A couple of months ago, I wrote a book review of a very popular book called ‘Radical’ by David Platt. This book has been causing quite a stir in some circles of the evangelical world. Out of all the articles that I have written, this book review has been the most widely read article by far. There was a lengthy dialogue that ensued in the comment section as a result of what I shared.
I wanted to draw your attention to a specific comment that came in because they were made by a couple that was actually mentioned in Platt’s book ‘Radical’. They were long time church members of Brook Hills, the institution where Platt is Pastor. They made a couple of comments on the original blog, but I edited them down to one statement here. If you haven’t yet, I would encourage you to read the full book review of ‘Radical’ that I did by clicking here.
Without further delay, here is their response. Their statement speaks for itself:
Thanks for posting this review. It is difficult (I think) to find such an honest statement about David Platt’s book amid all the adulation that surrounds him.
My husband and I were attending Brook Hills when David Platt was called to be its pastor…We are the couple David talks about who gave away our items to the poor (I think it’s on page 131-32). So we started out very much in support of what Dr. Platt was saying, and have since burned ourselves out.We won’t be making that mistake again. After hearing David Platt repeat the message of his book every Sunday at Brook Hills, week after week, and watching the church members around us strive harder and harder to obey by their own efforts, we grew tired of working off our own steam, of feeling guilty all the time, and of not growing in Christ. So we left Brook Hills.
I had thought we would be members of Brook Hills for the long term. We were members there for seven years. Now, we are taking our kids and praying for God to lead us to the church body he wants us to join…It is difficult to take issue with what Radical says. It sounds biblical, at first glance. But in our attempts to implement the Radical Experiment, we ran into problems. You are right — the focus, for me anyway, was never Christ. It was about being obedient and earning my way to him, which I already knew is incorrect.
What I didn’t know, until recently, is how exhausting and discouraging it is to try to obey Christ on my own. But just a few weeks into the Radical Experiment, I got to where I didn’t want to go to church anymore. I couldn’t look at a painting of the nativity scene without feeling bitter and tired.
In trying to live out the Radical Experiment, I began to realize, even more than before, that I’m not capable of being obedient to Christ on my own. And the answer is not to feel guilty or try harder, or ignore the way I feel. The answer is to turn to Christ…What I want now to learn is how to draw closer to Christ himself and get more of him. So in that sense, the Radical Experiment was helpful to Scott and me, in an unexpected way.
Only prayer can lead me to where I need to be. But any resources you know of that you think may be helpful would also be appreciated. I have seen references to Frank Viola and other authors on this site but have not yet looked into them. But thanks already, just for saying what you’ve said about Radical. As I said in my other comment, I haven’t heard that many people review the book without praising everything it says (and doesn’t say).
Thanks for reading, and please know that my intention is not to question Platt’s heart, but to draw attention to religious systems of thought that actually block our view of Jesus Christ and the fullness of His body. The quest and desire for the fullness of Christ must compel us to address and remove any obstacles that stand in our view of His beauty.
For Him & His Bride,
Jamal Jivanjee
Any account of bondage makes my heart hurt. On the day Jesus announced His public ministry, He read from an OT source: Isaiah 61. Breaking bonds and bondages, setting captives free, announcing Good News (that feels as well as reads as Good News!)….that’s what He does, and, as John says in His first epistle, that disciple who saw that loving, bondage-breaking mission up close and personal: “in this world we are like Him.” It all boils down to this, these attempts at loving one another, edifying one another, building up and holding up one another as we look to Jesus alone: either they will be some form of subtle (or not so subtle) manipulation, or they will be real ministry alongside Jesus. I love this gal who wrote — don’t know her, but love her all the same — and pray she and her family will find the soft falling into the Loving, Everlasting Arms that will seal her heart and theirs every more firmly to His.
Thx for reading sister. Great comment!
