After months of looking at “Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream” by David Platt, i finally decided i had to go ahead and read this book. Having read and studied several books and/or articles that discuss the concepts and failings of what we call the “American Dream”, I already had my own opinion about the topic, but still think it’s a worthy topic today. Radical ended up not really being focused so much on the American Dream as it was to focus away from the concept.
Whether we acknowledge it or not we are probably influenced by this concept in one way or another, and much of the time it tends to be a self-focused concept, how do I maximize my 401k, get that house, car, computer, whatever. Radical attempted to remove that self-focused concept and replace it with a global evangelistic focus that Jesus calls for in Matthew 28.
The book is a compilation of a sermon series given by the pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, Dr. David Platt, after he returned from several international missional type trips a few years ago. i have read a few other reviews that have also suggested listening to the complete sermon series in addition to reading the book. Many have said it takes the book even deeper, so eventually I hope to listen to those as well. After a longer introduction period of a few chapters, Platt goes through seven truths, which are the premise for the text and lead to Platt’s conclusion, and eventually to his call to action. The truth statements come from this evaluating proclamation…
If people are dying and going to hell without ever even knowing there is a gospel, then we clearly have no time to waste our lives on an American dream.
The Seven Truth’s of Radical:
- TRUTH 1 : All People Have Knowledge of God
- TRUTH 2 : All People Reject God
- TRUTH 3 : All People are Guilty Before God
- TRUTH 4 : All People are Condemned for Rejecting God
- TRUTH 5 : God Has Made a Way of Salvation For the Lost
- TRUTH 6 : People Cannot Come to God Apart From Faith in Christ
- TRUTH 7 : Christ Commands the Church to Make the Gospel Known to All Peoples
With each explained in detail, Radical proceeds into the final call to action with, what I read as the ultimate conclusion of the text.
…that means there is only one potential breakdown in this progression [of truths] —when servants of God do not preach the gospel to all peoples
This leads into Platt’s call to action. A one year plan, in five steps (or points), that intend to bring the believer into closer alignment to the truths in the Gospel message instead of continuing on a path towards the elusive American Dream.
Concluding Critique About Radical
For those with an evangelical background Radical will be a hard but familiar call to constantly evaluate our lives against the truths of the Gospel. Not only does it cause us to examine our lives more closely but it gives specific, tangible examples (or points) which are easy to evaluate, like reading the bible completely in one year (either you did or you didn’t).
Some may see this as works, or a process or program, but I don’t believe that is Platt’s message to believers at all. The Gospel is a call to live a radical life unlike that of the world, and Radical confirms this. It isn’t about a program to do this or that, it is about a life changed, and living a lifestyle for God not for self.
For those with a more liberal theology, or those who view some sermons as annoying guilt trips, Radical will probably be seen more as another radical pastor calling on people to give up all their worldly possessions, give them to the “poor” and go somewhere overseas to spread Christianity (which actually is in the bible too, but no doubt some will find it annoying to say the least). While they will appreciate the social consciousness aspect to Radical’s call, some will see it as an “evils of riches” guilt trip.
It is not a book that is going to answer all the questions, but it will stretch the believer into thinking beyond ourselves and the small boxes we tent to live in, especially here in the United States. Some questions that came to mind were:
- How much is enough?
- What can we live without for the sake of the Gospel?
- Where do we spend our time and is it worth our time?
- What do we see in ourselves when examining our life against scripture?
- What will we do with the five action items in Radical?
It is always interesting to see if a book stands the test of time. One way I look at the effectiveness of a book is how well does the author make their arguments, and will the book survive the initial pop culture publication. In other words, does the author make convincing enough arguments to make the book either (1) entertaining, (2) does it make you change or examine the way you think, or (3) does it even change your actions and how you live. In short, does the book shape you in some way or form.
Since I rarely read books for their entertainment value, I hope for one of the latter points, and that is where Radical lands. It made me think, it changed the way I do a few things, and it caused me to take a hard look at my long term calling. I would highly recommend Radical to anyone who has a teachable spirit and is willing to take a new look at old ways of doing Christianity beyond Sunday morning.
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Poetry is an interesting form of literature to me because of how extensively the writers of scripture used poetry to express God’s instructions, thoughts, and proclamations. I take no claim to being well read in poetry, quite the opposite, but if it was important to the writers of the Old and New Testament, and ultimately to God, as an inspired form of literature, then it isn’t one believers should totally ignore.
