Radical Christianity

By Pastor Mitch Horton | October 2000 | Posted in • Archives | (1) Comments

There is a tremendous need for radical change in the Body of Christ today. The term Christian has come to mean very little in our “anything goes” culture. We need to restore value to the name Christian.

The word radical means “having to do with the root or source; basic; fundamental; in favor of basic or great changes or reforms.”

These days so many who profess to be Christians are Christian in name only; there is little or no difference between their actions and those of unbelievers. Lying, cheating, gambling, fornication, homosexuality, self-centeredness, greed, and idolatry (which is anything that takes a priority over God), are rampant in the lives of regular church goers! For some, church has even become an entertainment event to attract the largest crowds, instead of a training ground for evangelism and holy living.

Our present day American society caters to everyone and everything. “Diversity” and “tolerance” are the order of the day. Certainly we are distinctly varied as individuals; God made us that way. And we are to tolerate each other’s God-bestowed unique qualities. But tolerating diversity should never mean embracing or condoning a lifestyle of sin! We are called to challenge our culture. Our lives should bring conviction and repentance into the hearts of those who know us because of the presence or the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt looses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”

With one accord, we Christians must become people of the Presence, so that just like Peter and John, unbelievers will look at us and know that we have been with Jesus? (See Acts 4:13)

Let’s get right to the point. Let me ask you a question: Does your lifestyle support what you believe? In other words, can people tell what you believe by looking at the way you live your life? Yes, Ephesians 2:8-9 does say “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is that gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” But we are taking this scripture to the extreme when we discount the importance of good works as proof of what we believe.

Jesus said that men would see our good works and be drawn to God by them! Our works are evidence to an unbelieving world that tremendous change has occurred within us.

It is my belief that many who attend church today have given, as John Wesley termed it “mental assent” to salvation. That is, they believe certain things about the Bible with their minds, but this knowledge hasn’t changed their hearts or lifestyles. This is Satan’s most subtle counterfeit to a true salvation experience.

The book of James highlights the works that follow faith as proof of living faith. James 2:14 reads, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can faith save him?” James is emphasizing the fact that true heart faith will have the evidence of outward works to verify its authenticity.

Weymouth’s translation of James 2:14 states it this way: “What good is it, my brethren, if a man professes to have faith, and yet his actions do not correspond?” Moffat translates this verse, My brothers, what is the use of anyone declaring that he has faith, if he has no deeds to show?” Lastly, the twentieth Century New Testament asks “My brothers, what’s the good of a man’s saying that he has faith, if he does not prove it by actions?”

Our faith in Jesus as Lord will be proven by the actions of our lifestyles. Of course, we’ll still be imperfect and still make mistakes. But a definite change in our inner attitudes and motives will be apparent. There may be areas of the flesh that we must conquer and subdue, but when we do sin, we will have a desire to repent of that sin, and to be free of it.

Notice James 2:17, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Weymouth’s New Testament translates it, “So also faith, if it is unaccompanied by obedience, has no life in it - so long as it stands alone.” And in the Amplified New Testament we read, “So also faith, if it does not have works [deeds and actions of obedience to back it up], by itself is destitute of power, inoperative, dead.”

Therefore, if someone claims to be a Christian, but his daily life exhibits no evidence to confirm that confession, then he has dead, inoperative, lifeless faith. And he is not saved!

So, lets get real! If you are a true believer, you will have a desire inside to live a godly life and to cease all participation in sinful activities. And when you do sin, you will feel remorse for what you have done. You will want to repent and ask forgiveness, and will desire to stop that activity!

A person who professes to be a Christian, yet continues knowingly in the paths of sin, has no evidence to back up what he believes. What he does have is “mental assent,” not heart faith. That person has actually had a false conversion experience! Sadly, today’s churches are filled with precious people just like that.

Jesus said it this way “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Jesus is basically telling us that there will be those who say they are Christians, but whose actions don’t agree with their words.

