Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream

David Platt -

In his N.Y. Times best-seller Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, Pastor David Platt brings a compelling message of whole-life stewardship rooted in the person and purpose of Jesus Christ. Radical is a bold challenge for believers to trade in the values of our culture (i.e. security, money, convenience, etc.) and to instead commit ourselves to the truth that we have been blessed by God for a global purpose - to make Christ's glory known to all nations.

Strengths and Features
Gospel.   One of the most striking features of Platt's book is how he continually helps readers consider what Jesus actually said about being a disciple, and what it means for daily living. Although the content is very readable, it cannot be scanned quickly, as Platt invites readers to think deeply about how our culture has adjusted the gospel to suit our personal preferences.

Practical.   Platt urges readers do what his church has done and commit to a 5-prong, one-year journey he calls "The Radical Experiment": 1) Read through the Bible in one year. 2) Pray for lost people here and around the world. 3) Cap lifestyles and give the rest away to a tangible cause of Christ. 4) Participate in a multiplying community of faith. 5) Spend time serving the Lord outside of your normal context.

Salvation.   Platt engages readers on the relationship between the use of wealth and salvation: "While caring for the poor [and reaching the lost] is not the basis of our salvation, this does not mean that our use of wealth is totally disconnected from our salvation." Reaching people for Christ, Platt contends, is evidence of our salvation, the natural overflow of a heart where Christ resides.

Wealth.  Platt uses the story of the rich young man in Mark 10 to help readers assess if their wealth is a blessing or a barrier: "We just don't believe that our wealth can be a barrier to entering the kingdom of God. We are fine with thinking of affluence, comfort, and material possessions as blessings. But we don't believe they can be barriers. We don't give away [our possessions] because they are sinful. We give them away because Christ in us compels us to care for the needy around us."

Values.   In contrast to the American Dream, Platt uses scripture and stories to make the case for biblical stewardship values: Real "success" is found in radical sacrifice. Ultimate satisfaction is not found in making much of ourselves, but in making much of God. The purpose of our lives transcends the country and culture in which we live. Meaning is found in community, not individualism. Joy is found in generosity, not materialism. Truth is found in Christ, not universalism. Ultimately Jesus is a reward worth risking everything to know, experience and enjoy."

Questions.   Radical presents an interesting pair of questions for stewards to ask themselves: Instead of asking "What can I spare?," Platt challenges readers to look at the needs around them and ask "What will it take?" The truth is, Platt concludes, "there will continue to be millions and millions of people who do not hear as long as we continue to use spare time and spare money to reach them...we can stand with the starving or with the overfed.

Things To Be Aware Of
Radical is no doubt a bold call to reject the values of our culture, and to instead give up everything we are and have to follow Christ. Some may feel that the result of Platt's message is guilt rather than grace. That would be an unfortunate conclusion, as Platt is careful to point out that our love for Christ and his mission to seek and to save the lost is an overflow of a heart that has been changed by God's free gift of grace. In other words, as mentioned above, a life of biblical stewardship is the evidence, not the basis, of our faith.

Available at: www.christianbook.com