bush. But they persevered and worked hard over many years, and the result is incredible. They still face trials, but they stick with things. They had considered the cost, and faced it.

My mum, when she saw their lifestyle, knew she wouldn't be able to handle living that way. Good for her - she considered the cost. As for me, the notion of living like this couple appeals and I'd like to think I could do the same. But if I were given the opportunity tomorrow, would I last it out? Could I really handle it? I would have to do some hard thinking before making any commitment. I would need to carefully consider the cost.

The concept that our Christian life is meant to be radical, totally different from the world, and extreme, seems to jar people. It's more comfortable to focus on the 'blessings' of Christianity - which are there, yes, and incredible. But Jesus asks us to be radical. He warns us to consider the cost.

And we are to follow Him radically, with everything we are, with everything we've got. And it IS possible. The Holy Spirit makes following Christ fully possible.

I think we have turned Christian 'comforts' into needs in our minds. At the end of the day, God is ALL we truly need - when air and food and water and life here run out, He is IT! Are we replacing a total devotion to following, loving and representing Him to a lost world with nice songs on Sunday, motivating speeches and chatty fellowship? These are all great, but are we living sold out lives for Jesus at the same time?

Sorry if this is turning into a bit of a rant. I'm just sick of the condescending looks, the tut-tuts, and 'you're young and idealistic. Just wait a few years.' or 'everyone's radical when they're young.'

Does your Christian walk look radical to others? Does it refuse to conform to the pattern of this world?

If you're not prepared to live radically for Christ, sit down now and consider the cost. What are you doing following Him then?