Thursday, November 4, 2010

Further thoughts on "Radical"



“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Luke 13:24

Some statements Jesus made trouble me. I always find myself asking, "Am I one of those people He was talking about?"  I think it is healthy to evaluate our Christian walk, in fact the Bible says that we are to watch our life and doctrine closely. It is easy to get off track, to believe something you have heard all your life from the pulpit, especially when it makes you rest a little easier in the pew, so to speak. Now that I am halfway through David Platt's book Radical, I can say that this book has challenged me in a very personal way. I have found myself sitting in silence at odd moments more than a few times ever since I started it.

Beyond just taking an uncompromising look at some areas where the American church has fallen short, he gently points the way back to his own shortcomings as a Pastor and church leader. Ultimately, and more importantly, he invites us to take another look at the words of Jesus. It is not a book that has made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and yet it has made me feel, in a deeper way, just how radically God loves the world and to what length He is willing to go to reach it. Not only that, He wants every follower of Christ to have that same love and be willing to take some personal risks in reaching that world, whether it be across the street or across the globe.

I have questioned anew some things that I have heard in church that don't match up with Jesus last command just before He ascended back to Heaven......."Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20

We can say that we are not called to do this thing or that thing, but isn't that really our way of saying we don't feel comfortable doing it? These are the questions I have been asking myself. I believe there are people anointed to teach and preach and who are gifted in certain areas as the Bible says, but not one of the disciples was exempt from spreading the Gospel and making more disciples. In Jesus great commission to us all, He doesn't say "If you are called you are to do these things, if we belong to Him, then we have already been called.

That challenge still stands, and in this book David Platt echoes it as he invites himself and his church as well as you and I to go forth in a new adventure with God, no holds barred. I am looking forward to what the next half brings.....

7 comments:

  1. So true. When you wrote this the first Biblical character that popped into my head was Moses. He would have been the pew sitter who would say, "I'm not called to lead them."

    I think I've been guilty of that, too. You made me think. Shame on you. ROFL.

    It sounds like an interesting read. I'll be back, as Arnold says.

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  2. I like this post Lori. Yes, I do believe that we all have that charge, but it's not just by preaching with words. I think that we have to teach by our actions, our thoughts, our habits, and our decisions. The way that we live teaches the Gospel - you are so right, not always warm and fuzzy. Sounds like a great book.Thanks.
    Andie

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  3. Great comments both! Thank you for coming along on this "book" journey with me!

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  4. I finished reading Radical a couple of weeks ago. It's a kind of companion volume to Michael Spencer's Mere Churchianity. The two of them together are blowing up all these structures I had in my head.

    Good post.

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  5. Glynn, I will have to check the other one out too, I have heard of it. I think an order to Amazon is in the very near future, like tomorrow maybe. I sure enjoy your blog Glynn! Blessings to you and yours, Lori

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  6. I just bought that book over the weekend (or maybe it was Monday). Anyways, I haven't yet started it, but I can't wait! I need the challenge at "such a time as this." I'm glad to hear another positive recommendation. :)

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  7. Be prepared to be challenged! I know I am...THANKS! Lori

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