Jamal I believe part of the issue may be the fact that many Christians feel the need to be told what to do from a “leader”. Call it sheep mentality, call it lack of maturity, call it lack of discipleship, call it whatever you want.
Even though the woman in the letter didn’t say it, and I could be wrong, but you could almost see that she needs someone to suggest what to do next. Even though she did what David Platt asked and still found it lacking, she then mentioned getting books by people like Viola and others not realizing that this has the potential to just be a phase two, or three, or twelve, of what she just went through if it is applied the same way.
We live in a culture that raises up mega-pastors because they have an entertaining, or more provacative way of telling the sheep what to do and where to go. It almost becomes the Christian version of rock star / groupie in some instances.
I fear that the “organic church” movement is just that, a movement that will see crowds move in and move out once the next big thing comes along. The only difference is that it may be a little too foggy for many of those who usually jump on the bandwagon because there is no clear power point presentation telling people, “OK, you are dissatisfied with the institutional church, here is what you do next…”.
There is no doubt that American Christianity lacks discipleship and there is even yet another renewed “movement” towards that end…ugh! To that end all “mature” believers need to look for others who they can share and model what it looks like to be a self-feeding, Holy Spirit led Christian. Let them in on a little secret that passages like John 15 teaches, you don’t have to “do” you just have to “be”.
I am certainly not suggesting that the Body of Christ doesn’t need people who pastor, shepherd, and lead. I’m even not anti-institutional church, albeit many of the budgets and buildings are a stench to my nostrils. God has gifted the body uniquely and the body is not just made up of one part. We would all be better served by those gifted, if instead of aspiring to 10,000 member churches, radio, tv, and book ministries, they would aspire to making John 15, Romans 12:1-2, Psalm 1, Matt 6-8, etc., all real in the Christians life who is their family member, their neighbor, their co-worker, etc. It might mean they toil away in relative obscurity, but not to the One who instilled in them the gift to begin with.
I suspect that the “organic church movement” will be just that for many of those who enter thinking it will be a new way to “do church”, that herd however big or small will move on to the next David Platt, Rick Warren, Francis Chan, Andy Stanley, Frank Viola, or even Jamal Jivanjee. Sometimes because of, or in some cases, in spite of, God still leads those who seek Him to the narrow gate and down the narrow path.
In the end Christ didn’t tell us he would give us John Piper’s and John MacArthur’s in the mega-ministry sense, but he did promise something much better in John 14…
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
…for those who need to be told what to do, abide in His word, abide in His Spirit, abide in His Son. What is a Christian? A follower of Christ. What do Chritians do? They follow Christ.
Keep doing your Jeremiah thing Jamal…may God get the glory.
Blessings,
Scott Walden
Scott, great comment bro. I have much to share, but here are a couple of quick thoughts.
1. The ‘organic’ church is not a movement at all. The only reason it is called ‘organic’ is to clarify what the church is (people) from what it is commonly mistaken for (an institution). They are two separate things. There is only one church. The ‘organic’ church (church that functions outside of the institutional trappings) is nothing new. It is not a movement, but has existed throughout church history and has suffered dearly for it.
2. People do need to be equipped. Scripture is clear that the saints need to be equipped for the work of the ministry by those called to do that equipping. The person from Platt’s institution making this comment is communicating her desire to know what is next because she needs to be equipped. None of us can be ‘stand alone’ believers who simply walk with God and figure it out on our own. The Spirit reveals Christ to us through the body of believers. Abiding (John 15) is just as much a corporate state of being as it is an individual state of being. Is is essential that those who are called to equip the body help the saints by helping them to function in Christ. This is more than just giving them a new ‘model’. Part of this equipping involves helping the saints come out of ‘models’ that do block their vew of Jesus Christ however.
These are just some quick thoughts however. I’ll share more later.
