Becoming "radicalized"

Becoming "radicalized" is an often used phrase these days referring to Islamic Jihadist that are so committed to their faith that they commit atrocities in the name of Allah. More often than not this commitment involves losing their own lives. However, dying is not considered a loss because by dying, they are promised an eternal life that has a significant appeal to them. What makes this trade radical?


Many pundits have tried to explain the rise of Islamic terrorism to poverty and hopelessness. Yet, when examined closely we see educated professionals becoming "radicalized". We see women becoming "radicalized." We see mothers of new born children becoming "radicalized." We scratch our heads wondering what is it with becoming "radicalized?"

Let's step back from the emotion of these acts and the cultural biases that we all have in trying to understand anything and see this from a different perspective. Maybe Islamic Jihad is not so radical. The idea that life in this form is not the ultimate and a person can take an action in this life to insure an eternal destiny in an afterlife is quite appealing. Why wouldn't we all be drawn to a religion that we can control what happens to us for all of eternity by what we do today?

Oh, maybe we are, Culturally relative legalism is normal for the human condition, not radical.

Maybe trusting Christ for our redemption and eternal life because of what He did for us, not we do for Him is what's radical. Maybe living from a faith that doesn't depend on what we do is really becoming "radicalized"?

This is certainly worth pondering .....

Footnote: For those who don't like pondering - while normal human acts of self-righteousness destroys life, the radical works of redemptive grace restores it  

Heck, may still require pondering, oh well!