Radical Work

 

“Beth, Christianity is radical.”

My husband’s words were too late. The Lord had graciously been pursuing me and I had bowed my knee to Jesus Christ. There was no turning back. Now, twenty years later, I know it is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Lately I have been  wondering if “my” Christianity is radical. A couple in our church introduced us to a ministry called “Abolish Human Abortion”. In my mind they define radical. They will use all Biblical prescriptions for stopping abortion.

They will stop a woman on her way into an abortion clinic (they call it a mill) and tell her what she is about to do is murder. They call it sin but also tell her there is a solution to the problem of sin. They offer counsel and assistance to the woman who will change her mind about aborting her baby.

They show up regularly on days they know abortions are being performed. They are undaunted by people who tell them they are being un-Christ-like and shout obscenities at them.  They are committed to stopping this atrocity that has resulted in millions of dead babies and broken women who live with terrible guilt for the rest of their lives. (You can check them out here: http://abolishhumanabortion.com/)

As I was thinking about this I started to recount in my own mind what I believe God has called me to do. Standing at an abortion mill has not been on my list. I can see the difference these people are making (I am sure there are times they wonder if they are making a difference when they face such rejection) but some women do listen to them.

I don’t see a lot of change coming from what I am doing.

Then, I remember Isaiah. God sent him to take a message to Israel. He told Isaiah that the people would not listen but he was to deliver it anyway.  Isaiah faithfully did what God called him to do, seeing no positive change.

I think about parents of young children who may feel like there is nothing earth shattering about parenting their children. God has given us no higher calling, yet many long for something more “radical”. There is nothing more radical than watching the Lord work in our families as we live for Him. Clearly, husbands, wives, and children are God given priorities. (Deuteronomy 6 and Ephesians 6).

I wonder how Stephen and the other men who were chosen as the seven to serve widows felt about their call as others continued to teach and preach and watch people come to radical faith in Jesus. Others could make big changes because of the work of these men (Acts 7).

The truth is that not every person is called to stand outside abortion mills, but we are all called, within our own spheres of influence, to speak the truth about abortion mills, to the children God has given us, to the widows we may be serving, or to hard-hearted Christians who don’t seem to listening.

The “radical” part for me is that I do what God calls me to do which twenty years ago was a foreign concept to me. I also try to support and encourage other Christians to do what God calls them to do. Some of it may seem mundane and even overwhelming (as I have heard many young mothers proclaim about their work). If God has called us to do it then it will make a radical difference to someone – but not to everyone.

“Radical” does not have as much to do with the scope of our ministry as it does with the hope of our ministry. In our world, if we do it for Jesus, it is radical, He is the only Hope there is.

 

 

Titus 2:13-14….waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.