Scott,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you here. Thx again for your comment. What you have said here is a very important point:
“I fear that the “organic church” movement is just that, a movement that will see crowds move in and move out once the next big thing comes along. The only difference is that it may be a little too foggy for many of those who usually jump on the bandwagon because there is no clear power point presentation telling people, “OK, you are dissatisfied with the institutional church, here is what you do next…”
This is why there will only be a small number of people who will function outside of the institutional system. As soon as people can’t practically get their hands around something ‘concrete’, they will retreat back to a simple formula that they can ‘do’. This is a very important point. You are right, living by His divine life is not something you can ‘do’, rather it is a state of being.
Thx for sharing Scott!
Just this past evening, I shared with a gathering in a home and spoke about this very issue. We had some great discussion with input from all, even the young teens. There was a couple with us from a traditional church, and the wife made a comment that she had not seen teens so passionate about Christ like these young people were. It truly is an experience and reality that nothing else can rival, that of being one with our Lord, and understanding His headship. Thanks for the article and book review.
Michael,
Thx for sharing and for reading the review. Blessings:)
Thanks Jamal for helping to clarify some of my thoughts. It was not my intention to label “organic church” as a movement, but to say that there are many who may perceive it as such and the next “experience” to move on to.
I also was not intending to be disparaging towards the lady who wrote the letter, I feel her heart and in many ways share her plight.
Finally, I also was not advocating being a lone ranger Christian, Eph 4 is clear on our need to be equipped by the body. I was trying to convey that being in a healthy, growing, loving, local community of Believers may not be as “cool” as sitting in a 15,000 seat auditorium for 90 minutes on Sunday morning, but it MAY be a better place to exercise our gifts and bear fruit in a participatory loving relationship with others in the body of Christ.
Sorry if this is a tad long…
Interestingly enough, I just read a little of Hudson Taylor’s bio at lunch today, when, after much pushing forward, striving and tribulation (persecution, slander, internal fighting among his missionaries, the death of his daughter, etc), he entered into new life upon receiving a letter from a friend.
Here are a couple excerpts (Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret, ch. 14):
(speaking to a friend he says)”Oh, Mr. Judd, God has made me a new man! God has made me a new man!”
Amid a pile of letters awaiting Mr. Taylor in Chinkiang, had been one from John McCarthy:
“I do wish I could have a talk with you now, about the way of holiness. At the time you were speaking to me about it, it was the subject of all others occupying my thoughts, not from anything I had read… so much as from a consciousness of failure – a constant falling short of that which I felt should be aimed at; at unrest; a perpetual striving to find some way by which one might continually enjoy that communion, that fellowship, at times so real but more often so visionary, so far off!
“Do you know, I now think that this striving, longing, hoping for better days to come is not the true way to holiness, happiness or usefulness. It is better, no doubt, far better than being satisfied with poor attainments, but not the best way after all. I have been struck with a passage from a book… entitled ‘Christ is All.’ It says,
‘The Lord Jesus received is holiness begun; the Lord Jesus cherished is holiness advancing; the Lord Jesus counted upon as never absent would be holiness complete… He is most holy who has most of Christ within, and joys most fully in the finished work. It is defective faith which clogs the feet and causes many a fall.’”
Paul,
Wow brother, thx for sharing! This is beautiful. I can understand why Hudson Taylor would come to this new reality with such joy! Realizing that Christ is all and that we are ‘in Him’ already is radically life changing. Living daily life with the understanding that we are not and will never again be separated from Christ will make us into brand new people free of the religious mindset that leads to the bondage of striving for a righteousness that is already ours!
Thx for sharing brother:)
Even Paul was a spiritual parent to Timothy using terms of endearment. This was not an office but a godly sweet relationship that they had with one another. That’s what this woman is really crying out for in the Church family community if you read between the lines. Everyone needs this at times…
There was a time when I remember searching for the “perfect older women” to mentor me. (Don’t laugh) The ones we do think we find are put in an impossible situation and will always fail our unrealistic expectations. :-/ I eventually realized she didn’t exist wrapped up in one holy person as taught by institutions. Nevertheless, she did exist when I looked for her within the WHOLE faith community. Just ONE woman didn’t display all the biblical aspects of her.
