by Jefrey D. Breshears
Normal Christianity
In the late 1930s the Chinese church leader, Watchman Nee, wrote The Normal Christian Life, a book that was based on lectures he gave in 1938-39 but which was not published until 1957. In his book Nee argued that a “normal” Christian is a Christ-centered, Spirit-filled believer who lives a life of total commitment. In that sense, a “normal” Christian is not the average Christian. Rather, “normal” denotes what should be – in contrast to the abnormal (or subnormal) spiritual lives that characterize many professing Christians.
My thesis is that “normal” Christianity is innately radical and countercultural. I do not mean “radical” in the most common use of the term – i.e., extreme, irrational or reckless – but “radical” (Latin: radix) in the original etymological sense of being connected to the root part (or the life source) of a system. In the case of the Christian faith, this means sharing organically in the life of Jesus Christ, and being attuned and animated by his values and priorities. This connotes a spiritual connection with Jesus rather than merely an institutional identification with the Christian religion. And when I contend that normative Christianity should be countercultural, I mean to the extent that we cultivate a worldview and a lifestyle in keeping with the values, beliefs and behavior of the Kingdom of God, and which contrast sharply to those of our world.
