“True radicalism has horrible pay, it takes years to see its fruit, and it requires that quiet, under-the-radar kind of love for people that Christ gave his life for.”
This is an excerpt from “Searching For Radical Faith” by Mike Barrett in Christianity Today. I recommend you read this article as a youth worker, a Christian, and a person who longs to bring positive change in the world around you. I think its so easy for youth workers to get discouraged. This ministry is about the long-haul. Often we don’t see “the fruit” for years to come. Most of what we do is behind the scenes and under the radar. But as I read this article I was reminded that every little thing we do for others matters.
I believe that you—the youth worker—with all your prayers, late night meetings, crazy games, Bible discussions, heartbreak, sacrifice, time away from your family . . . with all that comes with youth ministry . . . I believer you are effecting great change!
I really do. You are standing strong and staying the course. In a world where everything is fluid, everything is tolerated—where nothing is certain—you are there. You are strong. You represent the one thing in many teens lives that won’t disappear on them. So be encouraged to keep up the good fight! Read the below definition from Barrett’s article, and be encouraged!
“Radical, in its origins, really means to be rooted. The idea behind the word is to be so grounded, so deeply rooted in a lifestyle direction, that one stands against the social and cultural currents that tear others away from that same path.”
That’s you. Standing strong for those who will hold on with you.
I really love the message of this sentence from the same article: “Today, anyone who adheres to the person and teachings of Christ in the midst of runaway humanism and hedonism is, by definition, a radical.”
It’s cool to imagine how the person of Christ was himself a radical. He constantly challenged the teachers of Jewish Law and changed their perspectives while remaining compassionate and loving. He was so solid and rooted perfectly in God that he would not be shaken by culture or society, and would exact lasting change in people by being a perfect example of God’s love. That’s where Jesus’ radicalism comes from, and that’s where ours needs to come from too.
So cool.
Great observation Aaron. I totally agree—that line was very eye opening. I wonder how many Christians realize that they are actually living a radical lifestyle. I mean, we can always grow in that pursuit, but I think a lot of Christians look at their lives and feel condemnation about not being radical enough.
Sometimes we can feel if we’re not a missionary or a full time pastor, then we’re not radical. But really what we need more than anything is regular people in regular areas of life living extraordinarily Jesus-like lives.
Thanks for writing!
I like this quote: “True radicalism has horrible pay, it takes years to see its fruit, and it requires that quiet, under-the-radar kind of love for people that Christ gave his life for.”
It seems that sometime swe think radicalism has to be this big movement or event, and then we shy away from it based on our misconceptions. It’s in the every day things where we can express a true radical faith, and God does the big works!