Radical

It's such a beautiful and revolutionary story: a perfect and loving God humbling himself

and becoming sinful through his Son, Jesus, allowing himself to be slain only to defeat death in

order to be our propitiation before our Father, making a way for us to enter into the kingdom of

heaven.

The common misunderstanding is that to part from the norm institutionalized by society

is a cool action: you'll get noticed, people will understand you then follow you, and your own

glory exponentially increases with every second that you are 'different.' I hope that the

selfishness in this mindset is clear and apparent. In all honesty, everyone in today's society is

trying to be different and set themselves apart from one another. This actually makes everyone

who is selfishly trying to be radical the same. Therefore, to selflessly present an idea and practice

your belief is the radical behavior.

In the world's view, my beliefs and the extent to which I follow those beliefs are

definitely viewed as passionate, fanatical -- radical. I like to describe it as uncompromising for I

consider that we were meant to approach life in this manner, as designed by Creator. Therefore,

anything less is a manifestation of conformity to worldliness and surrender to society's charm.

Because of the ardent stand I take, many people already have chosen to persecute me and many

more will do so. Humbly I admit that my persecutors are not as bitter or extreme as those in other

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areas of the world, but they do attempt to torment me daily in very subtle ways. I, as a Christian

however, recognize and prepare myself for this oppression by reading the Bible and trusting in

the promises found within the words of Christ. In the book of Matthew, located in the New

Testament, Jesus states, "Then, you will be handed over and put to death, and you will be hated

by all nations because of me." (Matt 24:9, NIV) This statement goes hand in hand with his other

teachings and principles. Jesus revealed this to his disciples after being questioned by them

concerning signs of the end of the Age. What is so amazing, however, is the promise of blessing.

Earlier, in chapter five, Jesus, again speaking to his disciples, tells them, "Blessed are you when

people persecute you, insult you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted

the prophets who were before you." (Matt 5:11-12, NIV) He tells us of definite suffering but

comforts us with the promise that the sufferings of this world pale in comparison to the blessings

and rewards we will receive in heaven for standing firm...and radical.

Later in the New Testament, within Second Timothy, the apostle Paul reiterates