Is this love?

I wrote a song yesterday. This is strange because a) I don't do that and b) I didn't know I could do that.

Wednesday in chapel, a girl who spent a semester in Bangladesh spoke about her experience. I felt saddened by the living conditions of the people and their lives. But what really affected me was the pictures and stories about their sacrifices.

She showed pictures of blood flowing down the streets, blood that they hoped would cover their sins. She said they wanted a deliverer, but they just couldn't believe it was Jesus.

That's when my heart broke.

Yesterday when I sat to play the piano, I played a sad song. Suddenly it had words. I questioned God. I don't understand why He doesn't just swoop in and save the day. He could, right? When I finished my song, I wasn't satisfied. The song was complete, but it didn't really express what I was feeling. I didn't feel angry or disillusioned by God. I felt something else. A sense of responsibility. I kept playing and singing, working out the kinks. Halfway through a sentence, I froze. This is not my song to God; this is His song to me.

How can you let them suffer,
Can you see them try so hard to see your face?
How can you hear them crying
Out for you to pick them up?

How can you be all you say you are
If you don't help your people?
How can you do all you say you've done
If you don't do something?

Is this love? That you turn away?
That you hide your face from their searching hearts?
Is this love? That you'd walk away
When all they need is your embrace?
Is this love?

How can you see them striving,
Can you see them pouring out their sacrifice?
Why won't you let them know
That the blood's in vain,
Let them know that the price is paid?

How can you be all you say you are
If you don't help your people.
How can you do all you say you've done
If you don't do something?

Is this love? That you turn away?
That you hide your face from their searching hearts?
Is this love? That you'd walk away
When all they need is your embrace?
Is this love?

Radical?

What is a radical Christian?

We hear about the habits of certain believers. We read about Daniel refusing to eat the rich food of the Babylonians and taking time to pray three times a day. We hear about a person memorizing whole books of the Bible. We hear these stories and think, "Wow. They are radical Christians." But are they really?

Is it really radical to refuse to eat what God forbade? Is it radical to spend three hours in prayer when Christ says to pray without ceasing? Is it radical to memorize several verses when we are taught to hide His word in our hearts? Is it radical, or is it expected?

Perhaps our idea of radical Christianity is distorted. Perhaps distorted by the world's expectations. Perhaps we do the bare minimum. Perhaps we do just enough to be seen as Christians, but not enough to really appear different.

When the Israelites left Egypt, they numbered around two million. Out of these original two million, only two entered the Promised Land. Why? Because they were the only two who completely trusted, who completely held God to His word by obeying Him. One in a million.

Complete surrender, complete obedience is not popular. Nor is it common. But is it truly radical?

What if we were radical by the world's standards? What if we refused to eat the richness of the world, refused to watch what they watch or hear what they hear? What if we refused to find entertainment or humor in the things God hates? What if we devoted time to be still and listen or to memorize His word? What if we were actually different on the outside, and not just within? Would we be radical? Or would we just be obedient?