He then gives us the illustration of the two houses, one built on rock, the other on sand. The house built on rock represents the person who hears and practices the Word. The house built on sand depicts the one who hears His word, but fails to let if affect his daily behavior. (See Matt.7:24-27)

Please allow me to bring clarity at this point: After you are born again, you will make mistakes. And that does NOT mean that you’re not a Christian! 1 John 1:9 was written to believers. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” In 1 John 2:1, John elaborates, saying, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. and if anyone (any believer) sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

In those who have been born again, a fundamental change has occurred deep within. “Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”(2Cor.5:7) The incessant desire to sin then diminishes. In its place, the Holy Spirit creates new desires to live godly and holy lifestyles. And when we sin as believers, we know that we have done wrong. Our conscience smites us, and we feel an urgency to stop the sin and ask forgiveness for it.

Notice 1 John 3:9; “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” This verse explains why continuing in sin with an unrepentant heart, without confession or forsaking of the sin, can no longer be a way of life for a true believer.

Liars, for instance, who are genuinely born again become truthful. Those who get saved while living together as if married will separate themselves with a new resolve to remain pure. The thief who has made Jesus his Lord returns stolen goods, refusing to steal any longer. In short, anyone who has truly met the Lord Jesus CHANGES.

The Amplified New Testament translates 1 John 3:9 as follows, “No one born (begotten) of God deliberately and knowingly habitually practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him - His principle of life - the divine sperm - remains permanently within him - and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.”

In the sixteenth century, John Calvin and Jacob Arminius attended the same institutions of learning, but emerged bearing distinctly contrasting views of our relationship with the Lord. Their differing ideas, which formed two opposing schools of theology, have at times sharply divided the church world.

“Old school” Calvinists believed that people could be saved if they were predestined for salvation by God, that is, if He chose to give them a repentant heart. Today, “new school” Calvinists adhere to the doctrine of eternal security, or once saved, always saved.”

The Arminian immediately embraces the other extreme, that if one commits the smallest sin, then he is immediately lost and needs to be saved all over again. You’re born again…. and again, and again, and again!

Due to the influence of Calvinism, many today have the idea that once you are born again, you’re saved for good, and you’ll go to heaven when you die, regardless of how you live. We call that unconditional, eternal security. I do not see this belief substantiated in Scripture, when the whole counsel of God is considered. On the other hand, many today believe that the smallest sin will keep you out of heaven.

The real truth lies somewhere in between these two extremes. I believe that the Word of God teaches conditional eternal security, that is, that I am secure in my relationship with the Lord as long as I continue in faith, a real faith that is evidenced by lifestyle.

The Lord “is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24 is gloriously true; yet we also have the responsibility of keeping ourselves in the faith: “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” (1 John 5:18)

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

John 10:27-28 reads, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.”

D.L. Moody said of this scripture passage, “Some read the passage as if it says: ‘My sheep heard my voice, and I know them, and they followed me, and I gave them eternal life.’” Concerning these verses, Moody then added, “The verbs are present linear, indicating continuous action by the sheep and by the shepherd….”

Our ongoing relationship with Jesus will motivate us towards an honest, healthy self-examination. Our fellowship with Him will have a purifying effect on our daily conduct.

Let’s confront ourselves with regular spiritual checkups, including penetrating questions such as these: Am I closer to the Lord now than I have been in the past? Am I living in unrepentant , repetitive sin? Does my lifestyle reflect my faith in Jesus as Lord? Can others see my “good works”? Does the way I live in daily life at home, work, leisure, and when alone give glory to my heavenly Father? Are my innermost attitudes and motivations coming in line with the Word? Do I confess my sin when I know I’ve done wrong?

Our nation will change only as we change! National revivals are sparked when the church enters into genuine repentance. We NEED radical, fundamental, transformation in our Christian lives. An increasingly darkened world is desperate for the light within us!

Let’s begin today by challenging apathy and lack of zeal, and purposing to thoroughly rid ourselves of lukewarmness. The Lord of the harvest is looking for laborers. There’s a harvest ready to be reaped, a harvest of souls for the kingdom of God. Can he count on you?