A picture of the radical believer who wishes to follow Jesus is clearly seen in the lives and practices of those known as the Anabaptists. Two major concerns seem to stick out when reading about the Anabaptists in The Jesus Paradigm, association and missions. According to both of these themes a radical believer should be one who is identified only with Christ and His concerns while rejecting any typical church performances or ideas that have no spiritual meaning.
In regards to association the radical believer should not be individualistic in his approach to ministry. He should be associated with Christ in a way that associates him with the congregation with which he worships. Humility is key to this way of life. Many so often decide to take a position in the church and treat it as though it is special just to them. Therefore, they tend to be intimidating in ways or even high-minded because they think their gifts or talents are devised just for this position, acting as though they're the only ones that can fulfill it. Humility in a radical believer who loves Jesus will lead him to work with the congregation with which he serves the Lord. Whether he or she is an expert in one area of church administration or whether an individual has the title of Dr. or whether he is the senior pastor of the local congregation his concern is to be willing to serve even in a position that is less than his present position. A radical believer is one who is willing to put the unnecessary practices and performances and ideas of the present church today behind him and practice what was done so often in the church during the first century. One is willing to serve with his brother and sister to make the name of Christ known to those around him. Whereas, today, many who serve in the church, do so with the attitude of, "I have this," or "I know all about this area." This believer, following Christ, should display humility in a way that associates him with the congregation as he serves with the congregation. Too many nowadays take their positions and their titles and are offended if you don't address them in such a way to acknowledge that issue. That is not what the New Testament taught in the first century and it is not what the Scriptures teach today.
Humility should also lead the individual radical believer in the life of sacrifice as well. Giving up that which he truly does not need is something that a person like who's been described should desire to do every day. He should be willing to give up his parking spot or hold on an extra 30 seconds just to help someone through the door way. Today the attitude of sacrifice is more along the lines of, "what can I do that will make Jesus happy as well as myself." Or an even more direct line of thinking might be, "what can I give up now that I will be able to get back later." Sacrifice of the radical believer, should, in all actuality, have very little to do with his own concerns. His mind should be so focused on Christ that he already realizes what he needs and does not need and from that his decision to give up something takes very little thought. In other words, sacrifice for this type of believer should be something that comes to him naturally, it should be a joy for him at all times putting a smile on his face and it is something that he should never think twice about with regret.
Another concern of the radical believer should be in regards to missions. Missions involves much of what has just been spoken on. The radical believer is someone who is concerned with the spread of the gospel and is ready to go anytime whether it is across the street, across the country or across the world. His desire is to see souls saved for the glory of God and if he cannot go himself he is humble enough and mature enough in his faith that he understands that prayer is the best way for him to offer his service. Many today think that prayer is just sitting around with nothing to do but saying a few words then stopping. But as Paul more than once implied to the congregations to which he wrote, prayer is hard work and is for those who are willing to give up time and effort to pray for those in intercession who are in need. This warrior looks at prayer, as a radical believer, as more necessary in some ways than a physical traveling. But not only is he humble in the sense of being able or unable to do something, he's willing to sacrifice anything, and along some lines, everything, that he might get the chance to tell someone of the glory and salvation of Jesus the Christ.
In a few words, how do I measure up? I am the perfect example of the radical believer if you stop with intention. However, add in resisting the devil, submitting to God when I desire not to do something He wishes for me to do, as well as other areas of submission and responsibility, I would have to say I have a long way to go. As a child of God I am being sanctified day by day only to realize the full truth as is stated in I John 3:2, "... but this I know, that when I shall see Him I shall be like Him, for I shall see Him as He is."
Insights gathered from The Jesus Paradigm by Dr. David Alan Black
No comments:
Post a Comment