You and I can choose to continue with business as usual in the Christian life and in the church as a whole, enjoying success based on the standards defined by the culture around us. Or we can take an honest look at the Jesus of the Bible and dare to ask what the consequences might be if we really believed him and really obeyed him.
If Jesus is who he said he is, and if his promises are as rewarding as the Bible claims they are, then we may discover that satisfaction in our lives and success in the church are not found in what our culture deems most important, but in radical abandonment to Jesus.
Radical, by David Platt
There is a longing inside us — if we are honest — to discover that life is about more than it seems. I’m not willing to believe that life revolves around our next vacation, our next goal, the next business meeting. Are you? If you are about ready to go on a quest for that deeper meaning, then pause long enough to read the new book Radical, by David Platt. But be forewarned: it will mess with your mind and maybe even your life.
David gives us glimpses into people whose hearts and lives are sold out in radical devotion to Christ. Sometimes those people do crazy, counter-cultural things like living BELOW their income so they can give away more for the causes in the kingdom that stir their hearts and minds. Sometimes they actually sell it all and move. Sometimes — more often — they reorient their lives so that their values and their energy and their time all work toward the kingdom, rather than creating conflicting values in our day to day life. But it takes courage to step out of the rat race and choose a new path.
I could not help but think that somewhere along the way we had missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable. We were settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.
Abandoning ourselves is easier said than done. It costs to follow Christ the way he demands to be followed. Indeed, if you read the Bible carefully, he often tried to talk people out of following him! But the rewards for those who do…”We will discover that our meaning is found in community and our life is found in giving ourselves for the sake of others in the church, among the lost and among the poor.”
And that was only chapter one, folks.
Honestly, this book is not that long, but it reminded me that I am a member of the worldwide, global, historical church. It reminded me that there are billions (with a B) of people out there who have never heard the story of Christ and his amazing gift for us. It reminded me of the mystery and joy of a God who takes it all and gives back oh so much more!
Maybe this is why we fill our lives with the constant drivel of entertainment in this culture — and in the church. We are afraid that if we stop and really look at God in his Word, we might discover that he evokes greater awe and demands deeper worship than we are ready to give him.
David sums up his book with a radical one year experiment. He introduces it by saying this:
Real success is found in radical sacrifice. Ultimate satisfaction is found not in making much of ourselves but in making much of God. The purpose of our lives transcends the country and culture in which we live. Meaning is found in community, not individualism; joy is found in generosity, not materialism; and truth is found in Christ, not universalism. Ultimately, Jesus is a reward worth risking everything to know, experience, and enjoy.
I know it is kind of skipping ahead, but do you want to hear the one year challenge?
- Pray for the entire world. Get an aid such as OperationWorld and literally begin praying for everywhere around the world in this one year. You’ll be amazed, he says, at the way prayer opens our hearts and minds. Jesus asked his disciples to pray not for the poor and the sick, but for the people who would go to them. He wants us to pray for people to go to the countries you will learn about. Great family project.
- Read through the entire Bible in one year. “We have settled for far too long for “Bible lite,” both as individual Christians and in the community of faith. We have adopted a Christianity consumed with little devotional thoughts form God for the day…” Imagine the power of praying around the world and reading the Word for an entire year! Do you think you would be transformed at the end of that year?
- Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose. Pick a concrete project and devote every dollar you can to it for one year. Set a cap on your lifestyle for this one year and get involved with changing your world personally through your giving.
- Spend your time in another context. This is the one we’re all afraid of, isn’t it. Go. We have to change our context and go. He suggests that if we could just give 2% of our time (roughly one week) to changing our context and bringing the Gospel to the world, it would revolutionize the other 98% of our time.
- Commit your life to multiplying community. Find a place within your body of believers to make disciples and support each other. “If the radical, simple living we see Jesus talking about were more common in the church, it would be much easier for us to live simply as well…give liberally, go urgently and live dangerously together.”
That’s it and that’s enough. It’s more than enough! I have to be honest with you, I don’t know if I can live up to that one year commitment. But I’m pretty sure I’d like to try. In the best of all scenarios, David and I would find a group of others committed to making that hard climb. Seems easier to do together, doesn’t it?
Radical, by David Platt. Download it on your Kindle App and off you go. Let me know what you think!
Resources for Radical can be found here.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Okay, I just bought it on Kindle…not sure if I’m going to be thanking you or not after it messes with my mind! I think I’m ready for it…Bill and I are searching for something to sink our teeth into.
