Matthew 16:24, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Revelation 3:15, Philippians 1:21-24, 1 Corinthians 15:10, Philippians 2:12-13, Jeremiah 29:13

This is a scary passage.... The message here is that it is not enough just to cruise through a Christianised life on autopilot - doing the right thing. Comfortable, church-attendance one day a week is not going to impress God. The warning to the Laodicean church in Revelation is even scarier:

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!" Revelation 3:15

It's so easy to sing that beautiful song 'Jesus Be The Centre' and then actually make Him one thing among many in our centres - maybe we mean 'Jesus be the Centre of my Christian life' but 'Jesus be the Centre of my whole life' - hang on a minute..... that would mean all kinds of changes (how radical!)

Treating Jesus as an optional extra, a "lifestyle accessory'' like the latest bag, shoes, gadget or gamestation may be the single greatest thing that affects out walk with God - He doesn't like it! Are we 'asking Jesus into our lives' - and then just adding Him in to whatever else our lives already consist of? That is completely unbiblical. Jesus never offered anyone anything like that. Or are we 'giving our lives to Jesus' - lock stock & barrel, nothing held back - 100% in?

So what's a radical Christian like then?

The number one characteristic of radical Christians is that they love God more than anyone or anything else. In Paul's case, his passion for God was so great that he actively looked forward to his own death:

'For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.' Philippians 1:21-24

The second characteristic is that radical Christians follow God into & then work hard at the work God has given them to do. That's not the same as burning out on meeting other people's needs, but recognition of God's call and a response to it. Again, Paul is an excellent example:

'But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favour on me - and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.' 1 Corinthians 15:10

We see both of these attributes together in a single, paradoxical verse from the letter to the Philippians, in which Paul tells them:

'Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.' Philippians 2:12-13

Here, the motivation to work hard is that God is already at work in us, and has already worked in us; but our response to that is not laziness but a determination to respond to God's work in us by working at what he has given us to do. No that we have to work to earn God's approval. Quite the opposite: we work hard as a response to the fact that God has already given us his approval. We're not trying to earn love, but to please someone who already loves us.

How can we be radical then?

I want to be really practical and give a kind of 'top tips for radicals'. I've thought about this, and the fact is I just can't do it. The kind of radicalism I'm talking about here must by its very nature start from who we are as individuals. We can't get there by imposing rules on our behaviour or trying to be or act in a certain way.

So what can we do to explore that - it's actually very simple - God says:

'"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."' Jeremiah 29:13

If we really want to be radical, if we really want Jesus to be the very root of our lives, then all that is required is that we make Him (and only Him) the centre. We look for Him wholeheartedly without distraction, we trust Him when times are hard, we follow Him where He leads us, and we never, never give up. Easy to understand - a lifetime to work out!