It’s easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily…
But who do you know who lives like that? Do you?
When I got the request to participate in the Blogging for Books for David Platt's new book Radical, I was thrilled! Not just because I have his wife's number on speed dial but because I knew David was being obedient in writing this book and sharing the vision that God had given him in order to challenge the reader to believe & obey what the Word tells us.
Every time I write a Blogging for Books review, I get a little intimated because it is obvious after reading one of my sentences that I am no writer! I love to read & I love to share with others about a good book but definitely am not a writer myself. I don't have those feelings this time because I really just want to convey that by reading this book, your life will be changed if you allow the Lord to speak to you.
When I sat down to start reading this book, I didn't have my highlighter handy so I started folding down pages to remind me of places where I would want to use quotes from the book. Let's just say there are more pages folded down than not at my completion of the book!
Chapter one wastes no time getting into challenging thoughts that will only multiply as you get further into the book.
"This is where we come face to face with a dangerous reality. We do have to love him in a way that makes our closet relationship in this world look like hate. And it is possible that he will tell us to sell everything we have and give it to the poor. But we don't want to believe it. We are afraid of what it might mean for our lives. So we rationalize these passages away......And this is where we need to pause. Because we are starting to redefine Christianity. We are giving in to dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with."
Someone who knew I was reading Radical
asked me what I thought about the book. My answer to her was not only was I more challenged by this book more than any other book by a Christian author ever but something resonated throughout the entire book & stuck with me. I have read so many books by Christian authors that have scripture sprinkled here and there. David has taken current questions, challenges we all face every day (and many we need to face!) and answered these dilemmas with scripture after scripture. He devotes the better part of a chapter to the age old question we have all asked "what about the poor person in the jungle who has never heard about Christ?" Scriptures I have read over & over were paired with David's insight & I walked away feeling more confident in this answer than ever before in my life. The difference is that David has pointed the reader to scripture & challenged us to really examine what the Word tells us, no watering down, no personal opinions, just the truth. This sounds so simple but Radical leaves no room for such watered down theology. My biggest praise of this book is that David directs the reader towards the Word, Truth & the true Author of life rather than himself & his personal philosophy.
The challenges issued in this book were one after another but truly challenges that we chose to ignore on a daily basis.
"God blesses his people with extravagant grace so they might extend his extravagant glory to all peoples on the earth. This basic, fundamental truth permeates Scripture from beginning to end. Yet I wonder if we unknowingly ignore the great why of God.
We live in a church culture that has a dangerous tendency to disconnect the grace of God from the glory of God. Our hearts resonate with the idea of enjoying God's grace. We bask in sermons, conferences, and books that exalt a grace centering on us. And while the wonder of grace is worthy of our attention, if that grace is disconnected from its purpose, the sad result is a self-centered Christianity that bypasses the heart of God."
This is my longest blogging for books review yet but I can't close without saying how much I got out of the book from the examples of people that David has encountered in his own faith family & ministry that have been radically changed from obeying the Word, who have abandoned everything they knew, everything that was comfortable in their own lives to take up their cross & follow.
In closing, David urges his reader to join in the Radical Experiment which is a "one year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring." Let me just say, I can't wait to see how the Lord will use this challenge!
I can't do this book justice, you need to read it yourself!
Now comes the fun part! I get to give away a copy of David Platt's Radical.
For one entry, leave your name/email in the comment section.
To have 2 entries, blog or facebook status this giveaway & leave a 2nd comment letting me know.
Another AWESOME thing is that you can get a free copy of the Radical companion guide, The Radical Question.
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/RadicalQuestion/
Go to this link & "request a free copy of the Radical Question"
By doing this & leaving a comment, you will qualify for 3 entries!
While you are browsing the above link, learn more about David, read a sample of chapter one, watch a video clip, & go ahead & buy your copy. (When you win a copy here, you can give one away:)
So register now, the drawing will take place Monday May 10th after 9pm!
*this book was provided for review by http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/
