Radical Discipleship
Encyclopedia
Christian radicalism encompasses a number of different movements and actions in practical theology
. It entails a radical re-orientation towards the root truths of Christian discipleship
through personal reflection and action.
. One way Christians achieve this is to revisit the Sermon on the Mount
or the Gospel of Mark
, the earliest of the canonical gospels. Alternatively this re-orientation may comprise of Christians re-examining their roots or discovering an anti-imperialist
heritage within their own traditions, such as Methodists studying John Wesley
, Baptists remembering the Anabaptist
s or Catholics finding Francis of Assisi
. Christian radicals, such as Ched Myers, Lee Camp and Shane Claiborne
, believe mainstream Christianity has moved away from its origins, namely the core teachings and practices of Jesus
such as turning the other cheek and rejecting materialism
.
s to follow the will of God
through personal action and example. This may encompass theological ideas and actions that are perceived to be subversive
or extreme
, and therefore unacceptable to either the Church
or State
. The methods by which radical Christians attempt to transform the social order
can vary widely, from constructive activism
to destructive fanaticism
, as Christopher Rowland explains:
Examples of nonviolent
radicalism include Gerrard Winstanley
, William Blake
and Gustavo Gutiérrez
, whilst examples of violent radicalism include the Münster Rebellion
and Thomas Müntzer.
that use violence to further their cause contravene the root truth of all faiths:
Practical theology
Practical theology is the practical application of theology to everyday life. Richard Osmer explains that the four key questions and tasks in practical theology are:# What is going on? # Why is this going on?...
. It entails a radical re-orientation towards the root truths of Christian discipleship
Disciple (Christianity)
In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
through personal reflection and action.
Radical re-orientation and reflection
Radical is derived from the Latin word radix meaning "root", referring to the need for perpetual re-orientation towards the root truths of Christian discipleshipDisciple (Christianity)
In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
. One way Christians achieve this is to revisit the Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew...
or the Gospel of Mark
Gospel of Mark
The Gospel According to Mark , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Mark or simply Mark, is the second book of the New Testament. This canonical account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the three synoptic gospels. It was thought to be an epitome, which accounts for its place as the second...
, the earliest of the canonical gospels. Alternatively this re-orientation may comprise of Christians re-examining their roots or discovering an anti-imperialist
Anti-imperialism
Anti-imperialism, strictly speaking, is a term that may be applied to a movement opposed to any form of colonialism or imperialism. Anti-imperialism includes opposition to wars of conquest, particularly of non-contiguous territory or people with a different language or culture; it also includes...
heritage within their own traditions, such as Methodists studying John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
, Baptists remembering the Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
s or Catholics finding Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
. Christian radicals, such as Ched Myers, Lee Camp and Shane Claiborne
Shane Claiborne
Shane Claiborne is one of the founding members of The Simple Way in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This community was featured on the cover of Christianity Today as a pioneer in the New Monasticism movement. Claiborne is also a prominent activist for nonviolence and service to the...
, believe mainstream Christianity has moved away from its origins, namely the core teachings and practices of Jesus
Ministry of Jesus
In the Christian gospels, the Ministry of Jesus begins with his Baptism in the countryside of Judea, near the River Jordan and ends in Jerusalem, following the Last Supper with his disciples. The Gospel of Luke states that Jesus was "about 30 years of age" at the start of his ministry...
such as turning the other cheek and rejecting materialism
Simple living
Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include reducing one's possessions or increasing self-sufficiency, for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need rather than want...
.
Personal action
Radical discipleship calls ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s to follow the will of God
Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven is a foundational concept in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.The term "Kingdom of God" is found in all four canonical gospels and in the Pauline epistles...
through personal action and example. This may encompass theological ideas and actions that are perceived to be subversive
Subversion
Apache Subversion is a software versioning and a revision control system distributed under a free license. Developers use Subversion to maintain current and historical versions of files such as source code, web pages, and documentation...
or extreme
Extremism
Extremism is any ideology or political act far outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common moral standards...
, and therefore unacceptable to either the Church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
or State
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
. The methods by which radical Christians attempt to transform the social order
Social order
Social order is a concept used in sociology, history and other social sciences. It refers to a set of linked social structures, social institutions and social practices which conserve, maintain and enforce "normal" ways of relating and behaving....
can vary widely, from constructive activism
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
to destructive fanaticism
Religious fanaticism
Religious fanaticism is fanaticism related to a person's, or a group's, devotion to a religion. However, religious fanaticism is a subjective evaluation defined by the culture context that is performing the evaluation. What constitutes fanaticism in another's behavior or belief is determined by the...
, as Christopher Rowland explains:
Examples of nonviolent
Nonviolence
Nonviolence has two meanings. It can refer, first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle It can refer to the behaviour of people using nonviolent action Nonviolence has two (closely related) meanings. (1) It can refer, first, to a general...
radicalism include Gerrard Winstanley
Gerrard Winstanley
Gerrard Winstanley was an English Protestant religious reformer and political activist during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell...
, William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
and Gustavo Gutiérrez
Gustavo Gutiérrez
Gustavo Gutiérrez Merino, O.P., is a Peruvian theologian and Dominican priest regarded as the founder of Liberation Theology...
, whilst examples of violent radicalism include the Münster Rebellion
Münster Rebellion
The Münster Rebellion was an attempt by radical Anabaptists to establish a communal sectarian government in the German city of Münster. The city became an Anabaptist center from 1534 to 1535, and fell under Anabaptist rule for 18 months — from February 1534, when the city hall was seized and...
and Thomas Müntzer.
