But we might not be. It depends on whether we perceive that qualifier as meritorious. Does it elevate us above other blood-bought Christians who don’t wave the banner of that same qualifier?
It is possible to be a “missional” Christian or a “radical” Christian or whatever, and that language is being used merely as a way of communicating something biblical that you want to call people to, something truly in Christ. But it is also possible — it all depends on internal factors, difficult to discern even in ourselves, much less in others — to use such qualifiers in a way that is truly legalistic.
I even had a chance to ask Francis Chan about this recently as part of an episode of The Exchange, broadcast live from (and in partnership with) The Exponential Conference. He was mentioned in the original CT article, and we talked about the counterbalance of radical Christianity and what Eugene Peterson called “long obedience.”
Francis provides some helpful perspective on the issue and the sustainability of a radical, missional lifestyle.