It is a relief for elder(S)/pastor (1 Tim. 5:1-2) in the Body of Christ when people get this… (Notice that there are suppose to be men and woman ones too.) It’s to be run like a family, not an institution. Parenting (Eldering) is a way of life not something you do once a week at a particular time. Just like there are many parents around that can help us with our parenting skills it SHOULD be the same when it comes to spiritual parenting. How would you like if someone said, “Just pray about your parenting.” Which is a nice idea but the Holy Spirit and God uses people to lead and teach others too. As “organic” Church people we don’t have to go the extreme either… There is a sweet balance within spiritual parenting that still desires their babes in Christ to grow up and leave home.
Margaret
Margaret,
Wow, what a great comment! If people in the body could grasp some of what you said here, there could be much heartbreak avoided. What you said about putting unrealistic expectations on ‘one’ person that you were looking to as a mentor is a vital point! The mentor you are looking for does not exist in one person, but in the WHOLE faith community you are walking with. What a powerful and needed point. Thx for sharing:)
I love all of these comments. Margaret your words are very true because much of the time we think that we need to look for ONE person to lead us and disciple/grow us. If we are going to do that then what we need to do is look to the ONE who is not only worthy, but the only actually qualified ONE for the job. He does this in many ways which you definitely spoke about. When we realize that Jesus Christ dwells inside us and we are His Body, there is nowhere else to look. Christ in you, Christ in me, Christ in His Church, that’s who leads us all!
I also have to say that as I read this I felt a strong conviction from the Holy Spirit to look to Jesus once again! It’s very easy to get wrapped up in, “God wants Christians to do this or that,” or “This theology is better than that one because of x, y, and q.” Jesus is our theology! I always seem to fail at recognizing the fact that theology is something man created to describe (or attempt to do so) God.
I want to thank everyone who commented on this and especially the couple who wrote a response back to you Jamal because God is using you all in such a great and powerful way! He turned my eyes and heart back upon His Son who is our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Anthony,
Once again, I am encouraged by all that the Lord is showing you. There is a reason for it brother!
what great & thought provoking commentary – there is very little I could add – but having experienced organic church for the past 2 months (after years of growing dissatisfaction w/a megachurch), i’m convinced – so refreshing not having a guru wearing flesh telling me this way to think or that way to focus – the H.S calls us to diverse places in our journey – 18 yrs ago the megachurch was where I needed to be – perhaps, the best alternative at that stage in my life -now, not so much.
Thx for reading and sharing a bit of your journey with us:)
Wish I had more time to explain my vantage point, but I don’t. So I’ll just ask you two questions:
1) How would you define “institutional”? Is it if a body is incorporated? Is it if there is paid staff? What constitutes “Institutional” to you?
2) Why can’t the focus on Christ exist within what you are calling institutional? I know of churches that are not focusing on works but are focusing on exalting Christ and making him the center of the church. They also have “pastors” who are shepherding, not lording.
This comment sounds more terse than it is meant to come across. I appreciate that you desire for Christ to be central and rested in. Help me understand what you are trying to communicate.
BTW, I haven’t gotten to the book to read yet, but plan to. Your perspective has given me a radar to look for some of these issues in the book.
Mark,
Thx for reading and for your comment. You have asked a couple of really good questions here. Both questions that you have asked are quite involved and complex to answer. As a result, I’d like to answer your first question and eventually get to your second question in the possible subsequent dialogue.
Regarding your first question about what my definition of ‘institutional’ church is, I would like to attempt to answer your question by giving you a definition of what I would consider to be the church that we see depicted in the New Testament. It is the opposite of the ‘institution’ and is what many are calling ‘Organic’ church. Here is a definition of ‘Organic’ church that a friend came up with that I think is Biblically accurate.