Nonviolence versus violence
Tom O'Golo declares that religious fundamentalistsFundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
that use violence to further their cause contravene the root truth of all faiths:
19th century
- William Withington (1836) Christian Radicalism
- David LipscombDavid LipscombLipscomb's beliefs on government can be classified as a radical theory of religious freedom, classical liberalism, even potentially consistent with fundamental positions of Anarcho-primitivism. Lipscomb believed in creating a peaceful, cooperative, decentralized communion in which freedom,...
(1866-7) On Civil Government: Its Origin, Mission and Destiny, and the Christian's Relation to It (Library of Radical Christian Discipleship) - Leo TolstoyLeo TolstoyLev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories. Later in life, he also wrote plays and essays. His two most famous works, the novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina, are acknowledged as two of the greatest novels of all time and a pinnacle of realist...
(1894) The Kingdom of God Is Within YouThe Kingdom of God Is Within YouThe Kingdom of God Is Within You is the non-fiction magnum opus of Leo Tolstoy and was first published in Germany in 1894, after being banned in his home country of Russia...
20th century
- Dietrich BonhoefferDietrich BonhoefferDietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and martyr. He was a participant in the German resistance movement against Nazism and a founding member of the Confessing Church. He was involved in plans by members of the Abwehr to assassinate Adolf Hitler...
(1937) The Cost of DiscipleshipThe Cost of DiscipleshipThe Cost of Discipleship is a book by the German Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, considered a classic of Christian thought. The original German title is simply . It is centred around an exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, in which Bonhoeffer spells out what he believes it means to follow Christ... - Vernard Eller (1968) Kierkegaard and Radical Discipleship: A New Perspective
- Arthur WallisArthur Wallis (Bible teacher)Arthur Wallis : itinerant Bible teacher and author. Through his teaching and writing, most notably his book The Radical Christian , Wallis gained the reputation of ‘architect’ of that expression of UK evangelicalism initially dubbed ‘the house church movement’, more recently labeled British New...
(1981) The Radical Christian - John J. Vincent (1986) Radical Jesus: The Way of Jesus Then and Now (revised and reprinted in 2004)
- Ched Myers (1988-94) Binding the Strong Man: A Political Reading of Mark's Story of Jesus; Who Will Roll Away the Stone?: Discipleship Queries for First World Christians
- Christopher RowlandChristopher Rowland (theologian)Christopher Charles Rowland is a British priest and theologian, who has been Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford since 1991.-Life:...
(1988) Radical Christianity: A Reading of Recovery - Maurice Barratt (1998) Will the Real Christians Please Stand Up? (Radical Christianity Series)
21st century
- Dan McKanan (2002) Identifying the Image of God: Radical Christians and Nonviolent Power in the Antebellum United States
- Andrew Bradstock and Christopher Rowland (2002) Radical Christian Writings: A Reader
- Wes Howard-Brook and Sharon H. Ringe (2002) The New Testament: Introducing the Way of Discipleship
- Lee C. Camp (2003) Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World
- Joerg Rieger and John Vincent (2004) Methodist and Radical: Rejuvenating a Tradition
- Wes Howard-Brook (2004) Becoming Children of God: John's Radical Gospel and Radical Discipleship
- Shane ClaiborneShane ClaiborneShane Claiborne is one of the founding members of The Simple Way in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This community was featured on the cover of Christianity Today as a pioneer in the New Monasticism movement. Claiborne is also a prominent activist for nonviolence and service to the...
(2006) The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary RadicalThe Irresistible RevolutionThe Irresistible Revolution is a book by Shane Claiborne published in 2006. This work, subtitled "Living as an Ordinary Radical", describes and advocates what the author argues to be a truly Christian lifestyle... - David AugsburgerDavid AugsburgerDavid W. Augsburger is an American Anabaptist author with a Ph.D. from Claremont School of Theology and a BA and BD from Eastern Mennonite College and Eastern Mennonite Seminary respectively. Augsburger writes on Christian subjects and has been the Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at the...
(2006) Dissident Discipleship - Obery M. Hendricks, Jr.Obery M. Hendricks, Jr.Obery M. Hendricks, Jr. is professor of biblical interpretation at the New York Theological Seminary.Before taking this position he was a professor at Drew University and a visiting professor at Princeton Theological Seminary. He has also served as president of Payne Theological Seminary, the...
(2006) The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus' Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted - Daniel M. Keeran (2006-9) Radical Christianity: Peace and Justice in the New Testament; Christian Terrorism: lay down your life.... take up your cross
- Roland Chia (2006) Radical Discipleship: Reflections on the Sermon on the Mount
- Andrew W. McThenia Jr. (2007) Radical Christian and Exemplary Lawyer: Honoring William StringfellowWilliam StringfellowFrank William Stringfellow was an American lay theologian during the 1960s and 1970s.-Life and career:...
- Robert Rix (2007) William Blake and the Cultures of Radical Christianity
- Richard A. Horsley (2008) In the Shadow of Empire: Reclaiming the Bible as a History of Faithful Resistance
- Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw (2008) Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals
- John StottJohn StottJohn Robert Walmsley Stott CBE was an English Christian leader and Anglican cleric who was noted as a leader of the worldwide Evangelical movement. He was one of the principal authors of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974...
(2010) The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of Our Calling - Z. Holler (2010) Jesus' Radical Message: Subversive Sermons for Today's Seekers
- David Platt (2010) Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream