The blog of J.L. Wasson

Before venturing any further into this ordinary vs. radical series I think some things need to be clarified.

First, radicalism is not what is under the microscope here. It is the creation of radicalism as some sort of end for discipleship that is being taken to task. Radicalism is not something one can pursue - it is something he/she naturally becomes (and most likely through very ordinary means). What I am after here is deconstructing radical discipleship over against discipleship in general. In fact, what might become clear is that paradox we find hidden in the gospel that things are often backwards - that perhaps to be radical is to actually not be that radical and to be ordinary might be closer to radical than anything else.

Second, radicalism has less to do with radicalism itself and what the object in view is. If one holds radically that God is a God of self-giving love then he/she would be radically about self-giving, sacrificial, uncommon, universal love. On the other hand, if one believes God is a God who chooses God’s people to be an exclusive club of sorts, defined by who is in and who is out, then he/she will be radically about defining who is in and who is out.

Finally, radicalism is typically defined within comparative terms. Meaning, we usually define radical discipleship based on what the world around us values, loves, and idolizes rather than defining discipleship based on the answer to the question who is God? When we enter into this comparative game we start the devastating process of trying to one up each other - both within and outside of the Church.

I think it is also important to realize that this discussion is highly contextual (as all things are). I am not speaking against radical, uncommon, counterintuitive action. There are times when we are called to act, even radically so. This is where the dialectic conversation is so important to be having. The Christian life is a life filled with ordinary, mundane, hidden action. The Christian life is also a life filled with opportunities to be subversive, radical, counterintuitive. 

I realize this subversion of the radical Christian will be wildly unpopular in some circles. I also realize the very word ordinary itself is far less sexy than its counterpart radical. But I think there is something hidden within it that is worth getting after. Tolstoy was onto something profound in his assertion that “everybody thinks of changing humanity [radical] but nobody thinks of changing himself” [ordinary]. It’s much easier for us to imagine these grandiose ideas to change the world (and to pass them off to our students) - it is a much more difficult task to begin to live out our ordinary existence with purpose, passion, discipline, and consistency - and to invite our students to share that life with us.