Radical.

"When Jesus saw His ministry drawing huge crowds, He climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to Him, the committed, climbed with Him...Arriving at a quiet place, He sat down and taught His climbing companions..." Matthew 5:1-2..


This weekend, I have really been trying to get into God's word, hoping to find His plan for my life. I have really been focused on the "red letters," the ones that Jesus Himself spoke... I am completely in awe of how opposite His words are from what pastors teach and Christians and the world live.

Churches in America do anything and everything to get people into their churches...They do everything to make people want to accept Christ... Which, don't get me wrong, is a good thing. Jesus commands us to go to the ends of the earth proclaiming His name and salvation. They focus on God's love and His grace, and forget to tell people that Christ wants them to be radical and uncomfortable...Think about it, when people came to Jesus wanting to follow Him, He said things like, "Count the cost. You must hate your father and mother. Give up everything. Sell all you own and give to the poor." Don't you find it ironic? We do everything we can to get a big crowd...and Jesus did everything to weed the crowd out to get those who were truly devoted to Him. When the crowds started getting big, He said things like, "Eat my flesh..Drink my blood." God's kingdom is completely upside down when compared to the world. Or, I guess, our world's ways are completely upside down when compared to His ways. Jesus says, "Bless those who curse you...If someone insults you or hits one cheek...Don't fight back, let them hit the other one too.." When the church tells you that God want to bless you financially, Christ says, "You can't serve both God and money...It's harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God than a camel through the eye of a needle..." When Pastors give an altar call and say that accepting Christ is easy, I can't help but think of Paul who was imprisoned for the Gospel...the martyrs...the ones that are giving their lives today for Christ. Sometimes, I think Jesus just weeps over His people...I can't help but think He tells ABBA, "I didn't die so they could be comfortable...I died that they would live with boldness and power.."
Jesus is not concerned with comfort...If He was, He wouldn't have gone to the cross. Jesus calls us to be radical.

Are you willing to climb the mountain with Christ? If you do, He will take you to a quiet place and teach you what it is really like to follow Him...