Karin I will be really interested to hear what you think of it. city Place campus is basing some of their latest series on it. I know what you mean by looking to sink your teeth into something, especially after the Generous Giving and Q conferences. Maybe we will team up to go out for that 2%!!!
I am adding it to my short list to read. Thank you for inspiring me through your post! After reading it, we might need to add a little time to our next coffee date:-)
Absolutely! There is never a shortage of topics for those discussions, is there.
video by david platt
david platt video
Hello!
I’ve read the 1st 4 chapters…I’ve taken notes to study…I’ve studied Scripture as well…And, now, I’ve read comments from this site and others…
It’s true: it will mess with your mind and maybe even your life.
chuck
Greetings,
Nice review. I’ve read it and am now reading it with a group of guys. I think the really amazing and overwhelming bit is that the Church is susceptible to culture just like we as individuals are. It really would be a complete mind crash if Jesus were here to let us know how we’ve all traded in and missed it.
Great book. Kudos to you for the review. Keep up the great work!
Taylor
I am just beginning to read it. My pastor and the leadership group have read or are nearly done . I’m looking to start up a 2 or more group online to discuss it weekly.
I probably need to go back and re-read it. In fact, I know I do. Trouble is, it totally messed with my mind the first time. I’m scared of the second time! Let me know what you think of it.
I’m going to be attending a bible study on this book next week, and I ran across this review. Sounds like a good book!
But I’m a little concerned of the statements I read saying that “God demands to be followed”, and “demands deeper worship”.
I don’t see God as demanding towards me in my life, but rather deserving to be followed and deserving deeper worship.
To say that God is demanding implies imminent enforcement. God is not harsh like that.
I am glad I read Radical. Great read. God is great.
He is good, indeed. I found, by the way, that Radical’s influence increases over time rather than diminishes. It comes back to your mind at just the most inconvenient times, frankly!
I like it. Like I say in my book, It is all good and God is at the end.
“If there is money associated with something , that something is most likely not associated with God.”
This book focuses on what we “should” do rather than what Christ has done for us. You are either saved or not. You are either living in sin or not. You are either doing what God has called you to do through his word or not.
This book is for the people who don’t really read God’s word. Read God’s word, do what He says. We have power through the Holy Spirit to do everything God asks of us.
Pursue Christ. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Read 1st and 2nd Peter, James, Ephesians and Phillipians for a REAL CHALLENGE, not this book.
God never told us through his word to “give your money away for a year” or anythingelse like that for a certain amount of time! That is being religious and will lead to pride. Jesus was not religious or prideful.
We, as Christians, are called to know Him and make Him known. Our rightesouness comes through what God did for us in Jesus. Not in what David Platt calls us to do.
Mike, I hear your point. And agree with most of it. Particularly spending the majority of our time reading in the Word, and (my latest thought today), letting the Word read us. I do think, however, that Radical is a good reminder to send the pendulum swing back the other way a bit, and to remember that this life God calls us to has a cost to it. We can’t purchase our salvation, but we can work it out with fear and trembling!
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post.
Life and mind changing book. I wish I could attend one of the ‘new 4 to 6 hour services’ at your church. The ultimate focus is always the Word of God – the Bible. Thank you
Thanks for offering your perspective of the book ‘Radical’ by David Platt. I had a very different perspective and reaction to ‘Radical’ to offer in the review that I did that actually produced a response from someone who is from Platt’s church that was mentioned in the book! Here is the title and link to the article:
Church Member Mentioned In David Platt’s Book ‘Radical’ Responds To My Review Of ‘Radical’ – http://goo.gl/pfXuH
Just read it….and while it’s right on regarding believers “caring about” those struggling (“the poor”, in this book)…. I feel this pastor’s admitted “blind spot”, and deep concern about its existence,… is not necessarily “the blind spot of the church”. CAREFUL…as breaking away from the American Dream….might also include the American church’s push for its members to travel overseas on multiple short term missions trips,…as only “wealthy American church” can do. Platt seems to have been to many countries. Why? Isn’t this one of the latest swings of the evangelical American Pastor? Where’s the stewardship in how we are handling short term missions? In fact, there are many “blind spots” we, the Church, have to “see” and come to terms with,….and only one of these is our “caring about the poor”. Also, remember the Word of God…when it warns the believer not to care for the poor publicly, for men to see. Do it in secret… privately… not for the praise of men….or the excitement of the Church.