by Greg Mundis

-THINK ABOUT IT-

The news headlines streamed across the electronic media on August 10 regarding the terrorist plot to blow up American planes on the way from London to the United States. Once again, we see how radical extremists display, for the world, their commitment to their cause.

Radical extremists and terrorists strike fear in the hearts of many people around the world. In one sense the radical extremism that manifests itself and causes this fear is their passionate commitment to their beliefs and the cause for which they are willing to die. At this point we’re not talking about the “right nor the wrong” of their cause, but about their commitment to it.

I have been reflecting on this kind of radical extremism and am seemingly forced to make comparisons with our Christian personnel living overseas. Although our cause and goals are so very different from those who want to terrorize people to justify their cause, the commitment level is not that much different.

The cause of sharing the gospel, helping humankind, and lifting people out of heartache, poverty, and brokenness is so overwhelming to our Christian personnel serving overseas that they are radically extreme in what they are willing to do. They will leave their homes, their culture, their language, and their family to incarnate themselves into other cultures and environments.  It is their sole desire to demonstrate the love, compassion, mercy, grace, and judgment of Jesus Christ. They are willing to give up their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I’m reminded of several of our personnel who are serving in Israel. They are radically committed to demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ to their friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Although the terminology “radically extreme” is different because of the context, the commitment level is the same.

I have to ask myself, “Am I that radically extreme about my faith and commitment to Jesus Christ? Can I say (in the words of Jesus) that I am “willing to lose my life to gain it?” Each one of us needs to ask ourselves where we are in our commitment level to the cause of Christ.

As we continue to look at the headlines that will most likely stream across the media over the course of the next months and years, let’s not only think about the radical extremism of terrorists. Let’s be reminded of the radical extremism that manifests itself in our commitment to the cause of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

Thank you for your prayers for Europe. We appreciate them.

Sincerely,

Greg Mundis
AGWM Europe Regional Director

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