Poetry as a Form of Worship
If you had mentioned poetry to me 10 years ago I may have gone screaming for ESPN, but when examined in the heart of the hundreds of poems in scripture, the literary form as a whole begins to take new light. This is probably one of the greatest lost forms of literature in the 21st century church (by lost I mean non-existent). It is hard for poetry to compete with our modern day worship styles, but it is certainly a form of worship, no matter how seldom it is practiced today.
A great modern day example of this appreciation for poetry is still seen in several pastors, but most recently a post from Desiring God’s website, A Pastor and His Poetry, reminded me of the importance poetry has in God’s creation. Pastor John Piper has written many poems over the last 25 years, many inspired by contemplation and meditation over a particular scripture passage, and about a year ago I did the same thing as part of my ongoing studies.
Through a few hours of meditation (worship) over John 21, “The Spirit Phaneroō in Tiberias” became the tangible result of that worship.
The Spirit Phaneroō in Tiberias
The spirit penetrates the air
But futility still reigns supreme
It occupies the mind all of the day
Oblivious, save self, to the way.Caught nothing but the sea
Chained by routine, still blind
Yielding yet unknowing
I follow, though I know not why.These shackles I long to throw away
The breath I leap after
It becomes food for my brain
For the here, and ever after.Love, love, love thee, the spirit perceives
Freed from the bondage of sin, just receive
No, no, no, I do not love thee I now know
Please help me to believe and I will go.How is this man to live, how is this man to die
Wonder penetrates the air with grief
It matters not, you follow me, you’ll see
Perfection now attainable, but only if you focus on me.
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This is pretty straight forward question, not meant to be real complicated. How do we fulfill the Great Commission using the tools of the Internet? Just to start off, I don’t want to imply that this is an alternative, or replacement, for the action verb of “going”, but just a simple basic question, what are some of the ways we can partially fulfill the Great Commission as Jesus put forth in Mathew 28: 18-20.
Our world is a much bigger place than it was to the followers 2000 years ago, but we can cross political and geographical borders now with an ease and speed they could have never imagined.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.“
This was not the question posed in our service today, but today was the last lesson on our current series on becoming mission people and I thought a look at this subject would be appropriate.
Examples of Fulfilling the Great Commission
This isn’t meant to be real in depth or complicated, just let me know some of the ways you think the Internet can help to fulfill what Jesus said in Mathew 28. I will start it off with two obvious examples.
Blogging. This may be a slightly bias example but I think it is one example. The global reach of blogging now is to the point where you can develop relationships with your readers and subscribers. Just look at how many great Christian bloggers there are now. Just a few small examples of some of the latest posts would be:
- Ragamuffinsoul – Creative Chaos // 9
- Stuff Christians Like – #200. Confessing roughly 37% of your junk in premarital counseling
- Desiring God – What the Pharisees Got Right
- Run’n Like a Vagabond – A Great Find
And there are many more great examples (although I wish Desiring God Blog would allow comments and interact with their readers… if anyone from there happens to read this).
Bible Gateway. What an amazing example this group has become over the years. I started using Bible Gateway many many years ago and its growth is astounding, but for good reason. They have made the scriptures available to anyone, anywhere, that has an Internet connection. With an amazing number of languages, translations, and study guides, searches and more, this is one great example of how to reach across political borders for Christ. (update: another great example here is YouVersion.com)
What are some other examples you can think of?
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A friend over at worship journey recently introduced me to a music artists I was not to familiar with, Phil Keaggy, and I have to say, he is one unbelievable guitarist, but I guess when Jimi Hendrix says he is one of the worlds greatest guitarists, he probably knows a little about a guitar as well.
I been an avid music collector for about 20 years now, and it always amazes me that I can discover an artist that has been around so long, yet still unknown to me. Not saying I know all the music there is to know, far from it, but two recent discoveries come to mind, Keaggy and Diana Krall. Both of which I had not really listened to much before this year, and both are great. I just recently purchased Phil Keaggy’s album 220 (an instrumental album), and on the inside of the cover art is this saying by St. Francis of Assisi
Go out today and preach the Gospel
and if you must, use words.
For a music lover, probably one of the greatest quotes I have read in a long time. To be able to preach the Gospel and worship, without having to use words is an incredible gift. Our world is crammed full of words, books, of course blogs, and all forms of writings that allow us to be able to effectively preach the Gospel, but it reminds me that it is not the only way. Some of my favorite scriptures are of David in worship to the Lord through singing and clapping of symbols. Some of the times I feel the closest to the Lord is when I am listening to music. Thanks for the reminder, Phil.
