Radical Living?

We have been having a sermon series on radical living, with ideas taken from a book called "Crazy Love", which was written by a Pastor named Francis Chan.  In the book he challenges Christians to truly radical living- because Christ lived a radical life.  We have had some great challenges from the sermon series, and the Lord has used it to make me think about my life and my lack of radical living. 

In our home group we have been reading another book by Francis Chan.  This one is called "Forgotten God:  Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit".   The combination of the two books and the sermon series has been a triple whammy in my life, causing me to think almost constantly about the meaning of my life and whether or not it really counts for Christ. It has made me think seriously about whether or not I hear the voice of Christ or know the leading of the Holy Spirit as God intended me to know it. 

In the book Forgotten God, Chan encourages Christians to think about the Holy Spirit and the role he is supposed to play in our lives.  He asks whether or not we really believe in the Holy Spirit, reminding us that there is much written about the Holy Spirit in Scripture that we tend to ignore or rationalize away. 

For example, there is the well known fact that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness and self control.  Yet we are not disturbed when we as believers live without these things.  We are no more loving than Joe down the street, no more at peace than Susie that we work with, and no more patient than the guy beside us on the rush hour freeway. 

How about this- first John tells us that if we do not love our brother, then we walk in darkness.  Yet we are not disturbed that we don't have any love in our hearts for the woman who sits across the aisle from us in church.  In fact, we think she's rather annoying.  We tell ourselves that we can love her without liking her.  According to first John, that means we walk in darkness.  Why are we not alarmed? 

I am as guilty as the next person.  I have not been alarmed myself, until these books caused me to ponder.  I find myself in a challenging situation right now, struggling to love people that I ought to love, struggling to forgive people that I want to forgive.  I earnestly desire to live a life pleasing to the Lord all the way through the struggles I go through right now, but I find myself floundering.  The Holy Spirit is supposed to be the answer for this.  Not only do I want to forgive people, I want to forget the offenses, real or perceived.  Can the Holy Spirit help with that?  He is supposed to bring peace that passes all understanding.  Why am I not scared when I don't have it?  Why am I willing to live without it? 

I have heard people suggest, and I have at times tried to follow the suggestion, that we imagine Christ is with us while we have our devotions- sitting across from us, waiting on us to meet with him.  Well, the Bible says that the Holy Spirit is a better comforter than Christ, and that he lives in us.  Is that not better than even Christ sitting next to me on the couch while I read my Bible?  I think it should be.   

So, what are my plans for living radically?  Well, at the moment they consist of acknowledging that I have little or no power of my own to produce the fruit of the Spirit in my life and asking the Spirit to produce them in me.  I am asking Him to teach me to hear his voice so I will know when he wants me to do something and when I have grieved him.  I am asking him to give me the joy he promised and the peace that passes all understanding.  I am seeking to acknowledge my weakness, so that his strength can be made perfect. 

If you read this, and you know me, I'd like to ask you to pray for me, and not to judge me too harshly if I fail.  God willing, I am closing in on the end of this powerless life.