“By “organic church,” I mean a non-traditional church that is born out of spiritual life instead of constructed by human institutions and held together by religious programs. Organic church life is a grass roots experience that is marked by face-to-face community, every-member functioning, open-participatory meetings (opposed to pastor-to-pew services), non-hierarchical leadership, and the centrality and supremacy of Jesus Christ as the functional Leader and Head of the gathering.” -Frank Viola-
You might want to read this definition one more time very slowly. It is quite different than anything we might see in today’s institution. So to answer your question, I would say that an ‘institutional’ church is a group that deviates from the New Testament example that is described in the above definition. I hope that is helpful. I look forward to continuing the discussion.
Jamal,
Thanks for posting this. The experience shared by the church member is all too common these days…and not just among those engaged in the “radical experiment.” Much of evangelicalism is coming to recognize the pitfalls of the consumer orientation the church has taken. But they prescribed solution, as evident in “Radical,” to to become activists. In a strange way we move people from one idol (self) to another idol (mission). And in both cases we miss Christ.
I’ve written about this in Leadership Journal, on Out of Ur, and on my blog:
http://www.skyejethani.com/redefining-radical-part-1/751/
It will also be discussed in my new book releasing this August. But thanks for keeping the conversation going.
Blessings,
Skye
Skye,
Thx for sharing this article. Powerful, and right on the money!
I have had the opportunity to experience what I think Margaret was talking about a little since last July. We have been meeting with others and doing organic meetings, if you want to call it that. The encouragement that comes from a group of people seeking God is amazing. I have left meetings just totally amazed at what God had to say to me through others. When we can stay focused on God, in our meetings, we can learn so much. I believe the disciples did this after Christ was crucified. I’ve tried for many years trying to do works to prove myself to God, but it’s so much easier to just let go of my own works and allow God to work through me. I still fight with those old ways, but I pray God wins out! Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to YOU!
Susan, thx for reading and commenting. Amen sister! The way the Lord connected you to those brothers and sisters you are in community with is a miracle. Family is truly a blessing, and just think, we’re only just beginning to scratch the surface:) Miss you!
I wonder if the apostles felt burned out and if they had second thoughts about leaving everything behind and taking the Gospel to far away lands?
Maybe you saw the recent google map project that mapped out, where all the apostles died. I felt humbled when I saw how far they traveled and preached, in the rough transportation of those times, enduring cold, hunger and persecution.
Yes, the focus always must be the work of the Father through Jesus, but, then, who was the great commission for?
Jamal–Just a quick comment, as like many others, I don’t have a lot of spare time to spend on this blog. We have three members (2 single and one family) from Platt’s church serving with our mission agency full-time, doing a wonderful job. While I have no reason to question the individual who wrote of their being “burned-out” at Platt’s church, I believe it is quite unfair to conclude that the one and only reason for this particular family’s disillusionment is because of Platt’s philosophy. It would be just as incorrect for me to say Platt is totally right because three families from his church are now serving full-time with our agency overseas… even more ludicrous to say “3 out of 4″ of the people I know from Platt’s church are obediently serving the Lord in missions. What group of anything doesn’t have a few people who leave because it doesn’t work for them? I am not judging the family that left… I’m simply stating that it proves nothing definitively about Platt, and seems more like another cheap shot at Platt than really making a strong point.
Joe,
Thx for reading and offering your perspective as I’m sure you’re quite busy. I think what the person from Platt’s institution who commented was saying is exactly what Jesus has said. We find rest from our hard labors and heavy burdens in Christ Himself, not in good works that are done in His name. Sadly, when we build institutions and gather people around a ‘Mission’ that is about good works (evangelism, human development, etc…) that is quite different than the church that is built upon the person and life of Christ Himself.
Christ’s body promotes life in itself apart from ‘doing’ anything. Everything else promotes activity and the appearance of life. The problem is, that which is not built upon Christ Himself takes human effort to sustain, and this eventually leads to burnout and coldness of heart.
