I am re-reading Radical a chapter at a time as I facilitate a group study on the book (me and 2 others counts as a group, right?) Again, I find myself convicted by the book at how very much un-radical I am in my faith, to coin a new word. This is not a book review, but more of a review of how the book is impacting me.

I’m thinking of the SS United States, built as a troop carrier, but used as a luxury liner. I think how Platt parallels that to the present American Church (for the most part). How we are called to a battle, but live as though we’re on a cruise.

I’m thinking about all those people who went to dangerous places to take Jesus to people who hadn’t heard His name before. Some suffered. Some even paid with their own lives. One missionary couple was killed and cannibalized, but the next missionaries saw the entire tribe come to faith in Christ.

What will it take for me to stop talking and writing about faith and then going AWOL on that faith so often. What will it take for us to really live Jesus to the world. Not live out a list of what and who we think God hates, or the how breaking these certain rules and secret codes will land you in hell, but real, revolutionary, radical grace and mercy.

But the Jesus who did not think His own life too high a price to pay for His enemies, so that they could have peace with God.

Not a Christianity that says. “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life where you get to be the focus,” but one that says, “God loves you and has invited you to join Him in His advancing His own kingdom over all the earth and making His name glorious in every part of the world.”

I want that. Deep down. Underneath all the other things I chase, but once I catch them lose their appeal. I need God to change my heart to beat with His heartbeat.

Again, I ask, “Who is with me? Who wants to stop going to church and playing religion, and start being the Church and showing love and mercy and grace that the world so desparately needs.

I close with something Jesus said. I like the way the Message renders it. I’m not exactly sure where it is located in the gospels, but here it goes:

“Jesus, overhearing, shot back, ‘Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsides, not coddle insiders.'”