Radical Christianity

There is a problem when one talks about Christianity as being radical, because what must be identified as radical today in order to offer a contrast to false or nominal Christianity, is in fact nothing more than Christianity as revealed in the Holy Scriptures.

For example, here are a couple of radical messages from the Bible that will challenge anyone wanting to seriously walk as Christ did. First Jesus says this:

Matthew 16:24-26

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it.  What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)

Then Paul said this about the mind of Christ and how we must embrace it:

Philippians 2:5-11

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Three things are listed in Matthew if a person wants to come after Him.

*He must deny himself.
*He must take up his cross.
*He must follow Christ. (This means allowing the Holy Spirit to conform us to His image, not physically following Him around, although it may mean travel for some believers.)

Jesus summarized the three by concluding that "whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it." This shouldn't have to be labeled radical Christianity, but rather should simply be part of every believer's walk.

In the Philippians portion, there are three more things mentioned as to having the mind of Christ.

*We are to make ourselves of no reputation.
*We are to take on the form of a servant.
*We are to be obedient to the point of death.

If an individual and a group of believers were to obey just those six things, it would change the face of Christianity as we now know it. It would also position the disciples of Jesus Christ to be ready and willing to do anything He commands. That is truly radical.

Okay. Now let's look at some scripture verses that talk about how we are to live life in Christ together. All of these are in regard to the phrase "one to another" in the New Testament. At the end of each one, ask yourself the simple question of how this can be done in light of the existing "Church" practices. To help you, I'll add the question: "When and where does this all take place?"

Romans 12:5

... so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. [When and here does this all take place?]

Romans 12:10

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; [When and where does this all take place?]

Romans 12:16

Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. [When and where does this all take place?]

Romans 13:8

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. [When and where does this all take place?]


Romans 14:13

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. [When and where does this all take place?]

Romans 14:19

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. [When and where does this all take place?]


Romans 15:5

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, [When and where does this all take place?]

Romans 15:7

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. [When and where does this all take place?]

Romans 15:14

Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. [When and where does this all take place?]

Romans 16:16

Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Corinthians 11:33

Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Corinthians 12:8

... for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Corinthians 12:25

... that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. [When and where does this all take place?]

Galatians 5:13

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [When and where does this all take place?]

Galatians 5:15

But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! [When and where does this all take place?]

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. [When and where does this all take place?]

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. [When and where does this all take place?]

Ephesians 4:2

... with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, [When and where does this all take place?]

Ephesians 4:25

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. [When and where does this all take place?]

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. [When and where does this all take place?]

Ephesians 5:19

... speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, [When and where does this all take place?]

Ephesians 5:21

... submitting to one another in the fear of God. [When and where does this all take place?]

Colossians 3:9

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, [When and where does this all take place?]

Colossians 3:13

... bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. [When and where does this all take place?]

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Thessalonians 3:12

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Thessalonians 4:8-10

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Thessalonians 4:18

Therefore comfort one another with these words. [When and where does this all take place?]

Hebrews 3:13

... but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. [When and where does this all take place?]

Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, [When and where does this all take place?]


Hebrews 10:25

... not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. [When and where does this all take place?]

James 4:11

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. [When and where does this all take place?]

James 5:9

Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! [When and where does this all take place?]


James 5:16

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Peter 1:22

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Peter 4:8

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” [When and where does this all take place?]


1 Peter 4:9

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Peter 4:10

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” [When and where does this all take place?]

1 Peter 5:14

Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen. [When and where does this all take place?]

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. [When and where does this all take place?]

1 John 3:11

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, [When and where does this all take place?]

1 John 3:23

And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. [When and where does this all take place?]

1 John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. [When and where does this all take place?]

2 John 1:5

And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. [When and where does this all take place?]


After reading all of these and meditating on the question at the end of each verse, do you have an answer as to when and where all of this took place among the Christian disciples in the early church? The answer to the 'when' was daily. The answer to the 'where' was everywhere.

Just these group of verses blows away the entire mindset and practice of modern Christianity and the church.

That's not to say there were never corporate gatherings, just that they were happening in an organic manner all the time as the believers shared life together daily. They weren't planned in the sense of needing to do something to comply with an unstated law, but emerged from the life being shared together in Christ.

Even the negative verses speak to the fact that these were a people that always spent time together because of their lives being centered around Christ.

For example, in Galatians 5:15, it would make no sense for Paul to admonish them concerning if they were to continue to "bite and devour one another," they would have to be on guard "lest you be consumed by one another!" He concludes by saying, "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

How can one bite and devour if they aren't spending time together? It's impossible. How can people provoke or envy one another if they aren't hanging out together? The answer is, they can't.

The confirmation of this truth goes on and on.

* the members should have the same care for one another

* we are members of one another

* bearing with one another in love

* Confess your trespasses to one another

* As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another

* Be hospitable to one another without grumbling

* so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another

* but exhort one another daily

You get the idea. It's mind-blowing and earth-shattering as to the implications of these truths. We are to live our lives together organically on a daily basis, with our lives being centered in the person of  Jesus Christ.

Out of that, which is really what true fellowship or common being is, all sorts of life emerges that is impossible to explain, as it's the very life of Christ expressing and revealing itself in His people, His body.

How do you exhort one another daily if you're not interacting and being with one another daily? How do you minister to one another if you're not together? What does it mean to be members of one another. What does it mean to care for one another?

This isn't theory or positional truth, it's the reality of a practical experience that was meant to be participated in by every true Christian alive today and through history.

Going back to the beginning of this article, you can see why Jesus lived and taught the things listed below. It's the attitude and heart we must have it we're ever going to make a go of this successfully. Commit to these things, and even though it'll take work, it'll produce what it is that Jesus Christ had in His heart from before the foundation of the world, and will be a taste of what eternity will be like for those that really believe in Jesus Christ.

We must deny ourselves.
We must take up our cross.
We must follow Christ.

We are to make ourselves of no reputation.
We are to take on the form of a servant.
We are to be obedient to the point of death.

Now you know. These are things that must be contemplated and prayed about. It's my belief that as the world continues to disintegrate, only those holding to Jesus Christ together and living Him out together on a daily basis will have the ability to survive what's quickly coming upon us.

But even if everything were to turn out great, it's still the purpose of Jesus Christ that we live in this manner together. And if we live godly lives in Christ Jesus, persecution and hatred won't be far behind, no matter what the overall condition of the world is at any one time in history.

We must lose ourselves together in Him, watching out for and caring for one another in a the midst of a world that couldn't care less what happens to us or our children.

If you're interested in this journey, or have some questions, contact us at geeb@hotmail.com

For in-depth articles, go to Acts29review, a site dedicated to living organic life together in Christ, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit from the time of the end of the book of Acts to today.