Unconditional Christian Extremists

Spirituality Column #78
May 6, 2008
Current! In Carmel (IN) newspaper

Unconditional Christian Extremists
By Bob Walters

A non-believer should know that a Christian extremist will:
- Love unconditionally,
- Be compassionate unconditionally,
- Forgive unconditionally,
- Evangelize unapologetically.

I know … it sounds pretty good until you get to that last one about evangelizing. Don’t those Christian extremists know how annoying that can be?

Ah, those extremists. Then there is the F word … fundamentalists. It is important for those of us who identify with the Gospel to get a grip on both the extremes and fundamentals of our faith.

Ajai Lall, a native of India and president of Central India Christian Missions, spoke in Indianapolis recently about extreme Christianity and what it looks like in his native central India. This is an area where Christians endure atrocities at the hands of Hindus and Muslims.

Lall noted that Christians are commanded by the New Testament to exhibit extreme love, compassion, forgiveness and evangelism. Since the time of Christ we haven’t always gotten that right, but the example Jesus set endures.

Love – Jesus loved those who crucified Him.

Compassion – Jesus comforted the thief hanging on the cross next to him.

Forgiveness – Jesus begged his father, God, to forgive his executioners.

Evangelism – Jesus spoke to his followers and to his enemies about His mission to establish God’s new covenant of grace, love, mercy … and faith.

If every Christian were that resolved in these areas, it might be easier to evangelize without non-believers and confused believers thinking you’re a religious nut.

Thing is, if you believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and you trust Him as your Lord and Savior … well, you’re a fundamentalist. No, seriously … you are. And if you love your enemies, have compassion for others before yourself, forgive all wrongs, and tell others of your faith that Christ is the only way to eternal life (John 3:16, John 14:6) you’re a Christian extremist.

A couple of things will then happen. You will be at peace. You will have complete freedom. And the evangelizing part will still be rejected by many.

Just remember, the evangelizing is the easy part. Talk is cheap.

What those Christian extremists do in central India ain’t cheap.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes that few people are annoyed by love, compassion or forgiveness. It drives a lot of people nuts to be told Christ is the author of all three.