Radical Church

From the beginning of the church we have managed to separate ourselves, not from the world but from each other. We have dunkers and sprinklers, tongue talkers and the frozen chosen, high church and low church. We disagree on methods of worship, preaching and organization. Some of us believe in the megachurch and others think only a small church is consistent with the book of Acts.

According to Christianity Today there are 38,000 different denominations. Now that’s fractured. Some of these differences are significant, but 38,000? Most of these differences have to be trivial.

Of all the issues that divide us, I am convinced that the most significant one, maybe the only signficant one, is the separation between the comfortable church and the radical church. Nearly all of the church in America would have to be considered comfortable. The only radical churches seem to be in areas of either extreme poverty or persecution. We don’t have either in America, not yet.

The comfortable church is man centered. It meets in a comfortable building. The meetings are designed to be comfortable. Prayer is about relieving the problems of life: sickness, what passes for poverty, depression. If the power of the Spirit is recognized at all, it’s called on to heal or to provide dramatic demonstration of its presence. The preacher preaches. The worship team worships. The people watch.

The radical church is God centered. The members have reached the ends of themselves. Meetings are about thanking God and praising God and giving glory to God. They are all about God. The radical church seems to realize that without Him we can do nothing. The people teach each other, worship and Jesus changes their worlds.

The comfortable church seems to believe that we can handle most things and if we get taught enough and healed enough and built up enough one day we will be able to do things for God. That day never seems to come. The world around comfortable churches don’t really change.

God seems to move in the radical church. Numbers increase. The increase comes from those “added to their number” and not from folks who were just uncomfortable in another church. Radical churches are salty and bright.

Comfortable churches are tasteless and dim.

Consider this: ask a friend why they attend the church they attend. You will probably be told that they like the pastor or the music. If they are “spiritual” they may advise you that they get “fed” at their church. They may praise the youth program or the missions program.

I would wage that they will not say that at their church they make a contribution. They will not say that they are challenged to make a difference in their world. They will not say that they are being trained to make disciples. If they do say any of these things, you have found a radical church. Make a move.

But there is good news. The Book tells us in the end all church will be persecuted. Comfortable churches will end. All that are left will be radical. I can’t wait. Can we afford to wait?

Isn’t it time to get radical?

Nick