Christianity is a radical endeavor.
Jesus was a revolutionary, not of the violent sort, but a revolutionary of the heart and of the spirit. Just listen to his words from the eighth chapter of Mark’s gospel:
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”
We Americans live in a society that is focused on comfort. Advertising and social media and much public discourse is about being comfortable — and about being upset that someone is making us uncomfortable.
It’s about my stuff and my taxes and my satisfaction. It’s about me. It is as if the world has been created to make each of us feel good.
About us
Jesus, though, said it’s about us.
That’s the heart of Christianity or, at least, it should be. I “lose my life” and I “save my life” if I turn away from self-centeredness and turn toward others.
The Christian faith — the attempt to live as Jesus did — is a recognition that we are not alone, we are woven into a community.
Where two or more are gathered, there God is. That’s what Jesus says in Matthew’s gospel.
The Christian faith is about being open to others — about being able to listen, really listen, to who they are, and to share, really share, who we are. This is the love of the gospels.
God is love. That’s what John writes in his first epistle.
Countercultural
It’s countercultural. It’s revolutionary. It’s Christianity.
It’s a radical endeavor
Patrick T. Reardon
9.16.24
Written by : Patrick T. Reardon
For more than three decades Patrick T. Reardon was an urban affairs writer, a feature writer, a columnist, and an editor for the Chicago Tribune. In 2000 he was one of a team of 50 staff members who won a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. Now a freelance writer and poet, he has contributed chapters to several books and is the author of Faith Stripped to Its Essence. His website is https://patricktreardon.com/.