Christian radicalism

Christian radicalism (radical Christianity or Radical Discipleship) 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.

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 discipleship. 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 Anabaptists 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.

Personal action

Radical discipleship calls Christians 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.

See also

Further reading

19th century

• William Withington (1836) Christian Radicalism
• David Lipscomb (1866-7) On Civil Government: Its Origin, Mission and Destiny, and the Christian's Relation to It (Library of Radical Christian Discipleship)

20th century

• Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1937) The Cost of Discipleship
• Vernard Eller (1968) Kierkegaard and Radical Discipleship: A New Perspective
• Arthur Wallis (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 Rowland (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 Claiborne (2006) The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical
• David Augsburger (2006) Dissident Discipleship
• Obery M. Hendricks, Jr. (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 [...]: 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 Stringfellow
• 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 Stott (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