In Other Words--Basic/Radical Christianity

As Christian women, we must repudiate the world's agenda for women and seek to understand the Word's agenda for women... we must determine to be obedient to the the Word of God no matter what is says, with no compromises. This is what is means to be a woman of the Word. We must find out what the Bible teaches about marriage, about children, about men and women and their roles, and then we must be obedient with no apologies, no matter what the cost. Is this radical Christianity? No. This is basic Christianity."
~Nancy Wilson, The Fruit of Her Hands~

Jesus teaches us,

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family. Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:57-62

and he also said

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Mark 8:34

In other words, Jesus taught us that in order to be His disciples, we would have to do things that were different from the world's agenda. He said that we would have to take up a "cross" meaning that the way of Christianity is not easy. There is struggle to it. There is sacrifice to it. It looks different from the world. Relationships are different. Roles between men and women, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, employers and employees all change. There is a difference.

In fact, this is so basic to Christianity, I would rewrite Ms. Wilson's quote to be as follows:

"As Christian people, we must repudiate the world's agenda for people and seek to understand the Word's agenda for people... we must determine to be obedient to the the Word of God no matter what is says, with no compromises. This is what is means to be a people of the Word. We must find out what the Bible teaches about marriage, about children, about men and women and their roles, and then we must be obedient with no apologies, no matter what the cost. Is this radical Christianity? No. This is basic Christianity."

As people of God, people of the Word, we must know and understand what it says. But knowledge isn't enough. We must then act on it; we must be obedient. That kind of obedience to the Word is what the world notices. I love that Ms. Wilson says that we must do this without apology. I feel that we too often apologize for the differing ways we react. Perhaps we feel that it is being "humble" to apologize that our reactions are different from what is expected. But I fear that instead of humble we often appear to be weak and embarrassed. Basic Christianity as outlined here should not embarrass us. It actually empowers us to live out the life God has called us to lead.

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."
Matthew 10:32-33

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
Romans 1:16

How I long to live that honestly! How I long to be a woman of the Word in that kind of obedience. In my longing for that kind of obedience, I find that I disagree with the author of the quote on one point. To live like that may be basic, but it is also totally radical to what is expected by those around us. Radical is a good thing. Basic Christianity looks Radical to the world.

Father God, help me to live a radical, sold out life of obedience to your call. My desire is serve You in such a way that those around me notice the difference. In my role as wife and mother, may my relationships to my husband and children glorify You. May my actions draw people to You, and may they see the reality, beauty and benefits of living a life of submission and obedience. My greatest desire is for You to be seen above all else. Amen.

The hostess this week for IOW is Chelsey at Joyfully Living. Please visit her site to be blessed by other interpretations or reflections on this quote. If you wish to participate, simply write a post on the quote and use Mr. Linky at Chelsey's site to lead us to you. May you have a blessed day!