The Accidental Radical

I got two strong complements today on my new t-shirt while shopping at Wal-Mart. I picked the shirt up at the church to support a campaign aimed at homelessness. It proclaims, “Jesus Christ Lives.” This simple line is truly radical. It means a man who lived 2000 years ago and died, is alive now. It means that death is no longer the last victor; it’s not the end, more like the beginning. It means this one man was more than a man. It changes everything. It’s radical.

The complements, “I like your shirt.” came with bright cheerful smiles. I know what you are thinking, “That Nick is some radical, displaying boldly His follow ship of Jesus while shopping at Wal-Mart.” Some of you skeptics might have said something more like, “That doesn’t sound like Nick. He’s no radical.”

The sad truth is the whole thing was an accident. I put on my new t-shirt after changing out of my church clothes. I thought of it as something to wear around the house. I had no plans to do anything but work in the yard. Our yard is too big and isolated for anyone to care what I’m wearing. When I needed some add-ons for supper, I left for Wal-Mart forgetting what I was wearing. If I’m radical for Jesus, it’s just by accident.

In fact, after receiving the first compliment, I became aware I was wearing the “Jesus Christ Lives” t-shirt. I became concerned about what the non-complimentors were thinking. I thought if I hold my groceries just right no one would be able to read the shirt. Some radical. 

Starting at 9 a.m. on a Sunday real soon, Pastor T and I will be leading a group at Amana studying Francis Chan’s Letters to the  Church. It’s pretty radical stuff. It asks that we “Rethink Church.” and 

“If all you had to reference were the Bible, what would Church look like? 

Chan says real churches are more like a gang, than a school, hospital or club. He challenges some of the most common basic elements of “church.” If the teaching produces life changes, it will be truly radical. Before I step out into such a radical lifestyle, maybe I should practice simple, elemental Christian radicalism, like wearing clothes that proclaim Jesus in public, intentionally. Maybe I’ll wear my t-shirt tomorrow. Not many people will see me when I go swimming at 5 am. The old men I will have coffee with afterward aren’t likely to be upset by my shirt’s message. They are mostly aging radicals. Maybe I’ll be bold and radical. Being an accidental radical isn’t radical at all.