Living as an Extremist

"The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be... The nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists. "-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

When I first hear the word "extremist", I must admit that it carries a negative connotation. As a general rule, I'm not a person who thinks of himself through the lenses of extremism. Extremists are weirdo whack jobs who don't have a clue what this world is really about. They are the people who speak with unnerving passion about things that consumer their thoughts. They are the people who stir up conversations that make people uneasy. Extremists are so extreme, they are even willing to back up their language with action. They are sold out to their cause and can think of nothing else --they are extreme.

The more I think about it, I am convinced that our friends and neighbors are looking for extremists --people who are living to die for their beliefs while equally willing to live for them. As I contemplate Dr. King's words, I wonder, "Am I an extremist?" Would the people who view my life and actions see me as someone who has given everything I am for the cause of Christ?

If not, why not?