A couple weeks ago I had a flashback from a time when a certain person was living with my family and I in our home. He was my same age, not a christian and to be perfectly honest, he was a big pain in the butt. However, as time went on he would go to school events, church and pretty much any other family activity that we did, he was there. My version of his first steps into Christianity might be a bit of a blur, but in any case, during his time with us he made the decision to trust in Jesus Christ as the man who died and rose again for him because he loves him so much and wants to have a personal relationship with him. Now, for some reason this next part has been imprinted on my mind and I remember it like it was yesterday. My mom called his mother and let her know the good news. And her response... left me baffled. "Just make sure he doesn't become one of those "radical" people", that is what she said. Now I am fully aware that I have an extreme love and excitement for Jesus Christ and all that he has done for me. But if you knew that someone died to save your life, don't you think you would feel the same way? I couldn't believe her words, her sons life had been changed for the better and it didn't seem that she grasped how incredible this truly was. "Don't let him become radical"? Woah. And this is not the first time I have heard something like this. When did we let "radical" have such a "scary" connotation? By definition radical is to be passionate about, to represent, advocate for or to support a cause. So why are we letting a word like "radical" hinder anyone from becoming all that they can be? From pursuing the with full passions the things they are discovering or are excited about? The greatest moments and successes that I have had in my short 21 years have been from the times where I have chosen to be radically passionate about something. As a society we are so afraid of being "weird" ,of being the "odd one out". We are afraid that the things that we think and believe will offend others, and God forbid that someone feelings get hurt by my own personal convictions. Friends, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but if my personal principles offend you, I am not going to change them and I will remain just as "radical" about them; and this is why. It is not the people that shrink back, hide, and try to just blend in with the rest of society that make a difference in this world. It's not the people who are always offended by the opinions of you and me that are going to help advance our society for the better, I would even venture to say they are the ones who hinder any positive impacts. It is the people who are firm in their beliefs, the people who are excited, passionate and "radical" about the things they love that make a difference. The people who aren't afraid to try and fail. The people who aren't afraid to put themselves under the scrutiny of others to stand for a cause. It's the people who aren't afraid to be wrong and learn more, these are the people that are going to benefit and do amazing thing for the world around them. And these are the people you and I should be choosing to spend our time with. So be radical. Be passionate. Be "weird". Surround yourself with people that are willing to do the same. Don't live in the world where everyone around you believes the exact the same things as you do. Step outside of your comfort zone, be challenged by others, challenge others, argue and debate, but do it kindly. We are all human beings and we are all learning in this life. For the rest of our lives we will be wrong and we will be right. Don't dull yourself down for the comfort of other people. Jesus didn't always say and do things that made everyone happy and comfortable. He tested the norms of society and he hung around the people that were the complete opposite of the core of who he was. It is in the times that we are most uncomfortable that you and I can expect the most growth and the most changed. You were created to make an impact, don't hold yourself back. |
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