Jamal,
My point was simply that you have no right to use this kind of example and headline it to promote your point. I couldn’t agree with you more that “that which is not built upon Christ Himself takes human effort to sustain, and this eventually leads to burnout and coldness of heart.” There are at least two very possible scenarios here: the church (or Platt himself) may have set this atmosphere, or this individual may have wrongly interpreted what was being taught and responded in a (possibly sincere) but wrong way.
To use this illustration and headline it as you have done, is simply irresponsible in my opinion. I cannot take the three active missionaries I mentioned and make cold hard conclusions about Platt or the church he pastors. I struggle that you seem to think you have that right, and then take this person’s position to promote your point, with no real basis for doing so, other than one example of someone who responded (obviously wrongly) and burned out. For that person, yes, perhaps this wasn’t about being built on Christ. Is that Platt’s fault? You made no mention of the possibility of the individuals’ wrong response to biblical teaching…not when there’s a chance to blame it all on Platt.
It would be no different if I “left” your blog and joined someone elses, whom I am in more agreement with, posted something in that person’s blog that represented your position as heretical or at least put a “shadow” on your position, as if I had the right to represent your thoughts. Proposterous… as is this lowly promotion of one’s negative experience to back your own point. Sad.
The ” striving ” issue at the heart of this issue reveals all !
When joy is the spirit and not duty you enter into service with you are energised and not burned out with stretching and challenges .
Platts courage in standing up to the headless chicken , post modern , organic decline is refreshing and Christians who ignore this cry do so at their own peril .
Jamal your motives sound well but I’m sure Moses was glad you weren’t his side kick when he came down the mountain as the last thing Christianity needs is another voice that panders to the disenchanted masses .
Jimmy,
Thx for reading and commenting here. I actually agree with what you said about the fact that when ‘work’ for the Lord is rooted in ‘joy’, the service does not lead to burnout. Let me challenge you with this question, however…
Where do you think ‘joy’ comes from? How do we obtain this joy? If you know the answer to this question, you will see why Platt’s message does NOT lead to this ‘joy’.
Also, did you know that Moses was a picture of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is the ultimate prophet, priest, and king. In Him, we, the church, walk in these things because we live by His life. I certainly hope you were NOT comparing David Platt alone to Moses. That would be very disturbing indeed. Read Matthew 23:8-12. If you have the time, pay close attention to these words in Matthew 23:8:
“You ALL are brothers”
Blessings to you brother,
Jamal
I think on a practical level we should also consider the fact that if one person from the congregation found this article and responded, they probably represent a cross-section of the congregation.
Another thing to consider is how many people wouldn’t bother to leave, wouldn’t bother to question, would bother to respond in the first place to Platt’s decree, but just exist in the seats, which is the case for many churches.
Sure the final responsibility lies with the couple because they jumped at works instead of operating out of the overflow of their joy from relationship. That begs another question then. Why after many years as part of the congregation was their motivation based in performance?
I am part of what is typically termed as a “Father’s Heart” ministry, a fairly major one. We deal with breaking into performance type issues all of the time. We lead people to an intimate relationship with a loving Father. From there we hope to see a love relationship grow and thrive. I said all of that to say that in “institutional” church teaching and guiding in this area can be easily missed. I believe that it is possible to shift culture in these churches to bring about a more “organic” approach but it will have to start with leaders. Do you think David Platt would be willing to step down from the platform more often and promote social gathering at homes with occasional “corporate” expressions of worship? ( I realize that is a very shallow description of Organic church but it was the best I could do in my minimal understanding and in few words) It is going to take leaders who are willing to give it all up to get there probably. Thoughts?
Doug,
Thanks for reading this article and for your comment. You have brought up some great points.
