” You can become a Christian in a moment. But to become Christian is another matter. In our evangelical churches we are very adept at teaching people how to become a Christian – how to receive the forgiveness available in Christ. We have not been nearly so adept at teaching people how to become Christian – how to become Christlike in a way that helps flood a world hell-bent on vengence with the grace of forgiveness. But as you read the New Testament, you will find that Christ and his apostles place far more emphasis on becoming Christian than on becoming a Christian.

I fear we have contented ourselves with the self-congratulation of becoming a Christian, when the call of discipleship is to become Christian, to become Christlike, to become imitators of Christ in a fallen world where true imitation of Christis radically counter-cultural and deeply counterintuitive. To meet hate with hate, vengeance with vengeance, violence with violence is the way of the fallen world, the way of fallen angels, the way of fallen man. It’s the way that seems right, but it always ends in death.

The way of Christ is the way of the cross and radical mercy, leading to eternal life…”

Brian Zahnd, “Radical Forgiveness” chapter 3, page 56