Religious freedom has done a lot of good for American Christian churches. We are free to go to church on Sundays without the fear of being caught and persecuted. We can gather together with our Christian brothers & sisters to pray without having to meet together in private. We can even tote around our bibles with us wherever we go, not fearing who may see us holding it. But, sadly, this same freedom has done a lot of harm to our churches. Though we are free to read our bibles whenever we want, we are not hungry for the Word of God. Though we don't have to meet in private to pray, we are not fervent in our prayers. We waste our money on cars and gadgets, all the while accumulating more and more stuff, instead of using it to bring the gospel to the nations. We've become comfortable, and as a result, we, as American Christians, have succumbed to the American Dream. With his new book, Pastor David Platt wants to plead with us not to abandon this dream for the sake of the gospel and the nations to which it must go.
Radical by David Platt is a loving, pastoral indictment for the nominal American Christian to get off the couch, pick up his cross, and radically abandon everything to follow Jesus. In it, he takes the time to walk his readers through Jesus' own words on what it means to truly follow him. And make no mistake about it, Dr. Platt will challenge how biblically accurate many of your current practices truly are. For instance, in his chapter on reaching the nations for the sake of the gospel, Platt says,
One of the things I really enjoyed about Radical was the many stories that he shares from his missionary travels around the globe as well as from the people at his own church. These stories serve to show us what it looks like to radically follow Jesus in practice. These stories are then coupled with Dr. Platt's fluid & accurate interpretations on the relevant biblical texts on radical abandonment to Jesus. Overall, this makes for a very enjoyable and meaty read.
For me personally, reading Radical caused me to reflect a lot on my own Christian journey & practices. Am I living as if I truly believed the gospel? Do I really believe that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain?" I still need to reflect some more on this topic, but suffice it to say that Dr. Platt's book has affected me greatly.
I can't recommend this book any higher. It came at a point in my life where I was getting comfortable, and I know that there are many others who are at that same point in their lives. This book is a much needed wake up call for all Christians everywhere, and I would recommend you read it. Buy it here.
Also, check back in the next few days. I will be offering a free giveaway of Radical by David Platt to my readers.
If you just want to try a sample of the book first before buying it, Multnomah is offering a free download of Chapter 1. You can also request a free printed copy or download a digital version of The Radical Question (a shorter version of Radical). The download is only available through May 9, 2010.
Radical by David Platt is a loving, pastoral indictment for the nominal American Christian to get off the couch, pick up his cross, and radically abandon everything to follow Jesus. In it, he takes the time to walk his readers through Jesus' own words on what it means to truly follow him. And make no mistake about it, Dr. Platt will challenge how biblically accurate many of your current practices truly are. For instance, in his chapter on reaching the nations for the sake of the gospel, Platt says,
"While some professing Christians have rejected universalism [the belief that all people go to heaven no matter what they believe] intellectually, practically they may end up leading universalistic lives. They claim Christ is necessary for salvation, yet they live their Christianity in silence, as if people around them in the world will indeed be okay in the end without Christ."Challenges like these are much needed by us in the American church.
One of the things I really enjoyed about Radical was the many stories that he shares from his missionary travels around the globe as well as from the people at his own church. These stories serve to show us what it looks like to radically follow Jesus in practice. These stories are then coupled with Dr. Platt's fluid & accurate interpretations on the relevant biblical texts on radical abandonment to Jesus. Overall, this makes for a very enjoyable and meaty read.
For me personally, reading Radical caused me to reflect a lot on my own Christian journey & practices. Am I living as if I truly believed the gospel? Do I really believe that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain?" I still need to reflect some more on this topic, but suffice it to say that Dr. Platt's book has affected me greatly.
I can't recommend this book any higher. It came at a point in my life where I was getting comfortable, and I know that there are many others who are at that same point in their lives. This book is a much needed wake up call for all Christians everywhere, and I would recommend you read it. Buy it here.
Also, check back in the next few days. I will be offering a free giveaway of Radical by David Platt to my readers.
If you just want to try a sample of the book first before buying it, Multnomah is offering a free download of Chapter 1. You can also request a free printed copy or download a digital version of The Radical Question (a shorter version of Radical). The download is only available through May 9, 2010.
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
You've piqued my curiosity, not that I don't have enough 1/2 read books lying around, but this one sounds interesting. Thanks for putting it out there.
ReplyDeleteAlso I have another question for you Jon. I saw the new "Josh Harris" book in the stack of freebies from T4G. A couple of people in my church have highly recommended it to me.
