"Radical'' is one of those words that's thrown around so casually now that it's lost nearly all of its force and its distinctive meaning. In general use, it is close to a synonym of "good''. But its true meaning is to do with the concept of a root. A radical change is one that comes from the root; a radical politician is one who wants to change the roots of the political system; and a radical Christian is one whose roots are in Christ.
So the key question for us is this: what is the root of our lives? What does everything else grow from?
Paul draws out the importance of our root in the letter to the Colossians:
"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.." (Colossians 2:6-7).
And Jesus describes it in the parable of the sower:
Jesus told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed... Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.''
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
"The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.'' (Matthew 13:3; 5-6; 18, 20-21).
For us, as for plants, every aspect of our health and growth is determined by the nourishment we get from our root. A plant with no root will die, and a Christian whose root is not in Christ will find his faith dying. It is as simple as that.
A radical Christian hears the radical call of Jesus and obeys, not because he manages to persuade himself that it's the best thing, or out of a sense of duty, but because his root is in Christ and so following the call is the obvious, natural thing to do.
The call of Jesus is as demanding to us to today as it was to his first disciples two thousand years ago:
Jesus said to his disciples,"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24).' ... That is radical!
I want to be clear that being radical, in this biblical sense, is very different from being weird. Or in being diametrically opposing in personality at all to God's demeanor; for Satan has his own brand of radical.
Christians come across as weird when they're trying too hard to be something they're not, to force themselves into a spiritual or cultural mould that doesn't fit their real identity. But being radical means nothing more or less than being true to the identity that God has given us. At times that is being still - radically still! Other times it is being forthright in God's commission to be loyal to His Word wrapped always in genuine unconditional Agape love.