Personally, I do not think it is possible for institutions to shift their culture to anything other than an institution. The institution itself exists and is rooted in deep seated error. While the people who ‘lead’ these institutions (like Platt) may have the best of intentions and mean well, unless the deep seated error is identified and addressed, the ‘system’ will remain. The ‘system’ stands in complete contrast to the true nature of the New Testament church. The institution cannot remain when there is an accurate revelation of Jesus Christ. I wrote more about this here: http://jamaljivanjee.com/?p=197
Blessings to you Doug, and welcome to the blog:)
Thnkx so much for this! I have not been this thrilled by a post for a long time! You have got it, whatever that means in blogging. Well, You are definitely someone that has something to say that people need to hear. Keep up the great work. Keep on inspirin
It appears that many of those posting are looking for a “mystic” relationship with Christ that removes God’s established authority schemes, responsibility for the spread of the Gospel, and participation in the work of the social demands of the Gospel. Using the emotionally charged labels of “organic” and “institution” make it hard for many American who are accustomed to reacting to the emotionally charged wording of politics and the media to objectively look at what is being taught from a biblical perspective. For instance, if there was no fatigue involved in serving God then Galatians 6:9 would not be in the Bible. Perhaps some are misapplying the truths they are being presented and the problem is not the truth but the application.
The point of radical is to grow in your own personal journey with God, not to give everything away. Platt says many times that that is not the purpose of the book. The purpose is to show people that how we have gotten so far away from God and have begun to live for ourselves. Platt says several times that if you read the book and take it as a call to sell everything you own then you have missed the call of the book. The book is just an eye opener to get us closer to God. Yes, some people are called to sell everything but this comes after a lot of conversations with God, not by reading this book. If you just sell everything because you think that is what the book tells you to do then you have replaced God with selling your possessions, and that is what Platt warns us about.
Tyler,
Thx for your comment. Actually, I never interpreted Platt to be saying that we should sell everything we own. My problem with ‘Radical’ is that it is built upon three major errors. Did you read my original review of Radical? There is a link to my original review of Radical at the beginning of this post. In my original review of Radical, I detail the three major errors that the book is built upon. I strongly encourage you to read it.
I haven’t read the book, “Radical,” yet, but I know of many who have. I’m all too familiar with the idea that being a “real” Christian means focusing on, well, really a list of do’s and don’ts. I’m just not very good at that. It exhausts me the moment I even look at a book that wants to tell me “5 methods to a more successful ministry,” or anything else that claims to have found the secret of how to do the work of Kingdom expansion in the earth through whatever really great formula some popular megachurch pastor has espoused.
About a month ago, during a time of deep searching, God finally showed me the greatest, most powerful secret of a Christian life that will echo throughout eternity.
The secret is God Himself. No formula, no special prayer, no popular church-growth/super-discipleship/mega-awesome preaching, methodology will really accomplish the work that lasts in the light of eternity. God does it. In us, to us and through us as we meet with Him in the place of prayer, worship and the Word.
It saddens me to, #1, hear so many stories of so many others getting burned out on “Christian” living because of what is essentially salvation by works preaching out there, but also #2, to realize that for so long I’ve been an advocate of exactly that same kind of teaching for so long, even though, deep down, I knew something wasn’t right about it.
Thanks for posting, bro.
Recently attended a “Secret church” simulcast meeting at my church. I was very impressed with David Platt’s knowledge of scripture but ,admittedly, left several hours later feeling a bit overwhelmed by trying to digest all he spoke on. So though I believe much of what he spoke on was the truth, there was a niggling bit of a question in my mind as to whether or not my Christian walk has been adequate in “making disciples” and following after God in a way that would bring glory to His name. I believe that as long as we live in these mortal bodies there will always be room for improvement. I guess the questions in my mind about his “Radical” Christian living motivations are mostly about it seeming like just another program in church that initially stirs people to do more for Christ while there is still time but also causes,potentially, a person to focus more on a program/formula instead of looking to God for His direction in each of our lives. We are all part of Christ’s body,the church, but not everyone can be a head..or a foot…
If I missed something in his meeting,it is likely because he spoke so quickly and covered the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation that it was truly difficult to absorb what his main theme was…unless it WAS the whole Word of God and His story from beginning to end.