ReplyDeleteAll I know of Josh Harris is "I kissed dating goodbye" which I would include in the top 5 most harmful Christian books to my generation. I'm honestly skeptical of anything he writes, so I was curious what you thought of that new one if you've gotten to it since its in your stack. Thanks.
Hey Bob, you definitely should read this one. I know I recommend a lot of books, but this one is really good.
ReplyDeleteOn Josh Harris, let me first ask a question before I answer. When you read "I Kissed Dating Goodbye," what stood out so much that you would categorize it as so harmful?
The impression from reading that book as a Junior in High School, was that God had a person chosen for me, and that I basically needed to pray and wait until God revealed that one. Then when I read "Boy meets Girl" I learned that once God finally did reveal "the one" to me I had to tell her at the beginning that I was thinking about the possibility of marriage. Its been a while since I read either book, but that was my impression of what he was teaching in both of those. With that, I think it really screwed up the way I, and a number of other people I know make Biblically based Godly decisions. Believing that God has predetermined all and that its our job to figure out his predetermination. (Don't read that as an open theistic statement. I'm not saying that, he does know the future, and is over our decision making, but he gives us wisdom to make decisions rather than revealing his will through inner feelings and impressions)
ReplyDeleteI think with Harris's position in "I kissed dating goodbye" one would have to accept the premise that God does in fact have a "one" chosen for you. I'm not sure that's a Biblically founded principle. I fully hold to God's sovereignty and providence over all things, but I believe that God gives us room to use his gifts of wisdom and discernment in decision making. I don't see the Biblical model for choosing a spouse as asking God to reveal his chosen one to you (through some means, maybe like supernatural revelation), and just waiting as a happy single until he does, and then when he does, laying out your intention of marriage as your first step.
Perhaps my words to describe "I kissed dating goodbye" are harsh. I guess I read it as a junior in high school shortly after ending a 2 year relationship. I think I found refuge in the principle of not dating from the hurt that I was in at the time, but I have to be honest and say that for a long time that book reinforced what I now to be an unbiblical decision making model. Maybe I misunderstood the book, maybe I read it wrong, but this model of trying to figure out God's predetermined will was what I walked away with, and honestly that in a way held me in captivity for almost 4 years through a whole slew of decisions that I made. I imposed inner-turmoil on myself trying to figure out which college God wanted me to go to, staying in a major that I felt God called me to even though I was terrible at it and failed chem 115 3 times before I passed it the 4th, and also ending a friendship with a girl (where we both liked each other) because God hadn't given the proverbial green light to either of us to date (whatever that means).
I dunno, its not like the book came right out and made me do things, but I do look back and see the role the book made in my decision making, so when I pose my question that's where I'm coming from with that.
Also, I'm 25 and single and have nothing better to do than sit in my church office at 11:30 on Friday night responding to your blog posts, or spending 6 hours last weekend finding abortion statistics. Perhaps I will find a hobby............
ReplyDeleteJonathan, I just saw last night that Family Christian Bookstore has this book on sale. I enjoyed reading your review and may have to read the book sometime ... might even have to enter your book give away opportunity!
ReplyDeleteAlso, for Bob ... My youngest son also had a similiar feeling about I Kissed Dating Goodbye. His girlfriend broke up with him after reading the book, so needless to say he wasn't very fond of the book. Our son also attended T4G and sat in on a Joshua Harris workshop and received the latest book by Harris. After finishing the book, he said ... it was probably the best book he has read in a long time, because it personally related to where he was in life. It was even suggested that I should read it, because he thought I would enjoy it.
I hope that helps ... a review from a former skeptic.
Keep up the postings, Jonathan. They are making a difference :)
Bob,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experiences & understanding of Josh Harris' I Kissed Dating Goodbye. If that is what he was saying throughout the book, then I totally agree with your criticisms of it. However, I have not read that book, but you have picqued my interest, and I may have to do so. Also, having listened to Josh Harris and read some of his other stuff, I don't know if he would say the same things anymore. I don't know if you are familiar with Sovereign Grace Ministries and CJ Mahaney, but he is a big part of that movement of churches. In fact, I actually go to a Sovereign Grace Ministries church. If you aren't familiar with the ministry and are curious, I'd be more than willing to give you a quick rundown. All that to say, give Josh another chance. :)
As for Dug Down Deep, I haven't read all of it, but of what I have read, it's really solid. It's written in a unique style that tells of the importance and role of learning theology as he grew up through the years. It's kind of like an autobiographical systematic theology. Does that make sense? I would give it to anyone who questions the importance of theology, or to any new believer who needs an intro to the theology of the Christian faith.