“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).
When the New Testament world referred to normal Christians, they were viewed as radical Christians. Normal Christians were viewed as radical Christians because they lived a life that was so different than the lives around them. The hopes and dreams of normal Christians were so unlike the hopes and dreams of everyone around them. So, in time, normal and radical became synonyms in the New Testament world.
You see, there is no such thing as a follower of Jesus Christ who doesn’t follow Jesus Christ.
“Follower of Jesus” is not a title but a description. Christians were called followers of Jesus because that’s what they did. What Jesus said, the disciples did. Fully submitting to Jesus and his teaching was not viewed as radical but as normal.
The problem is that modern day Christians have made radical and normal antonyms.
But when it comes down to it, there is no such thing as a follower of Jesus Christ who doesn’t follow Jesus Christ.
Remember, a follower of Jesus is not a title – Christian is not a title. A follower of Jesus is a description of how Jesus followers live.
Got it?
Praxis: Faith in Action 