What is meant by "radical discipleship"? The word "radical" comes from the Latin, radix, meaning "root". Radical discipleship is a deep, thorough-going discipleship to Christ, down to the roots of our humanity. This discipleship springs from the fact that Jesus is Lord. This is the shortest, simplest and earliest Christian creed (Romans 10:9-10). It is this confession by which people are saved. It is a confession that can only be made by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3)