Radical

[MoreThanConquerors]

I normally don't do a whole lot of book recommending here, mainly because I understand a lot of people's feelings on reading books that aren't scripture.

But I wanted to recommend this one. It's called "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream" by David Platt.

It's an amazing book. But be prepared...it can hit ya hard. He pretty much draws a line in the sand....

Doctrinally, for those concerned, he is really solid. It's got recommendations in the front from Southern Baptist pastors, including the SBC President. Which really, shocks me....because if the life that is lived that is mentioned in this book, then the SBC would be in some danger of disolving.

Anyway, wanted to recommend it.

[Guest]

Re: Radical

Review...what to do for one year

http://coffeeshopjournal.com/2010/05...y-david-platt/

[Issachar]

Re: Radical

My son sent me a link to this video last month. I liked it a lot. He said; wait til you read the book, dad. I have to say ... when family gets together, it's very enriching .. somehow, we all ended up on the same page and the four marrieds; one engaged, are hooked up with "radicals." Jesus told us what would happen if we follow Him. In the natural, it isn't nice .. but we know that the desires of the flesh can go hang on a tree, right?

Galatians 3:
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

John 15:
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.



Issachar, hates dying to the flesh but loves dying to the flesh ..

[Issachar]

Re: Radical

Maybe I'll get a t-shirt made that says; "Ask about plan "A" because there is no plan "B" ... and time is running out."

Issachar .. doesn't care for "message" t-shirts .. but I like that "No Plan B" concept. It's true.

[MoreThanConquerors]

Re: Radical

Have never seen the video before. Gives me chills. Thanks for posting it, now I can send to so some friends. Of course, it might turn them off the book

[SAT]

Re: Radical

I haven't read the book but it does sound intriguing.
I can't help but wonder if someone who reads the book, if they shouldn't also make a point of reading the Bible just as it was written and of course listen for the voice of the teacher, the Holy Spirit???
I hope everyone will understand, but over my years I have seen books and movements come and go. One after the other being influenced by man until they evolved into something completely opposite. The critics claiming legalism to liberalism. We humans are so open to allowing one man's words that sound good, to override another that sound even better. Which it sounds like this book is trying to get us to stop doing????? So we listen to the Holy Spirit and read The Book as it is written???
If you read the Bible as it is written, it becomes truth for the spirit and not just another movement????

He is right there is no plan "B" but if we don't anchor ourselves in the Word, someone else will come along offering a plan"B".

[Issachar]

Re: Radical

I totally agree with you SAT. ImVho, that is what this guy is trying to get people to do. He is saying to forget all else except what the Word says as the Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit. There are so many in the West that are caught up in ... well, the West. There are some who are trying to call the church "out of the West (the world)" and to just look at what the Word tells us ...... and accept it. Too bad God needs to send some along now and then to yank the church back from this path or that path ... but it is necessary. Kind of like the prophets of old. God has a work for us to do/be engaged in but the Western culture keeps trying to run block.

Issachar

[MoreThanConquerors]

Re: Radical

Actually, the author says to do exactly that. As part of a one year experiment he challenges Christians to fall back in love with the word, by committing to read through the Bible in a year....in addition to four other things.

But I will continue to read books written by Christians as well. I have had God speak to me too often through them not to. Important part is to just be checking them against scriptures.

I understand people's reasoning why to not read Christian books, and only read scripture and "allow the Spirit to teach". Alot of the argument has come from real abuse done by people on scriptures. No argument here. Happens all the time. But honestly, I have seen just as much abuse the other way to....people doing and saying things because "this is what the Holy Spirit told me in scriptures".

Reality and scriptual fact is this....The Holy Spirit IS the Teacher. BUT the means in which the Holy Spirit more than often teaches is not through some inward nudging but through the Body of Christ. God has blessed the Church with teachers and the church with the spiritual gifting of teaching. And some teachers teach via one on one discipleship, or in a classroom or on a book or dvd.

All that to say....don't throw the baby out with the bath water If a book points you to the Biblical and Present Jesus then enjoy it.

