David Platt & the book Radical

Haven’t read it. Couldn’t opine.

This is a great book. David Platt does not guilt anyone into selling all their possessions. He just poses a great question,”Am I willing to give it all up to be a true disciple of Christ?” Life changing book, please read it.

Platt’s book is good, though not perfect. He does pose some provocative questions and rightly points out that most of us American Christians (contra our brothers and sisters in much of the world) spend lavishly on ourselves and/or accumulate wealth beyond our needs. It’s a good starting point for some biblical thinking on what it means to be a steward. My wife and I read much of it together and finished a couple of weeks ago. It’s certainly on my mind as we do our budget planning for this coming year.

From what I’ve heard, the book is very good. I bought it a few weeks ago, but have not had a chance to read it yet. I will post when I have finsihed it.

It will make you think. I didn’t agree with all of it but I have recommended it many times.

I suggest reading the book before you make a judgment about it.

Platt did an excellent job of pointing out how my Christianity falls short of what Jesus calls for when He says “Follow Me” and how easy it is for me to say I’m “serving Jesus” when in reality I am merely serving myself. Not only do I see an incredible amount of self-centeredness in myself I see it in the modern church around me too.

The best part about Platt’s book is the “solutions” he offers. After diagnosing the problem, many modern day church critics then go off the deep end and simply recommend that we sell out to whatever modern day welfare program is in vogue at the moment. Platt however loves the church and calls for a radical re-dedication to Gods Word, to pray for the world, to your local church, to give your money (over & above your tithe) to a specific project, and to to give your service in a different context.

There is nothing “radical” about what Platt calls for when compared to the New Testament. Its only radical when I consider my tendency to create a christianity that is more about my wants and preferences that it is about Jesus’s commands… then its pretty radical.

Its not a perfect book, I didn’t agree on every point but its still quite good, I would recommend it.

Grace & Peace,

Eric