A Radical Christian is an Ordinary Christian
by Jonathan Molengraf
I grew up in the “Radical” era of Christianity as a teenager. A faithful young man discipled my friends and I by going through David Platt’s book Radical. I love that book and even taught it to youth as a young man. It made me ask the serious question: would I still follow Jesus if I did not have anything? It gave examples of real Christians who had to hide and travel long distances to gather for worship and missionaries who left their entire lives to spread the gospel to all nations. My friends and I were encouraged and wanted to lay down our lives for the sake of the gospel.
But we grew up. We went to college, started working, got married, and started families. This was not the “radical” life we envisioned as youth. Yet, we still worked hard, became faithful husbands, decent dads, and served our local church. Although we were not persecuted across the world, our devotion to an ordinary life is a true example of what it means to follow Jesus.
Take some time to read Luke 18:18-30.
It’s hard to read that passage and not feel sad like the rich ruler. I often think, am I not doing enough? I have not sold all my possessions and given it to the poor. Am I truly following Jesus? God wants us to follow Him, insofar as it does not disrupt the calling He has placed on our lives. However, Jesus does make this clear: if you want to follow Him, you must give up what you love the most. For the rich ruler it was his possessions. For me, it is my lust, impatience, and fear of others. Whatever we value in our life, it is important that we put Christ above it.
Just like a camel cannot enter the eye of a needle, it is impossible to earn merit with God. We cannot work to enter the kingdom of God, because we all have evil hearts. We might appear to obey the commandments, but deep down there are things we love more than God. Alternatively, Jesus says in v.27, “What is impossible with man is possible with God”. We need God to do what we cannot do and change our hearts.
In v.28, Peter states that he and the other disciples have left their homes to follow Jesus. Jesus confirms that those who have left their families will be rewarded (v.29-30). Does that mean that to truly follow Jesus, I have to leave my house and go overseas? While that is a sign of a true Christian, God does not call all of us to do that. We are called to evangelize the people in our lives and support missionaries through both finances and prayer. Moreover, God does call us to daily kill our sin. And if our family is against Christianity, then we must make the hard choice of following Jesus, while still loving our families.
As I write this, it is the great snowstorm of 2026. I have been trapped inside with my wife and four-year-old son. I might not have to die and lay down my life for Christ, but I do have to die to myself and lay down on the floor to play monster trucks. I might not be sent to the jungle to serve unreached people groups, but I am sent to the kitchen to wash dishes and serve my wife. My life is ordinary, but it is an example of the radical grace God has given me to die to myself and love others.
These articles follow our church-wide reading plan. To read with us, click here.
But we grew up. We went to college, started working, got married, and started families. This was not the “radical” life we envisioned as youth. Yet, we still worked hard, became faithful husbands, decent dads, and served our local church. Although we were not persecuted across the world, our devotion to an ordinary life is a true example of what it means to follow Jesus.
Take some time to read Luke 18:18-30.
It’s hard to read that passage and not feel sad like the rich ruler. I often think, am I not doing enough? I have not sold all my possessions and given it to the poor. Am I truly following Jesus? God wants us to follow Him, insofar as it does not disrupt the calling He has placed on our lives. However, Jesus does make this clear: if you want to follow Him, you must give up what you love the most. For the rich ruler it was his possessions. For me, it is my lust, impatience, and fear of others. Whatever we value in our life, it is important that we put Christ above it.
Just like a camel cannot enter the eye of a needle, it is impossible to earn merit with God. We cannot work to enter the kingdom of God, because we all have evil hearts. We might appear to obey the commandments, but deep down there are things we love more than God. Alternatively, Jesus says in v.27, “What is impossible with man is possible with God”. We need God to do what we cannot do and change our hearts.
In v.28, Peter states that he and the other disciples have left their homes to follow Jesus. Jesus confirms that those who have left their families will be rewarded (v.29-30). Does that mean that to truly follow Jesus, I have to leave my house and go overseas? While that is a sign of a true Christian, God does not call all of us to do that. We are called to evangelize the people in our lives and support missionaries through both finances and prayer. Moreover, God does call us to daily kill our sin. And if our family is against Christianity, then we must make the hard choice of following Jesus, while still loving our families.
As I write this, it is the great snowstorm of 2026. I have been trapped inside with my wife and four-year-old son. I might not have to die and lay down my life for Christ, but I do have to die to myself and lay down on the floor to play monster trucks. I might not be sent to the jungle to serve unreached people groups, but I am sent to the kitchen to wash dishes and serve my wife. My life is ordinary, but it is an example of the radical grace God has given me to die to myself and love others.
These articles follow our church-wide reading plan. To read with us, click here.
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A Radical Christian is an Ordinary Christian
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