Radical by David Platt - Book Review

I have often wondered if Peter or Paul would be able to walk into our churches and recognize us as Christians.  I wonder if our religion has become so cultural, that we would be aberrant to our spiritual ancestors.  Usually when I pose these questions the conversation ends quickly and awkwardly.  Even if I find kindred spirits who are pondering these same questions, we end our discussions feeling overwhelmed, with no idea how to begin taking our faith back from the religious institutional mentality that has become so pervasive.  Even "be the change you want to see" is difficult, because when you have looked at the world through a certain pair of eyes for so long, it is hard to even see the problem, let alone articulate it.

I've been praying about this a lot lately.  Wondering just what to do.  Turns out I have a lot of growing up to do before I can be a part of the solution.  I just finished reading a book called “Radical” by David Platt.  The tag line is, “Taking back your faith from the American dream”.  The basic premise is that our culture has infiltrated our faith, to the point that we now want God to help us accomplish our goals, rather than desperately seeking to be saved from our own desires, and transformed into a new creature, and most of us don't even know the difference.

Platt, a pastor himself, compares his experiences with the church in countries where Christians are persecuted, to what we see in the pews here in the States, as he begs us to ask which would be more pleasing to the one we call Lord.  He challenges us with the stories of missionary heroes of the past and the unsung heroes of today, who are living out their faith in ‘radical’ ways.  More than that, he sites scripture after scripture each of which sharply contrasts our cultural religion with Biblical Christianity.  I love looking at the Bibliography at the end and seeing that it is 80% Scripture references.

In many ways I think this book should be required reading for new believers, as it gives a beautiful description of the heart of God, the role of the Christian, the history of the faith, and practical steps to becoming who God commands us to be.  While I believe the book would be great for new believers, after 30 years as a christian and 10 years in ministry, I was extremely challenged, because Platt's goal is to challenge our basic understanding of what it means to be a Christian. In what feels like a modern retelling of Hebrews 11, Platt connects us to modern examples of the same faith found in that beautiful chapter.  The effect is one that brings the faith out of history and into our present reality, making it accessible to every believer, not just those who have been through formal training.  Because of this, the book is idea for aligning your focus with what it really means to be a Christian.

The book ends with 5 specific challenges to help you shift from cultural Christianity, to Biblical Christianity.  While some of them are very basic on the surface, the combined result of all 5 is nothing short of Radical.

I'd tell you what they are, but you need Platt's build up, he step by step, logical, Biblical outline of what it means to be a Christian, and why some of our most basic assumptions about scripture are just plain unscriptural.  Don't read this book unless you are willing to finish it, willing to be offended, and willing to move outside your comfort zone into a faith that will really transform you and the world around you.

After reading the book I realize that I have been arrogant.  I have bestowed upon myself a level of maturity, that I am far from grasping.  I finished the book broken, and in need of serious change.  I am desperately hoping that some of my friends will read this book and commit to the same steps, hold me accountable, and journey with me.  If you've read the book or want a copy, let me know.  I'd gladly buy you the book if you promise to read it and tell me how it challenges you.

Beer With Jesus

It may come as a shock to some of you who know me, given that I've never had so much as a sip of beer, but I really like the song "Beer with Jesus", by Thomas Rhett.  (Confessing this will probably upset some of my friends who believe that Jesus turned water into "non-alcoholic wine" at the wedding in Cana.)

If you have never heard the song, you should take a listen.  Here is a link to the lyrics.

While the questions posed by the song may not reflect perfect theology, and they made not be the questions that a student of the word would ask, they do reflect a clear desire for a personal relationship with the Savior.

It also makes it clear that Jesus is approachable.  As I listen to the song I can't help but believe that Jesus would like nothing more than to sit down across a table from me, and chat. I don't think He'd mind sipping a beer.

But it's not the beer that intrigues me.  What makes this song so thought provoking is the idea of a corner table and a chance to have a private conversation with Jesus.  Like the singer, "I'd be sure to let Him do the talking," but I'd also have a plethora of questions I'd be "Careful when I got the chance to ask".

My favorite part of the song has to be that the most important question, the one that gets repeated over and over is, "How'd you turn the other cheek, to save a sorry soul like me?"  Of all the other questions I have, that one is really what matters.

We get caught up on whether or not Jesus would actually drink a beer, which church would he attend, who would he vote for, which side would he take on this debate or that debate? Could I sing this song at my church without having people walk out? But the critical question is one of forgiveness.  How does He manage to love a sorry soul like me so much that He forgives me time, after time, after time? 

If I could fully comprehend the depth of that love, how would it change me.  How would it change the way I love others?  Would all of the squabbles and divisions disappear?  Most importantly, how much more approachable would Jesus be to the world...