Jamal,
Thank you so much for your insight into this book. I’ve read it as a part of a summer Bible study and have never been more frustrated, discouraged and confused. I’m a high school teacher at a Christian school, and before reading Radical, I thought and felt “called” and “gifted” by God to do that. But after reading Radical, I have felt so discouraged about going back to school this year- like it doesn’t matter because my students are not the poorest of the poor- and, on top of that, they are American. I knew in reading Radical that something was not quite right but because so many other Christians are so gung-ho for it, I thought it must be me. I read your review about the individualistic mindset that is the framework for this book, and I cannot agree more. I also felt that Platt somewhat arbitrarily dismissed personal relationship with Christ and revelation of His truth through studying God’s Word and through prayer. I was heartbroken after reading that Platt thinks we ought not to even ask what God’s will is for our lives (p.159-160) I thought to myself, “Why should I even pray? God does not have an individual plan for my life! I must need to compete with these other people mentioned in this book.” And yet I know that kind of thinking is not Biblical. The church began with a group of people coming together and seeking the Lord in prayer before they took any action.(Acts 1:14) It is worth my time to seek the Lord for His will for my life. Your article helped me understand that my life fits somewhere within the greater story about Christ’s Body, and that as a part of that Body, I can be obedient to Matthew 28, without fretting that where I live and what I do isn’t “enough” for God to do His work in the world. Hasn’t God already determined the time and place for me to live anyway?(Acts 17:26) Would He not tell me if He wanted me to be elsewhere? He would, right? Shouldn’t I wait for Him to tell me, then, not David Platt? I am convinced that what you are saying about true vision of Jesus is what gives real power to this message, and if we take Jesus out of it and make it about what we are or are not doing, why take that message anywhere? If I don’t have Jesus, then I don’t have anything. I could give my possessions away- and would! But what would be the point? If my relationship with Christ suffers so much from reading this, and I am boxed into religious, works-based thinking, then that is nothing that I should share with the world. I have nothing of real value to offer to anyone. Thank you, brother, for pointing me back to Jesus and reminding me that true vision of who He is and what He has done is what I need, what my students need, and yes, what the world needs. After reading your review and this addendum, I do not feel so alone. I’m going to stop striving- which was causing strife in my relationship with Christ and my marriage, and reconcile with Christ- joyfully! Thanks again, and please, keep writing!
Rejoicing in this truth,
MMW
For the couple formerly attending Platt’s church, I recommend just a few possible books which address their hearts’ desires and needs for intimacy with Christ:
1. The Indwelling Life of Christ by Major W. Ian Thomas
2. The Master’s Indwelling by Andrew Murray
3. The Abiding Life by Andrew Murray
4. They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman
I’ve taught and mentored many people about intimacy with Christ, and like Mary in Luke 10:38-42, our priority and passion must be Jesus Himself. I’ve given the above books to many and they are trustworthy writings…not merely springboards to a guilt-driven agenda. Blessings!
Thanks for reading, and for your comment Bryan. Blessings to you.
thank you for this… I love how the couple said that they strived harder and harder and got burnt out. That is what that message does, instead of the real message of the gospel that says God gave us a new heart that desires to obey Him. It is who we are at the core of our being. I used to be like that.. until a friend of mine told me I should read The Naked Gospel by Andrew Farley. Changed my life forever.
Greg,
Thanks for your comment, and welcome to the blog! I am glad that you found this article to be encouraging. I am currently on a blogging break until July. In the meantime, you can subscribe to the blog so you will receive new articles by email when I resume. Also, feel free to have a look around at the older articles posted here. Blessings!