Recently, I prompted AI with this question:
What does Greg Stier mean by being ‘radical like Jesus?’
Here’s the reply I received:
Greg Stier means that Christians should live a revolutionary life by emulating Jesus’s character and actions, rather than being radical just for the sake of it. To be ‘radical like Jesus’ is a call to actively practice the lifestyle that Jesus modeled throughout His life.
Key aspects of Stier’s teaching on this topic include:
Embodying Jesus, not just advocating for Him.
Stier emphasizes the difference between being ‘radical for Jesus’ and being ‘radical like Jesus.’ It is not enough to simply take a stand; believers must embody the qualities and behaviors that Jesus demonstrated.
Loving the marginalized.
Like Jesus, Christians should reach out to and love the unlovable, the broken, the bullied, and even the bullies. Stier notes that Jesus’s radical nature was evident in His consistent interactions with marginalized people.
Deep, gut-level compassion.
Stier often refers to the Greek word splagchnizomai to describe the deep, emotional compassion Jesus had for people. This is more than just sympathy; it means feeling others’ pain deeply and being moved to action.
Boldly sharing the Gospel.
A core part of Stier’s message is that living like Jesus means living on a mission to share the ‘radical Gospel of grace’ with others. This involves bold evangelism as modeled by Christ, who taught that salvation is by faith alone and not by works.
Living in dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Stier teaches that believers can be radical like Jesus because Jesus lives in and works through them by the power of the Holy Spirit. This dependence is what makes a Christian’s life revolutionary.
Moving beyond comfortable Christianity.
Stier challenges believers to move past complacent or apathetic versions of the Christian faith. Living radically like Jesus means a willingness to sacrifice comfort and take deliberate steps of faith.
For Stier, being radical like Jesus is not a one-time event but a daily reality that transforms a person’s faith and actions, ultimately making a lasting impact on the world.
AI nailed it! Will you?
Pick up your copy of Radical Like Jesus: 21 Challenges to Live a Revolutionary Life.
Take the challenges.
Be radical like Jesus.
