Radical Love
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
“Christianity is radical, Beth.” These words were my husband’s initial response to the news that I had become a born-again Christian. Though he was not there at this point, he understood what I was talking about. He had been reading his Bible and had a better understanding than I did of what this commitment to Christ would cost me (and us).
That conversation was about twenty years ago. Since then the Lord has also given my husband the same gift of faith He had given me. It has, indeed, been a radical change in both of us, in our marriage, and in our family.
Recently, I have been studying Paul’s letter to the Galatians. As I have worked my way through the first couple of chapters I am seeing that Paul is saying the same thing to the Galatians about their faith. It is radical, other people aren’t going to like it when you live faithfully before God, trusting Jesus Christ for salvation. Jewish leaders were trying to tie in rules for the Gentiles to follow that took away from the work of Christ on the cross. Things like circumcision and eating or abstaining from certain foods, foods God had called clean.
Paul makes the point (angrily) to Peter that expecting others to obey these laws is hypocritical. Paul accuses Peter in Galatians 2:12-13, “For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.”
Apparently Peter, like many of us, was very concerned about what other people thought, especially people in influential positions in the synagogue, rather than what God thought. It made me wonder how often I succumb to the same fear of man without realizing I have done it. Have I held my tongue, holding back praise of Jesus’ Name in some settings because I didn’t know how it would be received? Have I failed to openly pray before a meal because I felt like I was pushing the issue if I did? Have I let gossip go thinking it would be hard to tell someone else they were sinning, or I was afraid I was, by listening to it?
It is a scary thing to know God is constantly looking at the heart; He knows my motives and my fears. One of my fears is the ease with which I confuse how God and people operate. To win man’s approval I usually do something for them. I work harder, say nicer things or say nothing at all, or help out in some way. To “win” God’s approval is a prideful thought. He is the One who comes to us, He offers faith as a free gift. He has works for us to do but our approval is given when we accept the gift and believe God. That has been true for a very long time. In Genesis 15:6, speaking of Abraham, the Bible says, “And he believed the LORD, and He counted it to him as righteousness.” Righteousness before God comes through faith.
Once God opens our eyes to the truth it is not hard to believe Him (actually, it’s impossible to not believe). Sadly though, it’s hard leaving behind those parts of us He wants to change, the parts other people see and like or approve of that God clearly wants us to give up. One of the radical parts of Christianity is believing God’s way is better than man’s way, that every law God gives us is for our good. He wants to bless us and give us the abundant life He promises those who love Him. He judges our love by our obedience to His commandments (John 14:15).
Many people want to believe that the abundant life comes through faith. What comes through faith is salvation, the promise of an eternity with God in heaven. The blessings on earth come partly from that hope but, also from being willing to live a life pleasing to God while we are here. Though the law will not condemn us to hell if we have faith in the work of Jesus to take our sin, disobeying God’s law will have consequences here that will feel like a curse and not a blessing – because that’s what God says. Obeying God’s law is what makes Christianity radical.
He is a loving God and out of that love comes His desire to see us live prosperous and abundant lives. We want that to be material wealth but that’s not what He promises. He promises peace, love, mercy, and grace — true prosperity and abundance.
We don’t obey God’s law so He will love us, He already does. We obey God’s law out of gratitude for the way of forgiveness made for us through Christ, a loving act from the Most High God.
Is yours a radical response to His love?