Radical

In the 20th century, being radical meant pursuing your lusts uninterrupted with multiple strangers. In the 21st century, being radical means finding a girl you like, marrying her, and having some babies. And, if you’re really radical, having some white babies.

For the 20th century boy, being 16 and being a radical meant dressing like your mum. In the 21st century, being 16 and being radical means dressing like a man.

For the 20th century Christian woman, being a radical meant dancing at all-night revival meetings complete with a smoke machine and strobe lighting. For the 21st century Christian, being radical means singing ancient hymns and praying on bended knee.

For the 20th century Christian man, being radical was the goal. For the 21st century Christian man being faithful, being chaste, and being in bed by 10pm has become the goal, which it turns out, is pretty radical.

In this world, genuine faithfulness will almost always appear to the masses as radical. More than that, it will be treated as oppositional and defiant.

If you do a really good job of it, you will also be regarded as an unloving trouble-maker (1 Kings 18:17) and one will wonder why you don’t just join in with everybody else.

Peter tells us not to be surprised by this (1 Peter 4:4). Nor should we try and justify our conduct to meatheads (Proverbs 26:4).

Let the liars lie and let the devil malign. Let those who defile their conscience stumble and rescue those who reach out for help.

Let your aim be as steady as a star and let your heart be free of all bitterness and envy.

You pursue the great purpose of your life in Christ until you hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

And if all that be counted radical, then bear the taunt with a happy heart.