my type of Christianity!

[Kas]

I'm looking for radical Christianity...any suggestions of a church that is truly radical!

Kas

[Count]

I'm looking for radical Christianity...any suggestions of a church that is truly radical!

Kas

What do you mean by radical?

[Kas]

What do you mean by radical?


defines identity by faith not by state or tribe or race

sees politics and faith as being aspects of the same thing

looks uponthe christian world view as the means to critique the philosophies of the enlightenment and liberal secular society

applies Christian values to the world

Kas

[StTherese]

I'm looking for radical Christianity...any suggestions of a church that is truly radical!

Kas
I think many times we are looking for a "church" that fits in with our personal views instead of looking for "the Church" that Christ established for us. In seeking a church we should focus on Truth and finding this Truth.

[yeshuaslavejeff]

simple

[Kas]

actually i am drawn the the persecuted church and disillusioned with Christianity in the west!

I think very often the church exists outside formal 'churches' but in Christian based organisations...

[Count]

I think very often the church exists outside formal 'churches' but in Christian based organisations...

So, you are not looking for a radical church. :D

[yeshuaslavejeff]

simple

[Kas]

So, you are not looking for a radical church. :D

well actually I am...I just don't think I've found one, which is why I am here...;)

[Kas]

Yes, looking for, or maybe rather actually to be (with the rest of
the martyrs who lay down their lives daily for the Gospels Sake). Not usually taught nor preached nor lived in 'regular' places.


It is actually something that goes through my mind often...to go and join the persecuted church to suffer with and share their fate...rather that live with the lax western christianity.

Kas

[yeshuaslavejeff]

simple

[zhilan]

Move to Iran or Iraq and join the Assyrian Church of the East. The late Pope John Paul II called them the "church of martyrs"

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

(1) defines identity by faith not by state or tribe or race

(2) sees politics and faith as being aspects of the same thing

(3) looks uponthe christian world view as the means to critique the philosophies of the enlightenment and liberal secular society

(4) applies Christian values to the world

(1) If by that you mean is absent of racial and social prejudice, THE CHURCH everywhere should be free of this, and all true Christians are free of it as they walk in the Spirit.

(2) This is either error and pure folly OR wisdom -- it depends on what kind of politics and what angle of politics you refer to. If you mean fighting injustices in the system and working to undo poverty, discrimination, human rights abuses, and other REAL evils, well done. But if you mean "using the political system as a means of chastising non-believers for what I judge to be their sins and forcing them by law to conform to the type of lifestyle I would choose as a Christian" then you are out of bounds spiritually and in thrall to the biggest nest of lies and deception out there today in the Christian world which is making the church as an institution a heinous pustulent boil on the sore behind of a sick society already. In order to avoid fruitless conflict and needless disputations I will refrain from specifying details here, for those at fault know not their blame, but believe themselves on some sort of holy mission and are truly the modern Pharisees of our day who know "all the truth" in letters and have none of the Spirit.

(3) A pointless exercise in futility. "A man convinced against his will / is of the same opinion still." We are not called to this task. We are called to make disciples through a radical vision based in love, compassion and mercy on a direct, one-on-one, heart-impacting level. Our job is NOT to attempt to establish the kingdom of God on earth but to call others to look higher than their eyes are aimed at the moment and recognize the presence of His Kingdom and its King in our midst right here and now, in the middle of and in SPITE of, the present darkness in this world. Maybe your heart is in the right place but I'd hate to see a young energetic life wasted on this sort of nonsense pursuit. People are constantly getting carried off and carried away by all sorts of pseudo-heroic notions about changing the world. Get it straight. We are not here to change the world. We are here to be changed ourselves and manifest change IN the world, in and through Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world and He meant it. Why don't we simply listen to Him?

(4) Apply Christian values to yourself and yourself alone. That is where they need application. Trust me, when YOU become a fruitful garden in Christ, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit on a daily basis, your corner of the world will be impacted.

To be "persecuted" is nothing to aim after. It only creates confusion. Why am I being persecuted? it will make you ask. Is it truly for Christ's sake or is it only because I am hated? The fact of the matter is, any opinionated, pushy, full-of-himself "jerk" can get persecuted quite easily for being a pushy, opinionated jerk who is full of himself. And there's nothing half so ugly as people "full of themselves in the Lord." UGH! Don't be one of those. Friend, if you would be a truly RADICAL Christian, LIVE LOVE. Learn LOVE. Walk in LOVE. Realize the teachings of Christ are for you to zealously apply to how YOU treat OTHERS -- NOT for you to zealously crusade over trying to get OTHERS to live by.

And then go and find others who are doing and believing likewise, and you will have found a truly RADICAL Christian church.

Good luck in your search, and God bless.

MCW