[SAT]

Re: Radical

I agree it does sound like he promoting just that. The body over the years has twisted and turned by what man says when there is only one Book. I know all to well how easy it is when the road gets hard for me, to not be turned by the preaching of others who are willing to offering something easier. Something that will boost my ego. Give me answers or another road that isn't in the Bible but mans reasoning of the Bible. A few twists and turns of the verses or a long held theology by a branch of the body.

[SAT]

Re: Radical

I suspect looking over the years I have to wonder how the body can go from one extreme to other if they are all listening to the same spirit??? The one who doesn't change. And yet we go from liberalism to legalism in a matter of just years.
If the body is wrapped up in legalism the next move will inevitably be a loosing and on and on it goes . The next big movement or ministry. When there is only one truth.
I'm not saying I have the truth but maybe it is what each of us are instructed to do. Keep looking in the pages of the Book and Holy Spirit.

[MoreThanConquerors]

Re: Radical

Honestly, I think its because we as a church are more focused on a methodology than we are Jesus and that is born out of the culture we live in. We look for "a way" instead of "THE Way".

There is another book I would recommend. Its called "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret". Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China in the 1800's. I wept when I read this book. This man....really LIVED the life that I just talk about.Opened my eyes to the fact that this kind of life is still available and EXPECTED of us today, and not just left to the early Church.

And his spiritual secret? Yeah...its Jesus.

As far as Radical goes....it's not a book that's going to quickly reach a best sellers list. He is calling people to abandon their lives to Jesus. Yeah, that kind of call is not gonna sell a whole lot of books in todays american churchianity.

[SAT]

Re: Radical

Hi MTC
Sorry I didn't get back to you quicker.
Amazing isn't it what one person can do? I understand they still tell stories about Hudson Taylor in China.
I have noticed some have started posting Platt's sermons online if you are interested.
I don't read teaching books much any more but Platt's does sound challenging. I will have to make a point of checking it out when I'm at the book store.

[Guest]

Re: Radical

Watched one of David Platts sermons on line and it was very good. I hope this is ok to post here.

The Gospel Demands Radical Giving - David Platt from Together for Adoption on Vimeo.

[MoreThanConquerors]

Re: Radical

There is a book called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan thats kinda popular right now. He talks about giving quite a bit in the book. In fact, most of his book is involved in it. In a nutshell...he pretty much says..."if you love Jesus at all you will tithe 10% to the church".

Yeah, I pretty much chucked that book against the wall. Guilt ridden legalistic garbage.

The giving in this book is different. It's more "Radical"...more New Testament. It's about forsaking your own pleasures and dreams for the sake of one far greater...selling everything you own to buy the field where the buried treasure is hidden. It's not about tithing to support a system (church buildings, pastors salories) but about giving away to those in need for the sole purpose of exalting the name of Jesus and loving those He loves.

As a result of this book, and the Holy Spirit working on my wife's and my heart...we are looking now at selling our home and moving into something less expensive so that we can start giving radically and lovingly. I am "forsaking" the four walls of my church, to minister to the homeless at the Church Under the Bridge on Sundays. I am joining a Discipleship group that meets regularly to get into the word, and develop heart relationships with other believers and have been diving headfirst back into scripture.

So, yeah...I recommend this book with a warning. If you are reading it for pure head knowledge....don't bother. It will be wasted on you. But, if you are ready to have your dreams wrecked for a far greater dream and ready to be obedient to what Jesus says....then please read it.

I will say one thing. This is not about Salvation. It's not a call to curry God's love. It's not a works based salvation teaching. He flat out says so right away. Rather, as those who are New Creations, those who dead to sin and alive in Christ, we are born into a new radical incarnational life and called to not only live Christ's life but allow Him to express Himself through us to a lost and dying world.

Like it's been quoted already...there is no plan B.

[Issachar]

Re: Radical

... he [Chan] pretty much says..."if you love Jesus at all you will tithe 10% to the church".

I suppose you're "nutshelling" there, which is fine, but could you point me to the page(s) that talk about this (tithing)? Someone loaned me that book ... I just started it ... and it seems pretty good so far. I like Platt's better though. And for SAT, I like the Bible best of all and spend most of my reading time, there.

Issachar